International
Longevity
Center-Japan

GlobalInformation
JournalonLongevity
andSociety2009

Get Around This Table ...

ILC Global Alliance
ILC-USA
Robert N. Butler, M.D.
President and CEO
Professor of geriatrics at the Brookdale Department ofGeriatrics and Adult Development at the Mount Sinai
Medical Center
Founding Director of National Institute on Aging

ILC-Japan
Shigeo Morioka
President
Former CEO of Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
(current Astellas Pharma Inc.)
Former Chairman of the Fair Trade Council of
the Ethical Pharmaceutical Drugs Manufacturing Industry

ILC-France
International Longevity Center=ILC was
founded with the aim of studying various issues

Françoise Forette, M.D.
CEO

concerning population aging with low-fertility

President of the Board of Directors of the Hospital Broca
Former Special Adviser on Aging of the Minister of Health,Social Security, Elderly, Family and Disabled Persons

from the international and interdisciplinary

ILC-UK

perspectives and sharing the findings broadly

Sally Greengross, OBE

to educate the public and to make policy
proposals.
Twelve centers have been established todate in the world: in the United States, Japan,

Chief Executive

A crossbench (independent) member ofthe House of Lords

ILC-Dominican Republic
Dr. Rosy Pereyra, M.D.

France, the United Kingdom, Dominican

President

Republic, India, South Africa, Argentina,

Organizer of Grand Parents Institute
Former General Director of State Services to the Elderly of
the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance

the Netherlands, Israel, Singapore and Czech
Republic. These centers constitute an alliance(called ILC Global Alliance) that promotes joint

studies as well as country-specific activities.
This concept of ILC Global Alliance was

ILC-India
R.A.Mashelkar, Ph.D.

President
Chemical engineering scientist
Bhatnagar Fellow at National Chemical Laboratry
President of Global Research Alliance
Former Director General Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research

advocated by Dr. Robert N. Butler, a global

ILC-South Africa

authority on gerontology (current President &Monica Ferreira, DPhil.
President

CEO of ILC-USA). In Japan, a group of privatecompanies endorsed his vision; also, thenBoard of the International Institute on Ageing (UN-Malta) (INIA)
Board of the World Demographic Association (WDA)
Steering Group of the African Research on Ageing Network (AFRAN)

Ministry of Health and Welfare (currently

ILC-Argentina

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) assented to

Lia Susana Daichman, M.D.

the thought. Consequently after three years of

President

preparatory work with the guidance of the

Chair of Latin American Committee for the Preventions ofElder Abuse
President of INPEA

Ministry, ILC-Japan was launched in November
1990. Since then, we have actively sought topromote policy proposals and advocacies in
low-fertility aging society as well as to share ourfindings and to educate the public.
Additionally we think it one of ILC-Japan’s
crucial missions to provide abroad information
on problems of population aging in Japan andthe systems and status to cope with them.
ILC-Japan is proactively making efforts torealize an aging society where all generations
will support one another and live happily.

ILC-Netherlands
Mr. Jacques H. Schraven
President

Former president of Royal Shell Netherlands
Former President of the Confederation of the Netherlands

ILC-Israel
Sara Carmel, Ph.D, M.P.H.

President
Professor of medical sociology and gerontology at
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel
President of the Israel Gerontological Society
Chairperson of the Fund for Research in Aging,
Ministry for Senior Affairs

ILC-Singapore
Marry Ann Tsao, Ph.D.
President

President of Tsao Foundation

ILC-Czech Republic
Iva Holmerova, Ph.D.
President
Director and Consultant geriatrician, Centre ofGerontology, Prague
Associate Professor, anthropology, Charles University in
Prague, Faculty of Humanities

Contents

Roundtable Discussion
1

New Ways of Working in an Aged Society		Takeo Ogawa

Tomoji Yokoishi				Professor, Yamaguchi Prefectural University
Graduate School of Health and Welfare

Managing Director andVice President, Irodori Inc.

		

Kiichiro Horiike

Mitsuhiro Ishida		Advisor, Senior SOHO Salon Mitaka (NPO)
			

2

•2

Manager, Welfare for Elderly Section,
Welfare Department, Inagi City

Rethinking Productive Aging		

Ayako Fujita

Toshikazu Togari				Professor, Graduate School of Human Sciences,
Osaka University

President, Japan Organization for Employment of
the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (JEED)		

Kazuo Otsu

Shigeo Morioka				

Reporter, Yomiuri Shimbun,
Tokyo Headquarters, Social Security Division

President, ILC-Japan

3 Hope and Security in an Aged Society with
		 Fewer Children

•18

•32

		

Proposal for Employment-Based Life Security

		Akira Kajimoto

Shuichi Nakamura		Senior Researcher, Asahi Institute of Journalism

Director, Social Insurance Medical Fee Payment Fund		

Takashige Komoda

Taro Miyamoto				

Director General, Research Institute forAdvancement of Living Standards

Professor, Graduate School of Law,
Hokkaido University

Participants’ List		

•48... to Create the Global Network for the World’s Next Challenge

Global Trend		
ILC Japan Attends“Alzheimer’s in an Aging Society” at New York

•50

This journal includes the part of roundtable discussion at the beginning part of every issue of “Global Information Journal
on Longevity and Society” (originally in Japanese) published by ILC-Japan in 2009. The roundtable discussion was attended by leading persons of each field and this issue is the extracts of those discussions from vol. 10 to vol. 13 which weretranslated into English and compiled by ILC-Japan.

1Participants:

Rou
n

dt
ab

Takeo Ogawa

Tomoji Yokoishi

		 Professor, Yamaguchi Prefectural
		 University Graduate School of		 Health and Welfare

		 Managing Director and Vice President,
		 Irodori Inc.

le
ss
scu
Di

ion

1

New Ways ofWorking inan Aged Society• Outlook of Working Population
If participation in the labor market is increased:(10,000 people)

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

60+

Age 20-59
2006

5,585

967
85％

2030

4,816

2

6,552

15％

1,274
80％

Source: “Case Where Participation in the Labor Market Is Increased,” Projection by
Employment Security Bureau, Ministry of
Health, Labour and Welfare, 2007

8,000

20％

6,088

Kiichiro Horiike

Mitsuhiro Ishida

		 Advisor, Senior SOHO Salon Mitaka (NPO)		 Manager, Welfare for Elderly Section,
		 Welfare Department, Inagi City

The number of participants in the labor market is one barometer for measuring the vitality of society. In 2006, the total number was 65.52 million
people, of whom 55.85 million (85%) were from 20 to 59 years old and 9.67
million (15%) were 60 or older. By 2030, the total number is predicted to decrease 5 million to 60.88 million people. In particular, participants aged 20
to 59 are expected to decline 7.7 million to 48.16 million. If a system to secure employment for senior citizens were developed and senior citizens who
have the desire and ability to work were able to participate in the labormarket, then those aged 60 or over in the labor market would increase to
12.72 million (20%). From this it is clear that senior citizens themselves
will support and bring vitality to a super-aged society.

Does Society Undervalue the Power ofSenior Citizens?

