japan, it's always felt to me like a living, breathe being organism with an energy all its own. and ever since i came here 30 years ago, i've been intrigued by the japanese concept of ki a life force that flows through our bodies. there was a sense of harmony here that i felt and never forgot. but now, the stress of the modern world is throwing that ki out of balance. >> the death of a 24 year old woman was due to work. >> and it's truly become a matter of leave or death. account japanese reconnect with ancient traditions to become one with balance before it's too

late? i want the same thing you do. the secret to living longer, healthier and happier. but where do we find it? i'm chasing life. morning rush hour. a sea of 40 million commuters. when it comes to working hard, the inhabitants of this island nation put the rest of us to shame. long work days and endless unpaid overtime. the result? lots and lots of stress.

but what does all that stress mean for our bodies? the problem is not the stress itself, it's when the vstress doesn't stop. that's when stress can turn into a deadly disease. when you're stressed out, chemicals like cortisol can put a strain on your heart, which can cause anxiety to a heart attack. here in japan, sometimes there's such a constant nature to the stress that there are people who die from overwork. there's even a name for this. it's called kuroshi. i never heard this term karoshi before. >> mm-hm. >> i guess i was a little surprised that a wrd like this exists. i'm trying to wrap my head around this concept of working yourself to death. so i'm meeting with a medical anthropologist who works with

karoshi. >> if the worker has worked more than 80 hours for two months or more, that qualifies as overwork death. >> that's basically a 65-hour workweek, which is bright pingly close to what a lot of us work back at home. so what's happening here? i went through medical training, and there were times when you worked really hard, you know. you hey be working 100 hours a week, but there was no karoshi. >> my father would work 160 hours. but he would do it partly because economically, japan was really going up. ? japan's dedication to the job can be partially traced back to world war ii. the devastation required massive reconstruction efforts, and everyone had to pitch in. it paid off for junko's father and millions of others.

by the 1960s, japan was being called the miracle economy, the second largest in the world. by the 1990s, it came crashing down. and hard. companies cut employment. increasing the pressure on working men and women. >> now workers feel that they have to prove themselves in order to hold onto their position. they are willing to take more overtime. willing to do more work. something that affects your whole body and your mind as well. >> the government recently published a report that workers in 20% of the companies here are at risk of karoshi, again, literally working themselves to death. it's still hard to comprehend how that happens, but there's another dimension to the problem

that's deepening the crisis. the stigma of talking about it. [ speaking in japanese ] junko's son, cota, was 24 years old and working at least 100 hours overtime month after month at a tokyo firm. it started to take its toll. >> i'm a father. i have three kids myself. and i joust wonder, what do you do as a parent? what did you try to do as a mother? [ speaking in japanese ] >> one night, after work ago

straight 22 hour shift, kota was drive home on his motorcycle. he crashed and tragically died. junko believes it was due do overwork. [ speaking in japanese ] je jean coe is now fighting in the courts to have her son's death recognized as karoshi, in 2014, there were 1400 claims of death. >> committed suicide because of overwork in december. >> her death has reignited a discussion about japan's work

culture of excessively long hours. >> i want to know, what's it feel like to work under these conditions? so i found a group of activists, willing to openly share their stories. we agreed not to show their faces to protect their identities. [ speaking in japanese ]

karos the organizer of this group, haruki tells me he wants to publicly shame japan's black companies, employers who push their workers to the breaking point. [ speaking in japanese ] >> what's it going to take to make things change here in japan? [ speaking in japanese ]

black companies, karoshi, stress, it's clear something is out of balance here in japan. and i'm setting out to see how balance can be restored. keep it clean with the roomba robot vacuum. only roomba uses 2 multi-surface rubber brushes to clean all your floors. and with patented dirt detect technology, roomba finds dirt throughout your home. if it's not from irobot, it's not a roomba. it means being there for each other. that's why state farm is announcing the good neighbor relief program we know our customers are driving less, which means fewer accidents. so state farm is returning $2 billion dollars to auto policyholders for the period ending may 31st. and we'll continue making real time decisions to best serve you - our customers. because now, more than ever, being a good neighbor means everything. like a good neighbor, state farm is there.

