Japanese used traditional weights and measure system, called the Syakan-hou, and that system was still mixed with the metric system for many years even after the second world II.
The unit of land, Tsubo (1 tsubo is equivalent to 3.3 m square) is still actively used, as the two pieces of Tatami is the size of Tsubo. The unit of length, Syaku (about 30 cm) is less frequently used perhaps only in the area of house construction. The unit of weight, Kan (equivalent to 3.75 kg), is rarely heard, but it was prevailing when I was in the elementary school.
Hyakkan-debu (literally means a 100 kan fat) is a common teasing phrase to a slightly fat boy or giral in school.
It is easy to remember that sixteen kan is just 60 kg.
British uses the unit of stone for measureing the body weight. One stone is 6.35 kg so that 10 stones is equivalent ot 63.5 kg. This is about the same weight to 17 kan.
When I was a high school kid, my body weight was 67.5 kg (roughly 18 kan). As I am tall (179 cm), the weight was just right for me at that time. This weight was kept until the age of thirty, but my weight gradually increased since I married and regularly ate three meals in one day. I do not remember exactly when, but my weight became over 70 kg around mid thirty. At the age of forty, I completely stopped smoking and then my weight continusouly increased and reached 75 kg.
I realized as many others that my body weight must be reduced. However, like many others, I could not stop eating and drinking late at night and come to the age of mid sixty. Still my body weight was up and down around 75 kig.
Recently doctor warned me I really shoud reduce the amount of daily food calories and do more exercise. Otherwise I shall have to take pills every day very soon.
That warning made me awake as I really do not like any pill. I used to forget to take pills even for several days.
Therefore I made a real effort to take much reduced and fixed calories per day for last weeks. I bought several books and learned a great deal about the amounts of calories for varioius cooked food and commercial food materials.
I have been an excellent pupil to follow the allowed level of calories and practice of exercise. I also virtually stop drinking beer and other alcohols during the week days.
My body weight is now quickly reducing. It is slightly frightening to see the measure of my body weight decreasing.
I now can say I might be able to go back to the weight of my high-school age if I really wish, but that will make me looking to be too skinny at my age so that I am thinking to compromise to be at an ideal body weight for my height.