JAPAN STRESS
It seems no one pushes themselves like the Japanese. Their work ethic is a byword, their commitment to the boss unparalleled. And its not easy slaving for the corporation. Japanese workers can expect only a couple of weeks holiday a year at most. When you work so hard, you might reasonably look forward to some serious loosening up. And when it comes to relaxation therapy - well, the Japanese have turned it into an art form. We gave our overworked he claims - Tokyo correspondent Mark Simkin a few yen and told him to chill out as best he could.
Tokyo traffic Music
17:31
Simkin: If you thrive on stress, youll flourish in Tokyo. Death by overwork is a recognised medical condition.
17:42
After one television story too many, I was feeling pretty uptight myself. I decided to get professional help.
17:52
Hirota with dart gun. Akahige Hirota has been helping people beat stress for 40 years now.
18:05
He developed this rather unique acupuncture technique after a trip to the Amazon.
Akahige: Hello. Please wait a moment.
18:20
Simkin: Id always thought acupuncture was a very precise art, but Akahige-san assured me hed only missed his target once.
Akahige: Yes, I once hit a patients anus.
Simkin: Was he okay?
Akahige: It cured his haemorrhoids.
18:32
Akahige treats Simkin
Simkin: I was spared the blow dart treatment. Instead, the doctor took a rather literal approach to helping me unwind. 18:47
Akahige: Get better! Get better!
Simkin: No success there, so the doctor put his foot down. The only problem was that he was wearing a five kilogram iron sandal when he did it.
19:05
Japans economy might be in trouble, but despite that or perhaps because of it stress busters are in huge demand, even if they leave some patients feeling worse than when they arrived.
19:17
Simkin at relaxation clinic
I gave up on traditional methods, turning instead to Japans most advanced relaxation clinic. The machine looked like a giant egg, and I must say I felt a little chicken getting inside.
19:31
Things got even more uncomfortable when the woman chose the sensual romantic setting. Special lights flashed, aromas were released, the egg started to vibrate, and whale music was played.
19:52
The temperature inside hit a rather stifling 46 degrees. After half an hour, I felt neither sensual nor romantic. If anything, my stress levels had increased. Theres only so much New Age music a guy can take, and I started to understand Japans attitude to whaling.
20:08
I needed to find a less high tech way of beating stress, and on the way home I stumbled across it.
20:34
Boonga Boonga machine
Youve heard of Pokemon, well Boonga Boonga takes the poking in a whole new direction.
20:42
It features a protrusion thats meant to represent your bosss backside.
Machine: I am the section chief. Make me some tea!
20:57
Uchida: Female workers feel alot of stress at the office these days.
21:06
By banging or kicking you can feel refreshed.
Women on Boonga Boonga machine
Simkin: Boonga Boonga was originally developed in Korea, where it features a female bum.
21:35
That was deemed a little too dangerous for Japan a country where women train travellers often have their bottoms fondled by strangers.
Uchida: If we use a womans backside, it is too beautiful for men to punch. Nobody would play with it. The game might become dirty-minded.
21:51
Simkin: Unfortunately, during our interview, some very stressed locals broke the machine.
22:10
By the time I got a turn, it was only working intermittently, which made my stress levels worse.
Simkin on street
Things were getting desperate. If a virtual pounding wasnt going to make me feel better, perhaps a real one would.
22:30
Hareruya boxing
Akira Hareruya is a punch-drunk boxer who gets punched by drunks. You pay him, then hit him.
22:40
Hareruya started the service three years ago, after he lost his regular job.
22:51
Hareruya: My customers are usually very stressed or have some sort of grudge against someone. They cannot find a way of getting rid of the stress -- so they come to me. Even before they pay me, they want to hit someone.
3:00
Simkin: Thats a feeling I know well.
23:24
After handing over fifteen dollars, Hareruya-san was mine for 60 seconds. I could sense his fear.
Hareruya: You have to be subhuman to do this.
Simkin: Hareruya-san has a strict rule he never fights back. But after one stupid question too many, he made an exception.