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morning calisthenics have been practiced by workers in japan for more than 80 years. i totally get the need to decompress. i live in a world where i'm constantly on call, whether jetting across the globe to cover the next medical emergency or the demands of my work as a trauma neurosurgeon. i love what i do so much, but i don't always feel in control. that's probably my biggest source of stress. here people are constantly looking for ways to unwind, and desperate times call for desperate measures. smash rooms. group crying. and adult swaddling. against my better judgment, i'm going to try the latest trend.

>> those are real owls. >> this is one of at least ten owl cafes in tokyo where customers come to unwind by watching, petting and holding these birds of prey. >> i'm not really scared of a lot of things, but birds creep me out a little bit. these are raptors. these cute little guys will rip your eyes out if they could. >> somehow they're supposed to melt away your stress. >> like this? okay. he's tied to me, great. gaya. her name is gaya? >> gaya. >> okay. be nice, gaya. they're cute and they're supposed to relieve your stress. all i see is a bird of prey. i feel like he is looking at me

right now. i'm holding an owl. his name is gaya. i can feel the sharp talons starting to sharply penetrate my glove. this is not relaxing at all! oh. >> there's got to be a simpler way to relieve stress than being one with the owls, so i'm joining a group of young professionals who are heading out of town to become one with the forest. >> what we're about to do is shinrin-yoku. am i saying it correctly? >> yes, yoku means bath. >> all right. forest bathing. >> forest bathing means spending time in nature, but the japanese take it seriously and have spent millions researching the health benefits. it has become so popular that a quarter of the population has given it a try.

at the forest, it was far more scientific than i would have guessed. it starts with a couple of tests so we have a baseline for measuring our stress levels. the most common is blood pressure. >> do you think your number is going to be high? >> are you nervous? >> got to calm down. >> yes. >> you might need a forest bath. >> another stress indicator are salivary cortisol levels. >> stick under your tongue. >> cortisol is a stress hormone produced by our adrenal grand. the more stressed you are the higher the level. >> what is yours. >> 37. >> mine is 134. >> that's pretty high. >> i'm either excited or stressed. >> okay. let's do a little exercise.

stretch your body like a tree. >> before we dip into the forest. >> okay. >> the ranger puts us through a quick warm-up. >> okay. like a major leaguer, ichiro suzuki. do like sumo wrestler. relax. let's start. okay. ♪ >> sir, this is it. are we forest bathing now? >> oh. >> yes. >> okay. >> why do you think people are so stressed in japan? >> people living in tokyo, in the life of hustle and bustle, they work too hard, so they are really tired. you know, karoshi?

>> yes. >> overworking deaths? >> yes. does this forest bathing seem to help? >> i think so, yes. >> it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that being in nature is good for you. when you are outside breathing in the aroma of the forest you are exposing yourself to natural tree oils that can help lower your stress levels and fast. the best part of all is that the effects i'm talking about can last up to a month after you leave the forest. so even the occasional walk in the woods can do your body a lot of good. >> now, relax yourself. close your eyes. inhale from your nose. seven seconds. let's begin. one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. >> standing in these mountains i

feel completely relaxed. humans evolved in nature, so it makes sense that our nervous systems respond to natural chemicals. the aroma of the forest. but can it really be that simple? it is time to find out. >> do you feel more relaxed? >> yes, i'm pretty relaxed. >> did it improve a little? >> mine improved a little. >> mine did too. >> i should come here every weekend. >> my cortisol level came down to 89 from 134. my blood pressure came down a little bit and my heart rate stayed about the same. >> really did improve. >> i'll take it. i'll take it. only roomba uses 2 multi-surface rubber brushes to clean all your floors. and with patented dirt detect technology,

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♪ so tokyoites get a chance to unwind simply by escaping the stressful, pulsating city. the people live where they live and work where they work. so how do you find balance inside with your ki? to find out, i'm visiting shuho taniuchi.