Ogawa: Population aging has occurred in several stages. When simply long life was thought to bringhappiness, the only goal was tolengthen the average life expectancy
as much as possible. However, once
the average life expectancy increased, the goal became a healthy
life expectancy without illness orneed for nursing care. With this,the global emphasis has shifted toprevention.
Once we achieve longevity ingood health, it is time to start
thinking more about the meaningof life. This means one’s purpose inlife (ikigai in Japanese term), or function/role, and from this, goals suchas “active aging” and “productive
aging” have begun to be discussed.
Since my research targets primarily agricultural villages, I have had

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 20093

Roundtable Discussion

1•1 A leaf businessIrodori, Inc., where Tomoji Yokoishi
serves as vice president, commercializes
leaves and flowers that are used for garnish in the Japanese cuisine. The company creates added value by sorting andpackaging the leaves and flowers by color, size and quality. About 190 elderly
people work for the business and theiraverage age is about 70 years old.

many opportunities to meet seniorproblem lies with us in the way thatcitizens who work so hard that I
have wanted to ascribe the phrase“comatose youth” to young urban-

we view things. Instead of undervaluing them, we need to develop aites, but I realized that there actually

Annual Sales of Leaves

is a tendency in cities to see senior

tap the strength of senior citizens.
Therefore, I have invited here a（100 million yen）

2.5

2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06
Note: “Sales of packaged products only.

citizens only as recipients of services. In the perspective of large cities,

number of people who are tapping

the problem of aged society is tanta-various standpoints.
First, I would like to hear frommount to the problem of the elderly
who need nursing care. This simplistic association strikes me as very
odd.
Healthy senior citizens in agricultural villages are carving many opportunities for themselves. For
example, my report entitled“Community Development by

4

New Ways of Working in an Aged Societysocial system in which we can fully

the strength of senior citizens fromMr. Yokoishi, who succeeded with aleaf business•1 in Kamikatsu-cho,
Tokushima Prefecture.

Reducing Medical Expenses with a
Leaf Business­
Irodori Inc.

Older Persons,” which introduces
the activities of senior citizens inmorning markets and outdoor mar-small town in Tokushima Prefecture

kets, was published by the
Agricultural Policy ResearchCommittee in 1982, but it was criticized as an anachronism and as
something that would disturb themodern distribution system.
However, we need to realize that theincome generated by senior citizens
throughout Japan in activities suchas morning markets, outdoor markets, and roadside stations has today reached an amount that is equal
to the agricultural production of
Yamagata Prefecture, one of themain agricultural prefectures inJapan.
Are we undervaluing the powerof senior citizens? If so, I think thewith a population of approximately
2,000, and it has the highest proportion of the elderly in the prefecture.
One in two people is aged 65 or over,and normally it would not be unusual for such a town to disappear.
However, the leaf business gave senior citizens energy and revived thecommunity.
I myself was an outsider from
Tokushima City, so when I went to
Kamikatsu-cho, I was shocked to seethat senior citizens had routinely developed the unhealthy habit ofdrinking alcohol from the morning
because they had nothing to dowhen they awoke. I thought this wasawful. Like the proverb, “the devil

Yokoishi: Kamikatsu-cho is a very

“We need a social system thatgives a role to the elderly andfully tap their strength.

finds work for idle hands,” people
with nothing to do begin to meddle
in the affairs of others. Overly med-

pride in his/her work.
I started various systems uniquedlesome senior citizens are disliked,

to the town, such as ordering via
wireless fax, using computers thatand this vicious cycle within families
will spread throughout the commu-

were not yet common in Japan at thetime, and introducing POS systems,nity. I knew something had to be

bringing it to the point where people

done about this.
This is why I, who have neverthought from the perspective ofin their 70s and 80s would take orders on their own, using computers.
Looking back now and thinking

community development, began tothink it would be great if everyone
had a chance and that we had to create something to occupy them fromthe time they awake. That’s where I
came up with the idea of the leaf
business.•2 For senior citizens,

about why it went well, I do notthink that it was because of the concept of community revitalization ordevelopment, but rather because allsenior citizens were treated as individuals. I treated each person as abusiness owner and made a barcode
identifying each. So treating themas individuals has led to success, inmy view.
As a result, I think the biggest
change actually took place in theminds of senior citizens. Unlike mechanically completing work given
with predetermined results, theycame to put together things on theirown and think, and this practicestimulates their brain structureeach day.

I thought it would be good to use
familiar local resources, but the initial reaction of the senior citizens
was harsh.
They said, “Picking up things under your feet is collecting garbage.
There’s nothing as demeaning as living life collecting garbage.” Seniorcitizens are very proud in a sense.
Therefore, in order to make thisbusiness succeed, I thought it would
be important for each person to have”•2
In 1981, Mr. Yokoishi was looking for
new and stable business ideas for
Kamikatsu-cho when he stopped at a sushi restaurant on the way back from a
produce market in Osaka. A lady was sitting near him and she was so delighted
with a red maple leaf that came on her
dish that she wrapped it in her handkerchief to take home. Seeing this gave him
the idea of making business out of natural garnish.

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 20095

Roundtable Discussion

1

Contrary to the “comatose youth”

store function to a paralyzed hand.

that Mr. Ogawa mentioned, their
imagination, energy, and sensitivity

Therapy would require the paymentof medical fees. However, returning

to things is wonderful. The transfor-home and using the hand in themation was so great that I wasamazed that people who were oldsame way to sort leaves would bringin income. Therefore, he asked to be

could change this much.

sent back to his home as soon as

What’s more, this led to a reduction in healthcare expenditures.
Currently, Kamikatsu-cho has the

Kamikatsu-cho are too busy to getsick.

lowest healthcare expenditures
among all 24 cities and towns in

Ogawa: I am very impressed by theTokushima Prefecture, ¥300,000
lower per person than the highest
town and ¥200,000 lower than eventhe national average.
By reducing the healthcare expenditure of 10 million people by¥200,000, overall costs would de-“6

possible. The senior citizens ofidea of treating senior citizens as
business owners instead of wage
laborers. And the fact that this led toa reduction in healthcare costs isamazing. In cities, people pay money
to go to fitness clubs in order tocrease ¥2 trillion. This means that if
the government takes the lead andmaintain their health, but by working as business owners, people canearn an income and become healthy.

gives senior citizens a chance, evenwith an initial investment of 10 billion, ¥2 trillion could be saved inhealthcare costs.
Here is a funny anecdote: A seniorcitizen from Kamikatsu-cho was
hospitalized due to a stroke and received therapy at the hospital to re-

By making this dream a reality, theinitiative in Kamikatsu-cho is thebest practice of active aging.
Next, I would like to hear from
Mr. Horiike, who found new potential for senior citizens to participate
in society through NPOs in urban
areas.

Treating senior citizens as
individuals has led to our success.