23:48
Simkin laying on ground
It had taken an entire day, but if youll pardon the punchline Id finally found a way of getting laid back. 24:01
JAPAN STRESS
Reporter: Mark Simkin
Camera: Geoff Lye
Editor: Stuart Millar
It seems no one pushes themselves like the Japanese. Their work ethic is a byword, their commitment to the boss unparalleled. And its not easy slaving for the corporation. Japanese workers can expect only a couple of weeks holiday a year at most. When you work so hard, you might reasonably look forward to some serious loosening up. And when it comes to relaxation therapy - well, the Japanese have turned it into an art form. We gave our overworked he claims - Tokyo correspondent Mark Simkin a few yen and told him to chill out as best he could.
Tokyo traffic Music
17:31
Simkin: If you thrive on stress, youll flourish in Tokyo. Death by overwork is a recognised medical condition.
17:42
After one television story too many, I was feeling pretty uptight myself. I decided to get professional help.
17:52
Hirota with dart gun. Akahige Hirota has been helping people beat stress for 40 years now.
18:05
He developed this rather unique acupuncture technique after a trip to the Amazon.
Akahige: Hello. Please wait a moment.
18:20
Simkin: Id always thought acupuncture was a very precise art, but Akahige-san assured me hed only missed his target once.
Akahige: Yes, I once hit a patients anus.
Simkin: Was he okay?
Akahige: It cured his haemorrhoids.
18:32
Akahige treats Simkin
Simkin: I was spared the blow dart treatment. Instead, the doctor took a rather literal approach to helping me unwind. 18:47
Akahige: Get better! Get better!
Simkin: No success there, so the doctor put his foot down. The only problem was that he was wearing a five kilogram iron sandal when he did it.
19:05
Japans economy might be in trouble, but despite that or perhaps because of it stress busters are in huge demand, even if they leave some patients feeling worse than when they arrived.
19:17
Simkin at relaxation clinic
I gave up on traditional methods, turning instead to Japans most advanced relaxation clinic. The machine looked like a giant egg, and I must say I felt a little chicken getting inside.
19:31
Things got even more uncomfortable when the woman chose the sensual romantic setting. Special lights flashed, aromas were released, the egg started to vibrate, and whale music was played.
19:52
The temperature inside hit a rather stifling 46 degrees. After half an hour, I felt neither sensual nor romantic. If anything, my stress levels had increased. Theres only so much New Age music a guy can take, and I started to understand Japans attitude to whaling.
20:08
I needed to find a less high tech way of beating stress, and on the way home I stumbled across it.
20:34
Boonga Boonga machine
Youve heard of Pokemon, well Boonga Boonga takes the poking in a whole new direction.
20:42
It features a protrusion thats meant to represent your bosss backside.
Machine: I am the section chief. Make me some tea!
20:57
Uchida: Female workers feel alot of stress at the office these days.
21:06
By banging or kicking you can feel refreshed.
Women on Boonga Boonga machine
Simkin: Boonga Boonga was originally developed in Korea, where it features a female bum.
21:35
That was deemed a little too dangerous for Japan a country where women train travellers often have their bottoms fondled by strangers.
Uchida: If we use a womans backside, it is too beautiful for men to punch. Nobody would play with it. The game might become dirty-minded.
21:51
Simkin: Unfortunately, during our interview, some very stressed locals broke the machine.
22:10
By the time I got a turn, it was only working intermittently, which made my stress levels worse.
Simkin on street
Things were getting desperate. If a virtual pounding wasnt going to make me feel better, perhaps a real one would.
22:30
Hareruya boxing
Akira Hareruya is a punch-drunk boxer who gets punched by drunks. You pay him, then hit him.
22:40
Hareruya started the service three years ago, after he lost his regular job.
22:51
Hareruya: My customers are usually very stressed or have some sort of grudge against someone. They cannot find a way of getting rid of the stress -- so they come to me. Even before they pay me, they want to hit someone.
3:00
Simkin: Thats a feeling I know well.
23:24
After handing over fifteen dollars, Hareruya-san was mine for 60 seconds. I could sense his fear.
Hareruya: You have to be subhuman to do this.
Simkin: Hareruya-san has a strict rule he never fights back. But after one stupid question too many, he made an exception.
23:48
Simkin laying on ground
It had taken an entire day, but if youll pardon the punchline Id finally found a way of getting laid back. 24:01
JAPAN STRESS
Reporter: Mark Simkin
Camera: Geoff Lye
Editor: Stuart Millar