he is a master acupuncturist. he is a highly-respected teacher and practitioner. he also can't see. >> i think like most people i was a little surprised to hear that acupuncture is performed by people who are blind. how did this start for you? [ speaking foreign language ] >> 50 years, wow. should i be nervous at all? [ speaking foreign language ] >> that's good advice. >> training the visually-impaired to work with needles dates back to the 17th century, and today nearly 20% of japanese practitioners are blind. when one of our senses is lost, the brain rewires itself, often enhancing our other senses like

touch. practitioners like this are known for being highly skilled and extraordinarily perceptive. he tells me he can see rivers of ki running in my body and where they're disrupted. [ speaking foreign language ]. >> i do. you zeroed right in on probably my biggest complaint. >> like a lot of people, when i'm stressed i tend to hold that tension in my neck and shoulders. is it true you think acupuncture can really help me with my stress? [ speaking foreign language ]

>> what is amazing is that he is blind and yet he seems to have complete control over everything. [ speaking foreign language ] >> he has just found this spot that i forgot that i had. a little pain in my right lower leg, he found it and is now releasing the ki, the bad ki. i feel my hand getting warm. is that supposed to happen, is my hand supposed to get warm? [ speaking foreign language ] >> with this good ki beginning to flow, taniuchi sensei makes

his way back toward my neck. >> this is the moment of truth, a real act of trust i think for both of us. very close to my carotid artery. [ speaking foreign language ] >> i felt like the needle went almost to the bone. [ speaking foreign language ] >> five centimeters? [ speaking foreign language ]. >> there's two inches of needle in my skin, is that true? >> this terrifyingly long needle is triggering the muscle, causing it to twitch and ultimately to release, allowing fresh blood and energy to flow.

[ speaking foreign language ] >> i do feel a little different. it is hard to -- i don't know if i'm just happy that the needles are out of my skin or i actually feel better, but i think the way this all comes together is that these needles go pretty deep into my shoulders here, but i feel a looseness. i feel like it's been released a bit, and that's probably the lightening up of the stress that sensei is talking about. (j.k. vo) if you're off the roads for all of us, farmers is here for you. and if you're on the roads for us, well, we're here for you, too.

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♪ i'm heading about three hours northwest of tokyo to the foot of the japanese alps. i'm told that this is where samurai would come to soak their wounds after battle. but now days most battle wounds come from the grinding workweek, and these hot springs are the country's favorite form of stress relief. >> this will soothe you. >> you think so?

>> this is an expert who is taking me to one of the outdoor baths. >> what do we do, just sit? >> yes. >> ahh. >> we often say it is like heaven. >> i can see why. >> the surroundings and the environment is quite special. >> nature, warm waters, it is relaxing. but is it practical for people living in a place like tokyo? >> people seem very busy in japan. >> yes. >> and taking a bath takes a lot of time. do most people take baths? >> almost all japanese have the habit of bathing from the ancient times. i do believe that japanese people can endure such a hard working or longer working than the other countries because of the habit of daily bathing.

>> what is a typical thing? >> normally the business guy often comes to the onsen maybe once a cup every couple of months with their family or their partners. it is quite essential. japanese are well-known for this but we are experts of reducing stress by taking a dress. >> disconnecting, ditching your clothes and your worries. i wonder what other benefits these hot baths have bestowed on the japanese people. >> do you think that this whole bathing culture has an impact on longevity? is it part of the reason people in japan live so long? >> yes. we have been told that the onsen has the power of restoration. >> in a country with thousands of onsen, the waters are known for their special healing

properties. the locals here claim that the springs can cure all ailments except one -- heartbreak. >> i don't know what i just bought. okay. you want to try this? you try it. >> nice. >> okay. >> once a year the town comes together for this stunning celebration. enchanted by the onsen goddess, thousands gather to give thanks and pray the springs won't run dry. but the hot springs here aren't only about relaxation.

onsen therapy has been used for centuries to treat illnesses from arthritis to diabetes to skin disease, and here there is one extreme treatment that is not for tourists. [ speaking foreign language ] >> it looks hot. >> yes. >> it just looks hot. >> looks hot. >> this is something called timed bathing, and it has been practiced here for over 300 years, a three-minute soak in scorching sulfuric water. [ speaking foreign language ] >> it starts with a prayer. >> okay. whenever you do a prayer before you are about to do something, it makes me a little bit nervous.

