20세기 초 일본인의 건강은 태생적 허약 체질 외에 부실한 식사로 인한 각기병과 집단 생활에서 발병하는 결핵이 국민의 2대 질병으로 인식될 만큼 심각한 상황이었다.
In the early 20th century, the health of the Japanese was so serious that, in addition to their inborn weakness, beriberi caused by poor diet and tuberculosis caused by group life was recognized as the second major diseases of the people.