JWH Author's Voice Vol. 18 interview with Yukio Takizawa
Q: Please tell me why you considered writing this book in English? In recent years, the field of preventive medicine had started to stand on scientific grounds that address the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. Since Mediterranean and Japanese cuisines hold the key to longevity, and since traditional meals have often involved an appropriate amount of drinking, you can say the issues associated with "drinking and health" warrant urgent examination. In overseas markets, there are books that offer guidance on the history, culture, production technologies, varieties, and tastes of Japan's distinctive liquor, sake. However, there have been no works that have taken up the sake from the viewpoint of it being a preventive medicine. So I proceeded to put together in English a collection of epidemiological knowledge gathered from around the world, and by this I mean the types of knowledge related to the sake’s healthy effects, based on the body of evidence found within the recent fifteen years. Appreciation for Japanese cuisine has been rising year after year, showing signs of a remarkable penetration overseas. If you take away from reading my book the idea that drinking a reasonable amount of sake while eating is beneficial for your health, or in other words, that such an act amounts to good medicine for supporting your health, I will be pleased. Q: It is said that one out of three Japanese people will suffer from cancer. Is it true that sake works as prevention against cancer? The fact that an appropriate amount of drinking actually reduces the risk of contracting cancer, just as it reduces the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases, is now common knowledge. The Kunitachi Cancer Research Institute of the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare monitored 270,000 people across the nation since 1966 and the results showed that the rate of deaths resulting from lung cancer, liver cancer, gastric cancer, and intestinal cancer lowered significantly among those who drank every day, compared to those who did not drink every day. In addition, the results of another survey showed that the risk of dying from liver, gastric or lung cancer was low among everyday drinkers, while the risk of contracting cancer was high among those who did not drink every day. This survey was carried out by a study group designated by the Ministry of Education, which monitored 126,000 national registrants since 1992 for a period of ten years. As for the rate of death caused by liver cancer, reports have shown that the rate is consistently low since the end of the Second World War among both men and women in the eastern parts of Japan, where sake is abundantly consumed. Sake has been confirmed to inhibit the increase of human cancer cells, and to raise the level of activity of natural killer (NK) cells, which have anticancer properties. Q: Other than working as prevention against cancer, what utility does sake have? Sake includes more than 120 types of trace amounts of substances, such as amino acids and vitamins. This indicates that the drink contains various types of bioactive properties. The latest advances in medical research have brought to light the effects of these properties, which are reducing the onset of lifestyle-related diseases, including cardiac diseases, cancer, osteoporosis, and dementia, in addition to producing the medicinal effects of promoting appetite, alleviating stress, and realizing a nutritional impact. Furthermore, it has also been attracting attention for having a skin-whitening effect. While amino acids found in the skin's horny layers decreases with aging, substances such as proline found in sake give dry skin the property to retain water. Similarly, arginine and glutamic acid show a moisture-retention effect as well. In particular, arbutin and linoleic acid obstruct the function of tyrosinase enzymes to make the melanin pigment, which causes stains on the skin. Q: Can you advise on what are the best ways to drink sake? To maintain health, drink reasonable amounts of alcohol. This act amounts to good medicine. So my advice is to be responsible by drinking safe amounts. The tolerable level of sake is believed to be around 4go, but I would say around 2go is the logical choice, since a health effect is evident at that level. The key is to firstly avoid raising the blood level. In the case of 2go of sake, it takes seven to eight hours for alcohol in the blood to disappear completely. Secondly, bear in mind to drink while eating and take vitamins that take good care of the liver. Thirdly, relax and enjoy being “slightly intoxicated." The liquor you enjoy together with preparations of delicious appetizers, which take into account a good balance of amino acids, promises longevity. »»» To read other interviews | |
|
Japanese Writers' House TranNet KK No.2 IP Bldg. 5F, 1-26 Kanda-Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051 TEL：+81 3 5283-7555 FAX：+81 3 5283-7550 E-mail：rights@trannet.co.jp URL：http://www.trannet-japan.com/ep/tjc_top.asp |