Studying Japanese is like exercise: The more you do it, the better you’ll feel.

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Studying Japanese is like exercise: The more you do it, the better you’ll feel.

Squats are a good way to exercise your legs and glutes, just don't neglect exercising your mind when it comes to new vocabulary. | GETTY IMAGES

By Yuko Tamura
Contributing writer

Oct 10, 2024

Monday Oct. 14 marks スポーツの日 (supōtsu no hi, Sports Day), a public holiday in Japan. In the run-up this weekend, you may hear lots of vocabulary surrounding 運動 (耻苍诲ō, exercise) and 健康 (办别苍办ō, health) as a result. 普段何か運動してる？ (Fudan nanika 耻苍诲ō shiteru?, Do you exercise regularly?)

, 高負荷の筋力トレーニング (kōfuka no kinryoku torēningu, resistance training with heavy loads), in other words, ウエイトトレーニング (ueito torēningu, weight training) yields the greatest benefit when it comes to strengthening your aging legs.

Often abbreviated as 筋トレ (kintore) in Japanese, ウエイトトレーニング is a somewhat common pastime in Japan, its benefits having been re-examined for a 超高齢社会 (chōkōrei shakai, super-aged society). Well-developed muscles prevent trips and falls as we age.