Fatboy Slim

[Mulboyne]

AFP: Underwear to the rescue for flabby Japanese
Share prices are tumbling and the yen is rising, but Japanese businessman on Monday got one thing to cheer -- underwear to tame their bulging waistlines. Wacoal announced Monday it was making a full entry into the men's market with undergarments especially for men with a bit of flab. The company said a survey of Japanese businessmen in their 30s and 40s found that 95 percent considered their waistlines the biggest concern about their physique. But only 47 percent of the survey's 100 respondents said they made conscious efforts to do something about it. Wacoal's new Cross Walker is designed to help wearers improve their posture and develop stomach muscles as they walk, the company said. It is "a totally new concept of getting fit just by wearing undergarments that turn simple walking into exercise," said Wacoal president Yoshikata Tsukamoto.

[omae mona]

AFP: Underwear to the rescue for flabby Japanese
It is "a totally new concept of getting fit just by wearing undergarments that turn simple walking into exercise," said Wacoal president Yoshikata Tsukamoto.

This is incredibly misleading. I, for one, have proven over the years that you can get plenty of exercise by walking without undergarments.

[Baka Chan]

AFP: Underwear to the rescue for flabby Japanese
Share prices are tumbling and the yen is rising, but Japanese businessman on Monday got one thing to cheer -- underwear to tame their bulging waistlines. Wacoal announced Monday it was making a full entry into the men's market with undergarments especially for men with a bit of flab. The company said a survey of Japanese businessmen in their 30s and 40s found that 95 percent considered their waistlines the biggest concern about their physique. But only 47 percent of the survey's 100 respondents said they made conscious efforts to do something about it. Wacoal's new Cross Walker is designed to help wearers improve their posture and develop stomach muscles as they walk, the company said. It is "a totally new concept of getting fit just by wearing undergarments that turn simple walking into exercise," said Wacoal president Yoshikata Tsukamoto.

The marketing is a good concept classic Japan... However, maybe it would go over better if the target flabby, japanese men with no money

[Mulboyne]

Guardian: Japanese firms face penalties for overweight staff

Corporate Japan will join the country's battle against bulging waistlines next month with the introduction of compulsory "flab checks" for the over-40s and penalties for firms that fail to bring their employees' weight under control. Health authorities hope the measures will arrest the rise in obesity among middle-aged men and slow soaring medical costs. All employees over 40 - about 56 million people - will be required to take the test to determine whether they are at risk of metabolic syndrome - symptoms associated with being overweight that, if left unchecked, increase the risk of strokes, heart disease and diabetes. Men with girths of more than 85cm (33.5in) will be given exercise and diet plans and, in urgent cases, told to see a doctor. The health ministry estimates that 13 million Japanese suffer from metabolic syndrome, while another 14 million are at risk. Men are about 10% fatter than they were a decade ago, while women are more than 6% heavier. The ministry hopes to see a 25% reduction in the number of people at risk over three years. According to reports, firms will be required to cut the number of overweight workers and their dependants by 10% by 2012. Those that fail to reach the targets face surcharges of up to 10% on contributions to a welfare fund for the elderly. "If it can prevent even a small number of people from developing cardiovascular diseases it will be good news for them and their families," Yuji Matsuzawa, director of the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity, wrote in the Asahi newspaper.

[ttjereth]

Guardian: Japanese firms face penalties for overweight staff

Just what the average Japanese oyaji salaryman needs, something more to stress over.

Now not only does he have his company breathing down his neck about every other aspect of his life, but his boss telling him he is too fat.

Predictions:
1. Companies will start introducing penalities for overweight workers (more so than just the normal badgering and ridicules they will get from higher ups anyway)
2. At least a slight increase in salaryman suicide rates.