Japanese people no longer the most long lived, according to an extensive report on Japan’s health in the Lancet.

Smoking, growing obesity and a rising suicide rate are among some of the factors contributing to Japan’s declining health rating.

The aging population is ill prepared to deal with geriatric sickness.

With a median age of 40 years and a declining birth rate the health care system is inadequately funded to take care of all of the needs of it’s citizens.

In a country where people feel that they are responsible for their own health to benefit the society the answers to Japan’s problem may lie in it’s cultural values.