[ speaking foreign language ] >> hot. >> very hot. >> this water is nearly 115 degrees. in america it is illegal to run water past 104 degrees, even in a hot tub. before we get in the bath, we perform a ritual called umomi which is meant to help cool things down a bit. [ speaking foreign language ] >> frankly, i'm not sure. now it is finally time. we have to get in the water for three minutes while the bath master counts down. >> he will shout something, so then we will say, oh. >> what is the meaning of that? >> when we say oh, she will know our condition from the voice.

>> okay. i think she wants to make sure we're still alive, that is what she is doing. all right. let's do this. >> hot. >> shockingly hot. >> oh, that's hot. [ speaking foreign language ]. >> oh. >> we have two more minutes. >> i'm going to a different place inside my head.

as hot as this is, i'm imagining snow and ice. [ speaking foreign language ] >> oh. >> this is a good thing i've had all of my children. [ speaking foreign language ] >> oh. [ speaking foreign language ] >> yeah, we made it. >> i trust that it has true health benefits, or maybe it comes down to whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. it is believed that the rejuvenating power of hot baths is one reason the japanese live such long lives. and if i want to see just how long, i'll need to head to the far south, okinawa.

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♪ another work from home day in the books. time for a [whistle] charlie, cocktail? bobby? mimi? rodrigo, marchello? professor smith, would you care to join me for a cocktail in the lounge? uncle cliff, look at you. maurice have you met kendall? kendall have you met maurice? elanor, back from paris i see. miss livingston, care to set the mood? well, i believe we're in good company. let's drink to that. ♪ only roomba uses 2 multi-surface rubber brushes to clean all your floors. and with patented dirt detect technology, roomba finds dirt throughout your home. if it's not from irobot, it's not a roomba.

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♪ this is pretty much the opposite of tokyo. here in japan's tropical south on the island of okinawa people do things a little differently. it is what is called a blue zone, which means it is home to some of the longest-living people in the world. it is also the birthplace of karate. morio higaona is one of its greatest masters. at 78, he has trained for more than 60 years and shows no signs of letting up. >> you try?

%-p >> yes, okay. >> very good. >> be gentle. >> ah, gentle. of course. >> sensei holds the highest rank in an okinawan style of karate and traveled the world as its ambassador. i have to know, how does he do it. >> how did i do? >> very good. so now basic training. >> basic training. >> slide. slide. >> hold. slide. >> okay. >> locked tight.

strong grip. be careful. >> sensei is 78, almost 79 years old. how old are you? >> 60. 69. >> 69. >> i'm much younger and i can't keep up. it is really incredible, really inspiring. >> if okinawa really is the land of the immortals, these guys seem well on their way. >> you are a beginner in our dojo, you are doing very good. >> that means a lot coming to you. how does your mind and body feel? >> i feel better every day. >> feel better every day? [ speaking foreign language ]. >> how old do you feel?

[ speaking foreign language ] >> you feel younger than i am? >> finding a balance between body and mind seems to be the source of sensei's strength and longevity. sensei, i'm honored. >> of course, not everyone in okinawa is a karate master. there are other ways to find mind/body balance here on the island. >> got a real stance. >> i'm meeting up with dr. craig wilcox for a game of gate ball. inspired by croquet, it is a strategic and competitive okinawan pastime.

