Enriching the Lives of Seniors in Japan (Ikigai Healthy Ageing Policy in Japan)

Abstract

Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world, but there is a gap of about 10 years between a healthy lifespan and an average lifespan, and they spend a lot of money on medical care during this period. Can we say this unhealthy last decade of life, extended by medical technology, is a happy one? The elderly employment rate in Japan is the highest among the G7 countries. Japanese seniors are motivated to work to maintain their health and to contribute to society. Then, the government launched measures to promote recurrent education and employment of the elderly to utilize their experience. Japan has a value system called “ikigai” (reason for being) for living a long and healthy life, both physically and mentally. Western researchers surveyed the lifestyles and values in the longevity regions of Okinawa and found ten rules including “stay active; don’t retire”. Those must be the secret to a long and happy life. In industry, the “Well Ageing Society Summit” was held in Tokyo, and 46 councils are being established across Japan, to create innovations for a super-ageing society through cooperation among companies, investors and government. Based on multi-industry collaboration, there are also advanced examples of wellness tourism industries that incorporate ancient Japanese cultural practices that contribute to health and longevity. However, the wellness industry has yet to achieve the kind of full-scale growth that will wipe out future healthcare cost shortfalls. Ironically, the biggest barriers to growth are a convenient healthcare system and healthy lifestyles. I hope that the government will proactively provide opportunities for the wellness industry to play a role as a “leader in achieving sustainable health and longevity”, and that a change in the socio-industrial structure will come so that all people can continue to have ikigai until the end of their lives. Corresponding author: Tomonori Maruyama; t-maruyama@fuji.waseda.jp