New Ways of Working in an Aged Society”

Major Transformation by Acquiring
E-mailing Skills
NPO Senior SOHO Salon Mitaka

Horiike: I was employed by anrevenues due to the increasing
retirement of senior citizens. To
combat this, the city government
launched the SOHO City Concept
targeted at senior citizens with pen-electrical appliance manufacturer
for many years, and as a typicalsions, expertise, and personal connections, but in reality the city
government was unable to keepbusinessman, I knew almost noth-

track of these senior citizens. It is

ing about local matters and had little interest either.

possible to keep track of them in

When I was 58 and making a
website for a local university alumni

surance, but it is completely impossible to keep track of them in terms

association in the Mitaka area
where I live, almost no one couldof where and what kind of work
they did and what they want to douse email or the Internet, so I was
asked to teach them. I was busy andit was a bother, so first I took a poll

after retirement, so the city was

to see what people wanted to do ifthey could use the Internet.
If all the responses were boring,
I thought I could use this as a reason to refuse, but there were many
people with interesting thoughts, so
I was surprised and became motivated. It was such a pity that people
with such interesting thoughts
could not use the Internet, so I decided to try and help.
The direction of the classmatched the model business of
the SOHO City Concept•3 that theCity of Mitaka was launching atthat time.
Mitaka City is a typical residential city whose business tax revenues are less than tobacco tax
revenues. The city government wasvery worried about a decline in tax•3 SOHO City Concept
Mitaka City, a typical residential city,
has planned since early days to secure
the tax revenue by transforming the residents’ personal fixed assets to businessassets under the banner of “SOHO City
Concept.”

terms of fixed assets and health in-ready to give up when they encountered our activities.
From my experience, I thoughtthat email was the most needed IT
for senior citizens. If they could use
email, they would want to communicate with people, so they would
try to use it right away and makequick progress. Also, if they could
search the Internet, they would be
able to find out a person’s hobbies,
likes and dislikes, desired work,and so forth.
Senior citizens were very pleased
with the Internet access educationthat I provided for them. The Cityof Mitaka’s programming director
told me that an Internet businessfor senior citizens could be done asa commissioned program by the
Ministry of International Trade andIndustry and recommended that
I apply. I was fortunate to get

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 20097

Roundtable Discussion•4 Changes in the number ofsenior SOHO Salon Mitaka
members(persons)

300

285
250

250

220
200

200

180

150
120
100

0

70

99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 (FY)

Changes in the sales by
senior SOHO Salon Mitaka(10,000 yen)

10,000

9,300
7,700

8,000

5,500
4,700

0

1,200
530
99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 (FY)

93

86 85

79
66
59

50

0

30
25

99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 (FY)

•5
Concerning the “transformation fromcompany people,” one of the success factors, Mr. Horiike gives the following
tips: (1) Create business out of a working group (A group will naturally develop out of a mailing list), (2) Operate PC
advisor certification training (create
own curriculums and only allow those
who have completed the course to participate), and (3) Use comment, PR and
IT in a way the person is visible (Offer
many interactions beyond e-mailing,
about 200 meetings per month).

8

grown to ¥95 million in the last two
years. The majority of sales comebe extraordinary old men.”from payroll revenues, and initially

Ordinary old men tell young people
about one’s past, but “extraordinary

there was a lot of IT work, but now
70 percent is not IT work.•4 Many

old men” continue challenging

NPOs and administrators throughout Japan come to visit us, and weboldly what they do not know orunderstand. Many people felt thesame way, and in September 1999
we started with around 70 people.
Initially, I intended to dissolve

have continued for approximately
10 years since then.
When we decided to continue,
we also decided to clearly state inadvance the services that we could(%)

100 100

25

Salon Mitaka.
When I started this, I said, “Let’s

everyone wanted to continue, so webecame an NPO one year later andChanges in the ratio of
IT businesses in senior
SOHO Salon Mitaka

75

successor took over, sales havefrom MITI had been used up, but

4,700

4,000

2,000

¥5 million to start Senior SOHO

the business when the ¥5 million

6,500
5,700

6,000

1

New Ways of Working in an Aged Society

provide. We would not provide services for free; everything would be
for compensation. That would be
the most motivating factor, so it was
decided unanimously.
In the following year, an IT education program was planned for 7
million senior citizens throughout
Japan, and we got a contract for
3,500 out of 5,300 people from
Mitaka City and earned ¥15 million
for textbook development andteaching. That was a time when theconcept of collaborative work still
had not spread in society.
In the six years that I served as
representative director, annual sales
reached ¥60 million. Even since mycharge for this as well.
In my view, the role of Senior
SOHO Salon Mitaka is that of aplatform. People from companies
do not understand local matters,
and there is a gap between themand the community. In order toovercome this gap, Senior SOHO
Salon Mitaka acts as a platform.

Ogawa: Senior citizens in cities
work on a SOHO basis for pay, andthis seems to have fed into an NPO.
In order to locally use the knowledge accumulated by senior citizens
who worked at companies, it is important to have people and organizations that could link this withlocal needs. As in the phrase,“Community debuts are difficult,”
many retired people who worked
hard in companies cannot find opportunities to work in the community, and I think the efforts of Senior
SOHO Salon Mitaka really are pioneering in this respect. I wonder
what were the keys to your success?

Horiike: First is that our transformation from company people went
well.•5

Second is that we were able toshare a lot of local information bymaking a mailing list. At a time

were able to create a trusted peergroup locally.

when not even the city government

Ogawa: The producers that you

had a mailing list, I created a mailing list of more than 100 people formention in the fourth item are people who fulfill a role that combines

the first time in Mitaka City, whichplanning and management ability,

made it possible to exchange infor-

and this is very important. Many
failures of agricultural villages in-mation and make decisions quickly.
Third, as I mentioned earlier, isthat we made a policy of providing
services for pay.
Fourth is that we were able to establish a good network of supporters, players, and producers. For
example, players would go to makerepairs when the Internet went
down, while producers would think
about PR and other business as-

volve consultants suddenly comingin from cities and talking about
making money without knowing
about the local area. Of course, itwould be best for people who seriously can think in line with the local area to fulfill this role. As a
producer, what do you think, Mr.
Yokoishi?

Yokoishi: As a producer, it is im-pects of the work, and supporters
would come and help from time toportant to be able to reject common

time. These three groups of people
spontaneously emerged, and they
worked together while deciding
each of their roles through experience; thus, a network was established in the community.
Fifth is the collaboration with thegovernment, and sixth is that wesense and recognize what people do
not notice. For example, it is important to view senior citizens not only
as recipients but also as providers of
nursing care services. Next is theability to communicate to others.
Without the ability to communicate, it is difficult to clearly explain“

Activities without compensation tend not tocreate a sense of worth.

”Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 20099

Roundtable Discussion

1

one’s thoughts and be understood.

pays premiums, and the necessary

Understandable speech and expression also become important. If

and sufficient money is set aside

possible, it is better to be able to casually use bright and fresh words.
Lastly, there must be understanding
people around.