>> it is harder than it looks. >> gate ball, it is a really popular sport for older people. >> dr. wilcox has studied the island's longest-lived residents for the past 20 years, and his research shows that the secret to longevity is as much mental as it is physical. >> you ask them why they will do it, and they say -- boce means to kind of come demented. they say i do it, not become demented. >> really about their mind, they're saying? >> right, to stay active mentally and of course physically. but you can see there's a huge social aspect to it as well. >> do you weight them in some way, the social, the physical, the mental? >> that's difficult. you get all three from this activity. to have a passion, to have

to have a passion, to have something that gets you out of bed in the mornings, what they call their giki guide -- >> sense of purpose. >> exactly. that's vitally important. the older you get, the more important it becomes. >> number one, you're up. get in there. >> how long have you been playing? >> how often do you play? how often do you all get together? [ speaking foreign language ] >> that's incredible. >> dr. wilcox's research shows that this social bond, this sense of community is essential for living a long life, and i can't help but think about how opposite it is to the isolation and stress i've seen in tokyo. >> is there a secret to longevity we can find here in okinawa? >> i think it is a mixture of things. we need to slow down. we need to relax.

we need to de-stress. >> we're playing gate ball today with people who typically wouldn't be getting out of their chairs or out of their houses in many places around the world. >> there's a saying in okinawa. at 70, you are but a child. at 80, you are merely a youth. and at 90, if the ancestors say it's time to go to heaven, go away, go away, come back when i'm 100. >> i like that. only roomba uses 2 multi-surface rubber brushes to clean all your floors. and with patented dirt detect technology, roomba finds dirt throughout your home. if it's not from irobot, it's not a roomba. yeah, i'm done after this meeting. we're just going over how people who switch to progressive can save hundreds. hey mara! - yeah jamie's the guy running it. - mara, you're not on mute. i once had to fake jury duty to get out of talking about his yogurt preferences. mara, you know you're not on mute, right? oh, there's a mute button? yeah, that's flo! the one who looks like she'd smile while she sleeps.

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♪

♪ ♪ this woman has seen japan totally transform in her lifetime. i can only imagine what she's witnessed. she's the most vibrant 97-year-old i have ever met. that's right, 97. and i wonder, is there another key the okinawans hold to living a long life? >> this is your home here?

what are we having for dinner? >> goya is a kind of bitter melon, something i've never tried before, but it's a staple of the okinawan diet, full of nutrients they say can lower blood sugar and help fight the aging process. >> i feel like i should be doing something. >> she's chopping it with the precision of a surgeon. >> can you put your hands like this? that's amazing. i probably have more of a tremor than she does. always a dancer. you want me to stir? okay. getting hungry. this looks fantastic. >> you're looking at three generations getting together,

not something a lot of us get to do very often. >> how often do you do a dinner like this with the whole family? >> i think this is the secret stuff right here. is this what helps you live long? it's really tasty. what they eat, it's one of the keys to the incredible okinawan lifespan. hidden in all of our dna is a gene called foxo 3. it can delay the aging process, but it has to be activated by the right foods. dr. wilcox's research found many of those foods are staples of the traditional okinawan diet like seaweed, algaes and goya. they have figured out how to live long and well. >> does anything hurt? just the hearing?

do you dance every day? [ speaking foreign language ] and then this? thank you. me too. ♪ >> enjoying life, spending time with close friends and family, eating well, seems to make a world of difference when it comes to stress and longevity. i think umetosan is proof of that. >> do you play? ♪

♪ >> japan is breathtakingly beautiful. it's ancient and gentle and culturally rich. but it's also sleek and modern and cutting edge, bursting with adrenaline. it's complicated. but there's a pattern here that we see all over the world. as technology and the pressure to compete threaten traditional practices and wisdom, in japan it even threatens the very lives of its workers. i've seen firsthand that the

answer is to strike a balance. in japan, that means turning to tradition and placing value on our relationships with friends and family. simple things that unplug and revitalize our minds and bodies and make sure our chi keeps flowing. >> kompai. >> kompai. hello. and welcome to our viewers in the united states and all around the world. i'm michael holmes. by the end of the weekend, almost every u.s. state will have reopened to some degree as they dial back some of their coronavirus restrictions. while americans are warily watching the numbers of cases, there's a new focus on the u.s. leadership or lack thereof and