ASSIGNMENT #4: JAPANESE QUALITY OF LIFE IN TOKYO 1

Assignment #4: Japanese Quality of Life in Tokyo

SLS 3305 Leisure and Recreation Program Development

Jonathan Bussey

University of Memphis
ASSIGNMENT #4: JAPANESE QUALITY OF LIFE IN TOKYO 2

According to the Webster Dictionary, the definition for quality of life is how good

or bad a person's life is. I believe the definition for quality of life is the standard in which

a person is happy due to health, comfort, or whether something positive happening with

another person or a group involved in your life. The quality of life is important because it

demonstrates your general satisfaction in life. This can be anywhere from physical health,

family, education, employment, wealth, safety, security to freedom, religious beliefs, and

the environment. The things in life that are important to me based on my definition of

what the quality of life is are simple. The most important qualities of life to are living a

healthy lifestyle, having my finances in order, school is going well, my spiritual life is

constantly improving, and my overall personally life is okay with little to no problems.

Therefore, in layman terms, I am the happiest when I am living a healthy life, I have my

money in line, I am where I should be in my spiritual life, and I having no personal

problems. I am I know this may seem like a lot, but it really is easy to do. A lot of the

things I just listed are things that I have the power to control. Therefore, life is generally

okay in those regards, and I would say that I have a great quality of life.

Healthcare can affect the quality of life. The healthcare a person has or does not

have can affect how happy they are. If you have good healthcare plan, that typically

means that you have a decent job that is providing you with healthcare. This is a good

thing, because with that good healthcare plan, you are not going bankrupt when

something happens to you out of the blue. For example, you break your arm playing

tackle football in the yard. This requires you to go to the emergency room for treatment,

multiple doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, etc. These bills can add up. However,

with a good healthcare plan, you aren’t paying as much as someone who has a bad or no
ASSIGNMENT #4: JAPANESE QUALITY OF LIFE IN TOKYO 3

healthcare plan. If you did not have a healthcare plan and something like this happened, it

could bankrupt you with the amount of bills you would owe. Therefore, I believe that

healthcare could positively or negatively impacted a person’s quality of life depending on

how well your plan is.

In the video about the quality of life in Tokyo, it sounded like the healthcare was

provided by the government, but they had to pay for it. Therefore, they cannot be denied

access and the quality of life is good. Children receive free healthcare in Tokyo. This

includes visits to the doctor, dentist, prescriptions, etc. This sounds like a very nice to

have and to not have to worry about. The healthcare in the United States is different than

Tokyo in a few ways. For example, in the United States healthcare is provided through

your employer. However, in Tokyo it is provided by the government. This is a huge

difference. Another difference, all Japanese citizens, permanent residents, and any

foreigners residing in Japan are required to be enrolled in National Health Insurance. In

America, you are advised to have a form of healthcare, but ultimately are not required by

law to do so.

Another thing that can affect the quality of life is education. An educated person

has more ability and resources to succeed in life socially and financially. This is proven, I

myself am a college student because I am trying to better myself financially for the

future. Therefore, this is going to affect my happiness in life or in better terms, quality of

life. Another similarity between Tokyo and United Stated are the public schools.

Everyone goes to the school that is in their district, which allows the communities to

come together and interact. Another thing that both have in common in education are the

classes the students are required to take. They both teach the basic math, reading, writing,
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and sciences, as well as classes in art, music, and physical education. A difference

between the two are that the teacher works for the state, and not independently for the

school in Tokyo. Therefore, they get moved around every couple of years. This allows

most schools to have an equal education.

I think that recreation and leisure can also have a big effect on the quality of life.

This is what you do in your free time, away from work and your obligations of life.

Therefore, if you don’t have a good recreation and leisure life, this can affect how you

feel about life. In the video, it talked about how in Tokyo if you had to choose between

some non-essential work that needed to get done or going to your child’s soccer game,

you would choose work. In Tokyo they do not put as much of an emphasis on quality

time with family. The video also talked about how in Tokyo, they usually don’t find it

necessary to have a normal date night when you are married. This is very odd compared

to the American culture.

In closing, quality of life is important. This is important no matter where you live.

The quality of life will be different for everyone. I hope that after reading this paper your

perspective on quality of life has influenced in a positive way.

ASSIGNMENT #4: JAPANESE QUALITY OF LIFE IN TOKYO 5

References

Tompkins, D. (2019, August 29). Expat Tokyo - Why you need international health
insurance? Retrieved from https://expatfinancial.com/expat-tokyo-why-you-need-
international-health-insurance/.

Wyld, H. C. (1963). Webster dictionary. U.S.A.: J.J. Little and Dues.