Ogawa: Whenever someone tries
something new, opposition
abounds. And the strongest opposi-

they used the system. They complain when their elderly family iscertified to the level of care needs
not as serious as they want, so thetion usually comes from one’s
spouse (laugh). However, when sup-come unclear.
In particular, around three years

heard by the strongest opposition,ago, there was a tremendous increase in the number of users of thewhich makes things easier.
Next I’d like to hear from Mr.
Ishida, whose senior citizen volun-

long-term care insurance system,
and from the perspective of the system’s sustainability, there was graveteer activities led to a reduction in
long-term care insurance
premiums.

concern that the system would collapse without a large percentage ofhealthy people.
The concept of care prevention
has taken root, but the importanceof staying healthy is not well heeded. In fact, senior citizens themselves don’t really believe they will
ever need long-term care.
Therefore, they do not want to pay
premiums for insurance that they
will not use. This is why I thoughtthat an incentive for healthy people
to stay healthy should be built into
the insurance.
When I thought hard about how
to achieve this, I noticed that people
involved in local activities were
healthy. In other words, people actively involved in local activities are

Local Volunteers Reduce Long-TermCare Insurance Premiums
Care Volunteer System of Inagi City

Ishida: I I am not a welfare specialist per se, but I have been involvedin this field for a little more than 10
years. A senior staff person once
told me that welfare is a matter ofhuman resources and experience,
and although I learned manythings, I always felt somehow unfamiliar with the community.
Long-term care insurance is justan insurance system, so everyone

New Ways of Working in an Aged Societythat they would lose money unlesssystem has deviated from its original intention, and its aim has be-

porters compliment one’s efforts
here and there, it eventually is

10

and used only for a small portion of
those who suffer an insured event.
People began to think, however,not likely to need nursing care, so I

against on its website.

•6 Inagi City Care Volunteer

thought that their insurance premiums could be made lower. This isParticipating in local activities actually benefits oneself and of course

the same concept as one used in au-

the community, and I believe that

tomobile insurance premiums.
Therefore, I proposed the Inagi

this then turns into energy for one
to continue to live there. With thisThis system evaluates the nursing carevolunteer work provided by the elderly,
gives points based on the evaluation,and issue, upon request, a grant to thevolunteer in exchange for the points he/she has earned. It started in September
2007.

City Care Volunteer System•6, a pro-belief, we continued to provide in-gram in which community activities
could reduce insurance premiums.

formation and deepen the debate,
and as a result, I think the distance

The number of people who par-between government and residents

ticipate in society would increase
because of the incentive of reduced

shrunk.
At first, I was told that this idea

long-term care insurance premi-

would not spread, but now it is re-ums. This participation in society
would benefit not only others but

ceiving a great deal of attention
from all over Japan, and even thealso oneself. My aim was for people

mass media is covering it as a trail-

to participate in society by doing
what they enjoy.
However, the national govern-

blazing idea.

ment said insurance premiums thatform the backbone of social security
could not be lowered at the convenience of a local government, so I
proposed a “special zone”.
Residents pay a cost to continue living in the community anyway, so I
thought it was only natural for thisto be decided by consent of the local residents.
Of course, there were criticisms
from residents. They worried that if
some people’s premiums decreased,others’ would increase, and they
thought that volunteer activities
should be without compensation.
However, controversy means that
there are points to discuss. Inagi
City continued posting the points
of discussion and opinions for and

SystemOgawa: The program in Inagi City
can be said to have opened newwork opportunities for senior citizens in volunteer activities that reduce their social security burden.
How are insurance premiums
reduced?

Ishida: Doing volunteer activities
locally earns stamps in the Keeping
Healthy Notebook (care volunteer
notebook). These stamps are collect-

ed and turned into points, which
can be redeemed if one so wishes ata certain time. This amount is deducted from long-term care insurance premiums.
There are several keys to the success of this program.
First, volunteers who normallyremained behind the scenes were

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200911

Roundtable Discussion

1

made the main players in this sys-

At first, we were only able totem. Volunteer activities, which
could be tracked only by the volun-

keep track of around 35 volunteers
aged 65 or over, but when the sys-

teers themselves in the past, now

tem was launched, 180 people came

would be recorded in a notebook.
Many expressed that they were very

forward, and now there are 280 one
year later. Gaining the ability to see

happy about this.

local potential was huge. There ac-

Next, volunteer activities could

tually is hidden strength in local ar-

be applied to one’s insurance premiums. The maximum annual

eas. In order to access this, it isnecessary to have a unit whoseamount that can be redeemed is¥5,000, which is only ¥400 perfunction is to change one’s perspective, coordinate, and organize argu-

month. ¥400 disappears with one

ments for and against. We

roundtrip bus fare. In order to get

administrators will act as coordina-¥5,000, one must volunteer four orfive times per month. Therefore,

tors. I believe that this will lead tobalance between the fact that resi-

this is not remuneration for work,
but nevertheless there were a tremendous number of people who

dents are the main players and theindirect curbing of social nursing
care costs.

wanted to participate.
Another major key to the successAs a result, I came to understandthat ultimately the most importantis that we were able to use volunteer activities already underway.
Rather than creating a new care volunteer system, we gave due appreciation to existing volunteers andslightly changed their value andmeaning in order to achieve thismuch success.

thing in Inagi is not managing thelong-term care insurance systemwell, but for residents to continue
living in the community even until
the end. The most important thingis to build an environment where
healthy people can continue living
healthily in Inagi and people who“
12

New Ways of Working in an Aged Societyneed care can continue living there

require support, and they would in-accordingly as well. With this, I wasable to reconfirm the starting point

cur service costs if they went to a
day care center, but instead they areof community welfare.

providers of services. This is a very

Ogawa: I visited Colorado Springs

big difference.
I think care volunteers transcend

in the U.S. in the past, and there thecity published a calendar whichtime and space. Now this system ismade it possible to check how

shows great potential for development of a new system where thesemuch volunteer activities reduced
the tax burden. I remember having
the impression that this was very

limited to Inagi, but I think thispoints can be redeemed elsewhereas well in the future.

important in terms of valuing
volunteers.
However, in Japan, records concerning volunteers are not kept
carefully in the first place. There isno evaluation of individuals and no

Ogawa: I have the impression that

overall evaluation of the effects locally either. Volunteerism isstressed, but measures are not taken

the notion of how to work in Japanto promote this, so Inagi City’s program is a new start. By the way,
what is the age composition of the
280 registered people?

1960s. There was a shift from selfemployment to company employment as the prevailing way ofworking.
As a result, many people interpret work as equal to wage labor,
but people remaining in agriculturalvillages have a little more flexible

Ishida: The oldest is 93 years old,
and there are four people in their90s. There are also four people who“

The Possibility of Working Styles
Other than Wage Labor

has changed dramatically since
Japan’s high growth period of the

The starting point of community welfare isto build an environment where residents cancontinue living until the end.

”
Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200913

Roundtable Discussion

1and diverse way of working. I camesenior citizens are healthy. In quan-

to understand that new ways
of working for senior citizens aretitative terms, over 80 percent of se-

being sought in cities as well.
Today you presented an overview
of the change in perspective on how

New Ways of Working in an Aged Society

Elderly women working for Irodori

senior citizens work, but I would

Inc. in Kamikatsu say they are toobusy to go to a day care center.

like to hear about the future

They have many things to do when

outlook.

they wake up in the morning, sothey feel like doing their best.

Yokoishi: In rural areas, there are

14nior citizens are healthy, so we haveto use the power of these people.

