crown

Subscribe Now

FOLLOW US

Sign in

Work well, live well: Japanese office goers limber up with monkey bars, radio drills

At the stroke of 1:00pm, a group of Tokyo IT workers spring from their desks for a few minutes of rigorous bending, stretching and thrusting as a voice on the radio instructs them — ‘ichi, ni, san (one, two, three)’. A growing number of Japanese companies are encouraging exercise breaks, in the hope of keeping employees limber and productive for longer, as the nation contends with a shrinking labour pool and one of the world’s fastest ageing populations. (TORU YAMANAKA / AFP)

Updated on: Jun 16, 2017 12:30 PM IST

Share via

Copy link

1/8

At the stroke of 1:00pm, a group of Tokyo IT workers spring from their desks for a few minutes of rigorous bending, stretching and thrusting as a voice on the radio instructs them — ‘ichi, ni, san (one, two, three)’. A growing number of Japanese companies are encouraging exercise breaks, in the hope of keeping employees limber and productive for longer, as the nation contends with a shrinking labour pool and one of the world’s fastest ageing populations. (TORU YAMANAKA / AFP)

Updated on Jun 16, 2017 12:30 PM

At the stroke of 1:00pm, a group of Tokyo IT workers spring from their desks for a few minutes of rigorous bending, stretching and thrusting as a voice on the radio instructs them — ‘ichi, ni, san (one, two, three)’. A growing number of Japanese companies are encouraging exercise breaks, in the hope of keeping employees limber and productive for longer, as the nation contends with a shrinking labour pool and one of the world’s fastest ageing populations. (TORU YAMANAKA / AFP)

2/8

The suited staff are taking part in a regular calisthenics drill implemented by Adoc International, while over at electrical equipment firm Fujikura, the staff can be seen dangling from multi-coloured monkey bars. (KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP)

Updated on Jun 16, 2017 12:30 PM

The suited staff are taking part in a regular calisthenics drill implemented by Adoc International, while over at electrical equipment firm Fujikura, the staff can be seen dangling from multi-coloured monkey bars. (KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP)

3/8

Instructions for the three-minute exercise are also played daily on public broadcaster NHK, with different sets tailored for building strength or for the elderly and disabled. (TORU YAMANAKA / AFP)

Updated on Jun 16, 2017 12:30 PM

Instructions for the three-minute exercise are also played daily on public broadcaster NHK, with different sets tailored for building strength or for the elderly and disabled. (TORU YAMANAKA / AFP)

4/8

Automaker Toyota has its own in-house version, while Sony employees — ranging from blue collar assemblers to top executives — are supposed to join in a group stretch at 3:00pm daily, although it’s not mandatory. (KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP)

Updated on Jun 16, 2017 12:30 PM

Automaker Toyota has its own in-house version, while Sony employees — ranging from blue collar assemblers to top executives — are supposed to join in a group stretch at 3:00pm daily, although it’s not mandatory. (KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP)

5/8

The rajio taiso routine is considered by many as a Japanese tradition, although the idea was actually borrowed from a similar programme sponsored by an insurance company in the United States.It spread quickly throughout Japan, as workplaces, schools and local communities got into the routine. (TORU YAMANAKA / AFP)

Updated on Jun 16, 2017 12:30 PM

The rajio taiso routine is considered by many as a Japanese tradition, although the idea was actually borrowed from a similar programme sponsored by an insurance company in the United States.It spread quickly throughout Japan, as workplaces, schools and local communities got into the routine. (TORU YAMANAKA / AFP)

6/8

An employee of the Tokyo-based electrical equipment manufacturing company checking his blood pressure at the company's health care room. Today, as many as 28 million Japanese are believed to take part daily. (KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP)

Updated on Jun 16, 2017 12:30 PM

An employee of the Tokyo-based electrical equipment manufacturing company checking his blood pressure at the company's health care room. Today, as many as 28 million Japanese are believed to take part daily. (KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP)

7/8

Japan’s population is quickly getting older and there are fewer and fewer kids — this is very big risk for companies. With almost zero formal immigration, companies need to keep staff fit in the hope they’ll work past the usual retirement age. (TORU YAMANAKA / AFP)

Updated on Jun 16, 2017 12:30 PM

Japan’s population is quickly getting older and there are fewer and fewer kids — this is very big risk for companies. With almost zero formal immigration, companies need to keep staff fit in the hope they’ll work past the usual retirement age. (TORU YAMANAKA / AFP)

8/8

Employees of an information technology company exercising together in their office after lunchtime in Tokyo. ‘Doing these exercises in the morning when you arrive at work or just after lunch when your head is not completely into working —let’s you get ready and say ‘OK let’s do the job,’’ said Adoc’s Lay. (TORU YAMANAKA / AFP)

Updated on Jun 16, 2017 12:30 PM

Employees of an information technology company exercising together in their office after lunchtime in Tokyo. ‘Doing these exercises in the morning when you arrive at work or just after lunch when your head is not completely into working —let’s you get ready and say ‘OK let’s do the job,’’ said Adoc’s Lay. (TORU YAMANAKA / AFP)

Related Photos

Home/Photos/News/Work Well, Live Well: Japanese Office Goers Limber Up With Monkey Bars, Radio Drills

© 2026 HindustanTimes