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In Ragnar?k, the end of the world in Norse mythology, the thunder god Thor deals a fatal blow to the giant serpent J?rmungandr, who seeks to swallow the world, but is said to have died himself after taking nine steps due to the serpent's venom. It is significant that in the description of this scene, a specific number, "nine steps," is recorded rather than just "a few steps." In Norse mythology, the world is said to be divided into nine realms, and the fact that Thor could not exceed "nine steps" implies that he shared the fate of the perishing world. Although the world is reborn after Ragnar?k, Thor, who could not escape the "magic of numbers," was unable to survive the calamity and see the new world.

Turning to modern society, including the field of preventive medicine in which I am involved, various numbers are flying about. For example, saying "try to limit alcohol for your health" is too vague, and it is unclear how much one should cut back. This is where specific numbers come into play.

In the draft of the Guidelines for Healthy Drinking (the so-called Drinking Guidelines) published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in September 2023, it was clearly stated: "As reference values for alcohol consumption (pure alcohol amount), the Health Japan 21 (the third term) scheduled to start in fiscal 2024 and the second-term plan indicate that 'alcohol consumption that increases the risk of lifestyle-related diseases' is 'a daily pure alcohol intake of 40g or more for men and 20g or more for women.' Aiming for an intake lower than these amounts is thought to lead to a reduction in the risk of lifestyle-related diseases."

However, the matter is not settled just because such easy-to-understand numerical indicators are presented. During the careful review of the draft guidelines, concerns were raised: "Will this not give the misunderstanding that it is perfectly fine for men to drink up to 40g and women up to 20g?" There was a fear that the numbers "40g for men and 20g for women" might take on a life of their own. In the final draft presented in November, while the description of "40g for men and 20g for women" remained, it seems the matter was settled by clearly indicating the amount of alcohol that poses a risk for each specific disease to encourage caution.

As someone who regularly "deals with numbers," I felt once again that I must manage numbers effectively while ensuring I am not drawn into the "magic of numbers."