However, of course people have

many opportunities for senior citizens. They have abundant life expe-

also criticized this initiative in
Kamikatsu, typically saying that it isrience and wisdom as well as

cruel to make the elderly work. On

knowledge, so this can be used in
more places in the countryside thanthe contrary, I think that a daily lifein which one finds no meaning inin the city.

his or her role and existence is not

Particularly in the countryside
today, village governments and agricultural cooperatives no longer

part of a fulfilling life. Aren’t treating the elderly with respect and notallowing them to do anything orfunction very well as community
organizers, and local community is
beginning to collapse.
This was exactly the situation
when I came to Kamikatsu-cho, so
not only senior citizens but all residents had become dependant, andonly subsidies and public works
could be relied upon. Young people
were desperately trying to make adaily living and had no latitude tothink about the village and community on a larger perspective. That is
why senior citizens with wisdom
and extra time could open the way.
There is a tendency to see seniorcitizens as a burden, as socially vulnerable people who need nursing
care, but in reality a majority of

have any role completely different?
If you could see the bright, smiling faces of elderly women in
Kamikatsu, you would know theanswer. For both young and old, it
is important to be able to makeone’s own life decisions, and our
initiative still has a role to play inrealizing that kind of society.
What we are doing now from thisviewpoint is to look medically at thehealth of senior citizens and try to analyze this quantitatively. As I mentioned at first, since beginning thiswork, my feelings and experience tellme that the brain function of seniorcitizens has become more active andthat judgment ability and decisionmaking ability has increased, and asdata on medical expenses indicates,

senior citizens’ energy through thethey have become healthy.
We teamed up with Tokushima

leaf business and morning markets.

University to start a study/research
project that would attempt to prove
this quantitatively. There has beenmuch research on prevention, i.e.
how to prevent people from becoming in need of nursing care, butthere has not been much research in

The Concept of Paid Volunteers

Horiike: When I heard Mr. Ishidasay earlier that paid volunteer activities are being achieved under government leadership, it sparked mypursuit of healthier and more dynamic lives for healthy people. If it

interest.
We have been helping with acould be medically proven that us-

Community School•7 project sinceing computers to obtain new infor-

eight years ago, and now there arevolunteers called Study Advisors inmation every day, and performing
tasks by making judgments and de-all subjects at an elementary school.

cisions independently based on thisinformation will definitely lead tohealth, and if this could be shown

Volunteers serve around 3,000 person days at the elementary school
each year, and this is spreading toquantitatively, I am confident that
this would make a major change inother schools as well. Currently,
Study Advisors play such an important role that classes cannot function without them, but they are still
unpaid volunteers. In the process of
discussing how to make them paid
volunteers, there have always been
two conflicting opinions.
One is that we are just helpers,
not education professionals, so weshould not be paid. The other isthat we are professionals who display professionalism in the form ofhelping, so naturally we have to
study and the cost of studying also
should be paid.
I myself take the latter position,and that has not changed since I
started teaching IT to senior citizens
approximately 10 years ago. In otherhow people and society see and value senior citizens. This is why weare first collecting data now.

Ogawa: The International
Association of Gerontology World
Congress in 2013 is scheduled to beheld in Seoul with “digital aging” as
its theme. The Congress in Paris
held in July 2009 will also hold sessions on active aging, and I would
like to introduce the way in which
senior citizens work using ICT(Information and Communication
Technology) in Kamikatsu-cho.

I think it is important for theworld to focus on how to quantitatively substantiate the source of•7 Community School
In Mitaka City, the operation of public
elementary and junior high schools is
separated from the board of educationand is undertaken by the local community. This is part of the nationwide initiative based on an ordinance of the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology. In Mitaka, theoperation of all 15 public elementary
schools will be transferred to local communities by 2010.

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200915

Roundtable Discussion•8 Mitaka School Angels
They are School Safety Facilitators who
ensure the safety of pupils at school incooperation with teachers and staff, as
well as along the way to/from school,
working with volunteer civilian patrol.
Senior SOHO Salon Mitaka undertakes
this project commissioned by Mitaka
City.
•9 Inagi City Care Volunteer

System Quiz Challenge

The quiz is offered on the city website topromote understanding of the system ina fun way. There are 25 questions ranging from grade 1 through 3. See.
http://www.city.inagi.tokyo.jp/kurashi/
fukushi/kaigohoken/kaigosien/kentei/
index/html•10 Cooperative program with

Tokyo Verdy

Tokyo Verdy, a professional succor team
based in Inagi City, has endorsed theCare Volunteer System and supports itby rewarding the volunteers with a gift
such as a pedometer or a towel every
time a volunteer earns 1,000 points.

1

words, our level of teaching mighttant, but unless there is coordina-have been low, but that was no reason for designating us as volun-tion so that money has an effect inteers. We have been teaching at thispose from the beginning, I feel itlevel, but we are professionals who
do so, and that is different from pro-will make things more difficult in-fessional IT educators. I think thisstead. For example, Inagi’s care volunteers would take an entirely

debate will continue in the future,different form if the goal were to re-but hearing Mr. Ishida speak has
made me aware of new possibilities.

duce nursing care expenses. For

Likewise in terms of schools, theMitaka City Government pays ¥25

must have the will to coordinate;
otherwise, they will not go well.

million to an NPO for the activities

In addition, if we try to resolve
everything with government money,•8of the Mitaka School Angels ,which is in charge of security. A city
in Chiba Prefecture pays a security
firm 120 million for the same service. Both Mitaka’s NPO and the security firm in Chiba assign security
personnel in the same way during
the day, but the big difference is that
we involve the entire community,
including PTA, children’s club, senior club, neighborhood association, and neighborhood commercial
district, so someone is always
watching the school even on evenings and days off. In other words,
this naturally results in a community watch 365 days a year, 24 hours aday.
While hearing about Inagi’s program, I hopefully thought that the
incentive of reasonable payment forresidents to do volunteer work may
spread to other communities in the
future.

Ishida: Money definitely is impor16

New Ways of Working in an Aged Society

the end instead of being the pur-controversial matters, someone

the cost will be enormous, so there
is no need to systematize things thatthe community can normally do.
Communities with many people
who notice this become strong,with town planning councils, forexample. Unfortunately, Inagi is acommuter town, so young people
leave during the day, but we muststrengthen the community underthese circumstances. Because of thisissue, I intended to provide support
so that senior citizens of this community could feel useful. Our activities are only in the second year, but
the system has taken root as wehave promoted it through “Inagi
City Care Volunteer System Quiz
Challenge”•9 and a cooperative program with Tokyo Verdy•10.
The effects on senior citizens areclear. Half of the care volunteers answered that their daily life has moreof a rhythm, and they are healthierthan the national average. As wasmentioned earlier, I think it will
become increasingly important toquantify objective data.

Senior Citizens Need to Propose
IssuesOgawa: I have come to understandthat this new way of working in anaged society actually is sprouting up

new ways for Japanese people aswell as the world’s people to workAgeyond the age of 100. However,given the work situation of womenin Japan today, there are almost no

Population (10,000)

2050
Age

opportunities to make socially valued contributions. Under such circumstances, it is questionable

Japan’s demographic structure
continues to change. While it was

this society can really bemaintained.

Population (10,000)
Source: National Institute of Population andSocial Security Researchpyramid shaped in the 1930s, theThere are still many issues to bebase has narrowed with the decline
in the birthrate, and meanwhile
long life has become possible, so by

resolved regarding this new way ofworking in an aged society, andcitizen and over 80 percent of theseare healthy, it is wrong for society topresume that all senior citizens areon the receiving end of services andto offer a post-retirement life of
consumption only. We must build asociety that can actively use thepower of senior citizens throughout
their lives.
The most important thing is forsenior citizens themselves to propose new ways of working in response to the changes in Japanesesociety. This is not an issue for individuals to solve. Rather, I think it is
top runner Japan’s mission to makeproposals from the perspective of

1930

creasingly greater chance to live be-whether or not the framework of

As indicated earlier, in an era
when one in five people is a seniorJapanin an aged society.
In particular, women have an in-in various forms.

