Many people undergo big changes in their lives in early spring, such as transferring to a new workplace or moving to a new home. It's important to keep yourself in the best mental and physical condition possible at a time like this, so how about trying some items to help you feel relaxed and refreshed?
"People tend to get more stressed from work now, due to the advancement of information technology and the demand for high-quality customer service, among other things," said Tatsuhiro Tateyama, 36, an official in charge of public relations at Village Vanguard Co., which operates miscellaneous goods stores.
In the past four to five years, easy-to-use stress-relieving items have sold well to people in the prime years of life, Tateyama said.
His recommendations included soft, fluffy cushions shaped like such things as a loaf of bread or ice cream. Hugging or just looking at them helps relieve stress.
"You don't need to think about anything. Our company employees also use these cushions," Tateyama said.
There's also a unique cushion shaped like a bony chop and called manga-meat. The bone part can be removed, so you can put your arm inside the cushion to take a nap at your desk if you get tired.
Squeezable items made from resin are popular among young women. Realistic reproductions of fruits, sweets and other things, they can be squeezed or pulled out long, bringing a refreshing change of pace during work.
For people who like exercise, Tateyama recommends a "stress-relieving punching bag" that quickly bounces back after taking a hit or kick. It provides easy aerobic exercise and makes you feel refreshed.
The inside of Sakeboard sold by Dream Inc., which plans and sells beauty care and health-related goods, contains the kind of muting structure found in wind instruments. It reduces the volume of a voice to about one-third the original level, so you can put your mouth on it and shout loudly.
The item comes with a marker for a whiteboard, so you may feel more refreshed if you write things like "you idiot!" on the body of a Sakeboard.
However, some workplaces won't accommodate stress-relieving items like these. In that case, Tateyama advises, "Your stress can be eased if you improve your efficiency."
For example, a self-inking stamp called Opini Onegaigoto Stamp from Shachihata Inc. has 18 kinds of fixed Japanese phrases such as "You got a phone call" and "For your review," and you can neatly stamp it on sticky notes. The product is favored by working women, as it saves them the labor of writing the same thing over and over.
Companies are also introducing stress-relieving measures. At the Tokyo-based IT company Eureka Inc., part of its office is covered by tatami mats and employees can work there while lying down. The company allows its employees to use a balance ball instead of a chair, and has installed a table for table tennis.
The Tokyo metropolitan government and the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry implemented a health-promotion project called "Office de Exercise" in fiscal 2016. They dispatched instructors to 147 companies in Tokyo and had their employees do light workouts such as standing on one leg and stretching.
Let's try kawara-wari
Facilities where people can relieve stress are also popular. At a special kawara-wari (smashing roof tiles) shop called Kawarawari Kawarana in Tokyo's Asakusa district, young couples and families try to smash roof tiles while wearing gloves or with their bare hands after listening to a explanation.
The roof tiles have slits for easy breaking, so even beginners can enjoy smashing them once they've grasped the technique.
"Our customers like this activity because it makes them feel refreshed and gives them a sense of achievement," said Tamio Kawaguchi, a representative of the company operating the store.
Kawarawari Kawarana is open only on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays.
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