Japanese children work strangely (and no one knows why)

According to a study, Japanese children have a fairly special way of walking that does not resemble those that other children learn in the world. Similarly, Scientists have clearly identified this phenomenon, but have not yet formally discovered the reasons.

Analyze children’s walking – Japanese children work strangely (and

In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports in May 2022, researchers from the University of Nagoya (Japan) analyzed the way of walking of Japanese children. Moreover, The objective? Compare data with that of other countries and understand the evolution of this march in children. First observation, Japanese young people have A good way to walk.

Scientists used a 3D walking analysis system To study the way of walking of 424 children from six to twelve years old at different stages of their lives. According to the results. japanese children work strangely (and the young Japanese are walking more with the feet turned inward than other children in the world. However, there are other notable differences. Indeed. the oldest children in the study (eleven and twelve years) are more likely to point their toes while having Less amplitude of movements at the level of their knees. Older children also seem to make steps smaller, and therefore more numerous than younger children.

“According to my calculations, there was a difference of one or two degrees in the movement of the hip and knee and this clearly shows the measure of measurement of the technology used”said Jessica Rose, a pediatric orthopedic teacher at the University of Stanford (United States) not affiliated with the study which gave his opinion in an article published by Vice News.

A phenomenon related to the lifestyle

According to the researchers, these peculiarities have reasons still unknown japanese children work strangely (and although they have some tracks. However, each of these tracks leads to the same notion: the Japanese children’s lifestyle. Scientists evoke their particularly healthy diet which plays a role in the low obesity rate concerning the age group. ranging from six to twelve years.

Nevertheless, another actor could take into account and influence the approach of children: Seiza (or correct seat). It is simply the traditional way of sitting in Japan. It consists in kneeling on the floor. legs folded under the thighs and buttocks rested on the heels (see photo below).

But how to explain the Difference in length of steps In children depending on their age? Again, a reason seems to take over. The researchers at the origin of the study noticed that children go mainly to school on foot and sometimes together. However, the little ones tend to make steps larger in order to cadence older.