2050, it is expected to become
mushroom shaped.•11•11 Demographic structure ofwhile using the programs describedtoday as an entry point, I sensed
again the need to make these more
universal.

		(10/24/2008)
Photography: Masahiro Minato

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200917

Participants:RounAyako Fujita

Toshikazu Togari

		 Professor, Graduate School of Human		 Sciences, Osaka Universitydtab		 President, Japan Organization for		 Employment of the Elderly and		 Persons with Disabilities (JEED)

le
ss
scu
Di

ion

2

Rethinking
Productive Aging• Changes in the Image of Elderly People (1970s and onward)

Source: Ayako Fujita, “A Super-Aged Society
Is Supported by the Elderly,” p. 31 (Osaka
University Press, 2007)

18

1970s

1995

2005

2013

Proportion of
the elderly

7%-

14%-

20%-

25%-

Presence ofelderly persons

Seems to haveincreased

Impact beginning No longer
to be seen
unusualActively
incorporated

Term given tosociety

Aging society

Aged society

Mature society

Pattern ofsociety

Circular withthe working
generation at
the center

Circle begins to Toward an oval
become distorted shaped society
with two focus
pointsCompletion ofan oval shaped
society

AgeismHow society
views the elderly

Beyond ageism

Toward productive aging

Establishment of
productive aging

Unconditional
Policies forthe elderly (65+) protection

Doubts aboutprotection

Classification of
those needingprotection

Symbiotic society

Super-agedsocietyKazuo Otsu

Shigeo Morioka

		 Reporter, Yomiuri Shimbun,
		 Tokyo Headquarters,
		 Social Security Division

		 President, ILC-JapanIn 1976, ILC-USA president Robert N. Butler was the first to put forth theconcept of “productive aging.”
Instead of subjecting the elderly to discrimination and bias as weaklings,
productive aging acknowledges that all people become old and continue tobe increasingly important for society.
Over the past 30+ years, the environment surrounding the elderly haschanged significantly.
Japan leads the world in becoming a super-aged society, and here we will
think about the new society which Japan aspires to be, from the viewpointof productive aging.

Involvement in Productive Aging

Fujita: My expertise is in geriatricbehavioral science, and I encountered Dr. Butler’s•1 term “ageism”•2around 1970. Looking around me,
there was a great deal of discrimination against the elderly, so in an effort to eliminate this, I adopted
ageism as my research focus. Dr.
Palmore•3 also appeared aroundthat time, so there was lively discussion about ageism, which was becoming a social issue even in the•1 Robert N. Butler, M.D.
Born in the US in 1927.
Doctor of Medicine. ILC-USA’s
President and CEO, Professor of Department of Geriatrics, Mount Sinai Schoolof Medicine in NY.
Committed to establish the National Institute on Aging of the National Instituteof Health, Dr. Butler assumed its founding director. He was awarded a Pulitzer
Prize in 1976 for his book “Why Survive? Being Old in America.” in which
he advocated ‘productive aging.’ “Longevity Revolution” was published in2008.
•2 Ageism
Organized stereotyping and discrimination against the elderly on the groundsof their old age “Why Survive?-being
old in America Published by Medical
Friend Co.)
•3 Erdman B. Palmore
Erdman B. Palmore directed gerontology
and research projects at Duke University. In his book, “Ageism: Negative andPositive (Published by Akashi Shoten),”
he defines ageism as “negative or positive bias or discrimination against acertain age group.”

United States.
Following this, Dr. Butler put
forth the concept of productive aging. I came across this when I myself was thinking that simply
eliminating ageism alone would not
resolve the problems unless the elderly gained a clear sense of direction in living, so I clearly remember
feeling relieved.
In Japanese society, the custom ofrespecting the elderly is still relatively strong, so for better or worse,
biases toward the elderly go unchallenged without being seen or recog-

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200919

Roundtable Discussion

2•4 Advisors on employment ofnized as ageism. The concept ofsaid that a social system must be

Management/labor consultants, management consultants for SMEs, social
insurance and labor consultants, andother professionals and practitioners
who are familiar with the issues involved in employing the elderly are certified as Advisors on employment of theelderly and assigned to each Prefectural
Associations for the Employment for the
purpose of assisting companies in developing conditions for employing theelderly.

ageism itself does not seem to becreated to make this possible. I was
impressed by the fact that he was

the elderly

understood in Japan.
In the United States, in the pro-actively involved in doing this.

cess of abolishing the mandatory retirement system and so forth, there

We began our activities in 1990
by establishing the ILC in thewas discussion about what ageism

United States and then in Japan.

is, and efforts have been made to

The ILC was established for theeliminate it. However, in the

purpose of conducting surveys andresearch, publicity, enlightenment

Japanese labor field, there is still astrongly entrenched notion that it ispitiful to make the elderly work.
Under these circumstances, I havejoined together to form an alliance.

of working to eliminate ageism, we

Productive aging is a concept that
forms the backbone of the ILC.

Togari: As its name indicates, theJapan Organization for

vantages. The first is that it caneliminate ageism. The second is

Employment of the Elderly andPersons with Disabilities was estab-that elderly individuals can feel satisfied with living in society. And thethird is that if the elderly are active,then society is that much more active. I think productive aging is upheld by these three pillars.

lished for the purpose of creating asociety where anyone, regardless ofage or disability, can work to his or
her satisfaction and heart’s desire. In
order to promote employment of
the elderly, we conduct various programs, including consulting and assistance to employers. Productive
aging is an essential concept for realizing the society to which we
aspire.
In terms of consulting and assistance, we first placed advisors on
employment of the elderly•4 in eachMorioka: I first met Dr. Butler
when he came to Japan in 1987 toattend a symposium on aging issues, and I heard about the conceptof productive aging then.
Dr. Butler said that the elderly
live in diverse ways, but he wanted
them to somehow participate in society, whether by volunteering,working for a salary, or getting involved in local activities. He also

Rethinking Productive Aging

Currently, eleven countries haverecently come to think that insteadshould work to create a new formof productive aging which, in turn,will deter ageism.
Productive aging has three ad-20

activities and so forth based on theconcept of productive aging.

prefecture to provide advice on improving a work environment so thatelderly workers can work to theirfull potential. For small and medi-um-sized companies, we create andthat came into force in April 2006,

propose specific improvement measures in line with a company’s

employers must raise the mandato-

needs.
In addition, we provide training
and workshop sessions for employ-ry retirement age, introduce a continuing employment system, or
eliminate mandatory retirement. Asof last June, two years after the law

ers and managers at workplace, ascame into force, already 96 percent

well as guidance on how elderlyof companies with 51 or more em-

employees work based on theircharacteristics, how to utilize them,ployees were addressing this insome way.

how to develop their abilities, andhow to support their relationships

According to a survey conductedlast June, companies where anyone

in the workplace and their health

who so desires can work until the

management.

