A Healthy Body Is Necessary for the Job

Published in Sankei Shimbun
(Japan) on 7 March 2023
by Kazuyuki Sakamoto (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Dorothy Phoenix. Edited by Wes Vanderburgh.
Inspired by the image of people sweating it out at the gym, this reporter decided to go to the gym as well. I was surprised to make progress on a machine I had not used in a long time, but I was more surprised at my own physical decline.

When I looked to either side, all I saw was lots of people running nonchalantly. I also saw many people looking at the mirrors, checking out the bodies they had tempered at the gym, but I was not interested in looking at the reflection of the body I had built through unhealthy living.

But when faced with the harsh reality, I reflected on the many years of a lifestyle of inadequate exercise, and I made a pledge to regain the healthy body necessary for work.

The topic of health garners an extreme amount of attention in Washington when it comes to President Joe Biden. At 80 years old, Biden is the oldest president to ever hold office. For Biden, maintaining good health will be a critical factor in deciding whether to be a candidate in the 2024 presidential election.

After a physical examination in February, Biden received a clean bill of health, as physicians concluded that Biden was "fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency." Nevertheless, on March 3, it was confirmed that a lesion that had been found on his chest was a form of skin cancer. Even though no further medical treatment is necessary beyond removing the lesion, the shadow of concern over bad health follows him.

During an election campaign, there is always a concern that the candidate's health will be investigated, so the White House is nervous about managing Biden's health. Uneasiness about carrying out his duties could have an impact on global politics. Even today, as this reporter struggles with muscle pain from going up and down stairs, I am deeply grateful to be an ordinary citizen.


仕事に必要な健康体

ジムで汗を流す人々の姿に感化され、記者もジムに通うことにした。久しぶりに使う機器の進化に驚いたが、もっと驚いたのは自身の体力の衰えだった。

隣を見れば、何十分も涼しい顔で走っている人たちばかり。ジムでは鍛えた筋肉を鏡でチェックする姿もよく目にするが、不摂生が作り上げた自身の体は鏡で見る気にもなれない。

厳しい現実を突きつけられたが、運動不足の生活を何年も続けてきたことを反省し、仕事に必要な健康な体を取り戻そうと誓った。

健康の話題でワシントンで最も注目を集めるのがバイデン大統領だ。米史上最高齢で就任したバイデン氏は現在80歳。2024年大統領選への出馬判断に向け健康維持は重要な要素となってくる。

2月の健康診断で「大統領の職務を順調に遂行できる」とのお墨付きを得た。ただ、今月3日には胸に見つかった病変が皮膚がんの一種だと判明。問題の部分は除去済みで追加の治療は必要ないとしているが、健康不安は常につきまとう。

選挙戦では健康状態が追及される恐れがあり、ホワイトハウスは体調管理に神経をとがらせる。業務に不安が出れば世界の政治に影響を与えかねない。記者は今日も筋肉痛で階段の昇降さえ悪戦苦闘しているが、一庶民で良かったとつくづく思う。(坂本一之)
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