Eating Disorders in Today’s Japan and the Effectiveness of Art Therapies

Some Japanese government measures such as the "Metabo Law" of 2008, and sociocultural factors like the aesthetic models promoted by today's idols and TV series put pressure on the national population about precise physical canons, especially in body weight. In certain cases, these elements unintentionally favour the onset of eating disorders. Furthermore, since the beginning of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences have put a strain on the psychological strength of individuals in every part of the world. At times, this has brought them into stress, anxiety, and even psychic diseases. Among the latter, in Japan there has been a drastic increase in eating disorders, especially among young people. In recent years, the effectiveness of art therapies for people with eating disorders is being studied in many countries. This contribute aims to exemplify some successful art therapeutic activities, that could be seen as inspirational models for today's Japanese situation.