age of 65 comprise only 39 percent

For middle-aged and elderly
workers, we provide post-retire-of all companies, but our aim is toraise this to 50 percent by FY 2010.

ment life planning workshops andconduct surveys and research on
working conditions for the elderly

It is true that many companies
wonder why they need to extend
employment for everyone who sowith the cooperation of companies,
industry groups, and scholars.

desires when the mandatory retirement system provides a chance tohave unproductive and uncooperative employees resign. However, wewant companies to think hardabout whether workers are really
happy when they are uncertain to
fit the company’s standards as they
approach the age of 60.
Many workplaces in Japan are

Currently, we are focusing on
two objectives.
The first is to create an environment where everyone who wants towork can do so until the age of 65.
According to the Revised Law
Concerning Stabilization of
Employment of Older Persons•5“•5 Revised Law Concerning

Stabilization of Employmentof Older Persons

Article 9 of the Law Concerning Stabilization of Employment of Older Persons
was revised such that the following werechanged from obligations to make an effort to compulsory obligations: 1. raising the mandatory retirement age to 65,
2. adopting systems for continuing employment until age 65, or 3. abolishingmandatory retirement age.

Rather than merely being able to work,
it is important for a person to be evaluated and”treated fairly and to work to his or her satisfaction.
Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200921

Roundtable Discussion•6
According to a survey by the Japan Organization for Employment of the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities,
55.3% of companies with three or moreregular workers aged 65 or over also
employ workers aged 70 or over.

2

where employees work together, soplace conditions so that people canthis teamwork suffers when workers feel uncertain, and the work-

work from age 65 to 70.•6 By 2012,

place atmosphere worsens when
workers are always gauging theirsupervisors’ feelings, and thus ad-

baby boomers

If employment rates by gender and age
for those aged 66 and over remain thesame, by 2015 when everyone in thebaby boomer generation will be at least
66, there will be 2.24 million baby
boomer employees, which is 2.65 million, or 54%, less than in 2005.
Notes:
1. Data for 2005 is from the National Census
by the Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications.
2. The number of employees in 2015 was calculated by multiplying gender- and agebased population numbers from the“Population Projections for Japan (medium-variant)” of the National Institute ofPopulation and Social Security Researchby the male and female employment rates
for those aged 66-68 in 2005 according to
the National Census.
3. Numbers in brackets indicate employment
rates for males on the left and females on
the right.

versely impacting productivity, in
my view.

65, but it decreases precipitously af-

In fact, many companies where
everyone who wants to work is al-

ter age 65. Despite their strong de-Rethinking Productive Agingsire to work, in reality they cannot
work. What will happen when thetended the mandatory retirement

baby boomer generation reaches
age 65 and leaves the labor market

age and introduced a continuing

all at once? Currently, around 4.9

employment system. When workers know that they can work evenmillion out of 6.8 million baby
boomers are employed, but if overhalf of these leave the labor mar-after the age of 60, loyalty to andlove for the company develops, andworkers want to cooperate with

we can imagine.

each other and work hard. This iscertainly not negative to companies,

As of last June, 12.4 percent ofcompanies ensure job security until

so I hope that more companies will
actively introduce this system.
The second objective is to put inthe age of 70, but we aim to increase
this to 20 percent by FY 2010.
In order to achieve these two ob-

Employed persons (in 10,000s)
500

ket•7, the impact will be bigger than

4.89

million people

Decrease of154
Born in 1947

(Age 58)

2.65

86.0
55.4

million people

165

250
Born in 1948
(Age 57)

86.7
57.9

170
Born in 1949
(Age 56)

87.4
60.0

0

2.24

million people

66

Born in 1947

43.1
23.1

Born in 1948

45.9
25.1

Born in 1949

49.3
27.4

(Age 68)(Age 67)(Age 66)2005

22

age of 65. The labor market statistics tell us that the percentage ofworking people is high, up to age

lowed to work until the age of 65
say that they are happy to have ex-•7 Employment situation ofpeople born in 1947 will be the firstgroup of baby boomers to reach the

75
83

2015

jectives, we provide subsidies tocompanies that extend the mandatory retirement age to 65 and thatcolumn will help to find the answer
to the question of how we shouldchange.

provide continuing employment to

Actually, I personally wonder

the age of 70 for all employees who
desire to work.

about the definition of “the elderly.”
Generally, “the elderly” is said to

Otsu: At Yomiuri Shimbun, wemean age 65 and over, but thismerely stems from a half-century-

started a column called “TheLongevity Revolution” this year.

old report by the United Nations re-

When we started this, we wereage category among others; there isno scientific basis behind it. It hasaware of the problem that although
we have fulfilled the human desire
for longevity, not all elderly persons

garding the elderly which used thisnot been proven that morbidity ris-are happy with their lives.

es or ability decreases from the ageof 65. Rather I realized that this is

Looking at the data, there werealready 36,000 centenarians injust a convenient convention foruse in the world of demography. If

2008, and this is expected to rise tonearly 700,000 by 2050•8. The image of the elderly has changed con-this is the case, then we, including
the media, must think about whether 65+ really means the elderly.

siderably from a short time ago,
hasn’t it? In that case, individuals
and society must also change in response to this. We hope that thisAccording to an independent
public opinion survey by Yomiuri
Shimbun, in response to the question, “From what age should people

Centenarians
0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

548
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2030

•8 Changes in the Number ofCentenarians

Source: Press release materials from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

968
1,740
3,298
6,378
13,03625,554
273,000
683,000

2050

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200923

Roundtable Discussion

2

be called ‘the elderly’?”, only 15 per-Otsu: Dr. Butler himself told me

cent answered, “From 65.” Themost common answer was “Fromthat he realized the danger of theword “productive aging.” I also felt

70” at 41 percent, while 27 percent

when I was writing articles that pro-answered, “From 75.” It is clear
from these results that the age clas-

ductive aging tended to be received
as a word limited to people withsification of 65+, which was estab-money, health, and motivation,

lished a half century ago and has

which is different from the original

had a major impact on policy andour lives, no longer makes sense.

intent, so the question is whether
people who are bedridden, people

Taking a step further, the use ofage as a standard is not consistent

with dementia, and other unhealthypeople are excluded.

with the diverse aging patterns of

The word “productive” causes

humans in the 21st century. Whatsuch misunderstandings. Some peo-does the elderly mean in this newera, and how should individuals

ple in Japan have suggested changing this word to “purposeful (ikigai),”and society age? These are questions that need to be considered inorder to understand productive ag-“successful,” or “active,” but none ofing, in my view.

person’s dignity regardless of any individual’s situation. Including a person who becomes ill or bedridden, I
think the concept of viewing theperson’s life positively must be built
into society.
“The Longevity Revolution” column introduces a modern image ofthe elderly, who are not simply “super seniors” but have been scientifically proven to have higher athletic
ability and are becoming different
from the previous generation of theelderly. However, it is still criticizedas referring only to people who areable. I strongly feel that I must bevery careful in my reporting, fully
aware that the true meaning of Dr.
Butler’s productive aging could be
misinterpreted by the world and

The Danger of Words and the Scope of
Productive Aging

Fujita: Some scholars who study
aging issues say that the study of
productive aging is a “study of theelite.”
In other words, this is a message
directed at the “elderly elite” whoare healthy, positive-thinking, mentally sound, and self-composed.
Some say that we must be careful ofthe concept of productive aging, because it could lead to discrimination against people who are notamong the “elderly elite.” What do
you think about this?

24

Rethinking Productive Agingthese really click. In short, we needto create a society that affirms eachthat this could produce the opposite

ing able to work. We aim for a soci-effect.

ety in which everyone who sodesires can work until age 65 andFujita: I also had trouble translat-

for more companies that will em-

ing the word “productive” into
Japanese. I wanted to avoid the use

ploy people until they are 70.

of its Japanese counterpart whichthat people can work to their full

implies economic abilities. I
thought of using the Japanese coun-potential, receive fair wages andtreatment for the value of their la-

terpart for “creative” (creating a newbor, and work to their satisfaction.

way of life for the elderly), but instead

A person’s abilities and accumu-of forcibly converting the term into
Japanese, I believe it is better to use

However, I think we need to ensure

lated knowledge must be valued,

productive aging as is, as it is a goodand if a person is still able to develop new abilities, then conditions

catch phrase.
In terms of addressing its risk ofmust be in place for this to happen.
Otherwise, people are just made tobeing interpreted in a discriminato-

work, and this is not productive ag-

ry way, I think that productive aging
is not a slogan that ALL senior citizens should aim toward, but rather

ing in the true sense.
In addition, I always wonder how

only those who want to do so. For
example, I think it is about creating
an employment basis which allows
those who want to work even in an
old age to work. What do you think
about this?

far the scope of productive aging
reaches. I personally think it is productive that even if a person reaches

building that kind of society, a society in which even the elderly andpersons with disabilities can work if
they have the desire and the motivation. Instead of talking about being over a certain age, we shouldmake proposals based on building
such a society.

age 90 or 100, he/she can live andwork somehow in society and thishas still some value to others.
For example, a 100-year-old person could be well and active, or tella young person about his or her experiences. It is important not to bealways passive in life. If we say, “existence itself is valuable,” it may
give a passive impression, so living
a little more actively and doingsome kind of work will have value
to others or be valued by others, I
think it is also productive aging.

Togari: Taking this a step further, I

Fujita: For example, elderly per-don’t think it is only a matter of be-sons who are under the doctor andMorioka: I also understand it as

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200925

Roundtable Discussion

2

also use long-term care insurance
are producing employment in thefields of medicine and long-term

also sees productive aging from thisaging, but how far should this beextended?

wider perspective.

ing refers to those who have themotivation to actively produce
something. I wonder what Dr.
Butler meant.

Morioka: Dr. Butler wanted toeliminate ageism at the time, so I
think he put forth this concept sothat people could participate in thelabor market productively insteadof being forced to retire based onage discrimination.
Since then, there have beenchanges in the environment and society surrounding the elderly, as
well as changes in the attitudes ofthe elderly themselves, and as wasjust mentioned, it is very importantthat we are changing to a viewpoint
in which the elderly produce value
just by virtue of their existence. If
we think in this way, the scope of“Rethinking Productive Aging

encouragement to society. Dr. Butlercare, so that may also be productive

My instinct is that productive ag-

26

productive aging widens. For example, being healthy at age 100 is an

Otsu: I also wondered for a longtime about the scope of productive
aging. As Mr. Morioka has just said,
when I interviewed Dr. Butler directly, he said that productive aging
includes not only work for pay but
also living within a family.

Fujita: In my research on productive aging, I propose the concept ofintent/motivation. Actually, even if aperson does no productive activity,
as long as he or she has the intent
and will for productive aging, I
think it can be called productive aging even if a person is bedridden.
This thought is what led me to create a productive aging intent scale.
By creating a scale, it is possible toteach people who are not positive
thinking to become so, and I think
it would be great if this could leadto activity for some people.

We must recognized a sense of
apprehension included in the phrase“Productive Aging.””

Activity, as Mr. Togari said, car-sumptions held by the public, I

ries with it the issue of whether or
not an individual is able to work to

think something will change.

his full potential and is satisfied

Japan Organization for Employmentof the Elderly and Persons with

with working. Previously, an elderly
person engaged in volunteer work
said, “I don’t really want to come,but I do because I was recruited.”
This appears to be productive aging
in terms of activity, but there is nointent/motivation.

According to a survey by the

Disabilities, companies that employ
people until age 65 continue employing them until age 70. This isbecause they realized there is actually no problem in reality, and this suggests that even 70-year-olds canwork in the same way.

Using Data to Undermine the Myth of
Old Age

I want this fact to be studied froma scientific angle, but the Ministryof Health, Labour and Welfare has

not use their abilities well in society

not gone this far yet. Campaigns
and subsidies are important, but wealso need to promote this kind ofis that there is a wall created by themyth of old age. That is, many people assume that because a person isinvestigative research, and we in the
media also need to communicate
this kind of data to the public.

Otsu: One reason the elderly can-65 years old, his or her ability falters, thirst for knowledge and memory declines, efficiency deteriorates,and so forth. Using scientific data, I
want to introduce the elderly of today. By showing objective and concrete data, if I can put an end tothese misunderstandings and as-“

Fujita: I would like to provide a
typical example from the standpoint of gerontological psychology.
When an elderly person and ayoung person are given a memory
test at a laboratory, the elderly person’s performance is not very good.

Productive aging begins not only withactivity but also with intent.

”

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200927

Roundtable Discussion•9 Prospective memory
Memory regarding acts to be done in the
future as opposed to retrospective memory, which is memory of the past.

2

However, in daily life, in prospec•9

tive memory experiments (e.g. afairs can be assessed by the sound a

person is handed a cell phone and asked topipe makes when it is tapped. In
this sense, it is a good idea for companies to pass down experience, in-contact the laboratory by cell phone at
12:00 and 3:00), the elderly person

performs better than the young
person.
This is because the elderly person

together older and younger
workers.
Conversely, elderly employees
may be assigned to do minor prepa-

cal ability certainly does decline,

ratory work while younger employees are assigned to move heavy

decline in performance in daily life.
This ingenuity might also be calledobjects, or do other dangerous“wisdom.”
Even in the case of pianists, theyeffective to form teams that makegood use of the experience andcannot play fast pieces when theyknow-how accumulated by the elderly over many years.
I heard a surprising story from an

get older, but by choosing pieces
with emotion, they can performmusic that has a different depth
from when they were younger.
Quantity decreases, but this can becompensated for by quality. There is
now a trend starting to measure theability of the elderly in terms of everyday problems instead of intelligence tests like up to now.

Togari: There are some cases inwhich elderly employees conduct
inspections and younger employees
assist it when a company that has
employees over age 70 pairs together younger employees with older
employees. Regardless of how
much sensors are developed, inspection is largely dependent on experience and intuition amassed
over many years. For example, in a

Rethinking Productive Aging

tuition, and know-how by pairing

has his or her own ingenious devices for remembering, so physiologibut this is not directly linked to a28

chemical complex, the state of af-

work. However, I think it is moreindustrial physician at an automobile manufacturer that falls, stumbles, and other workplace accidents
occur more frequently among
young workers than elderly workers. This is probably because elderly
workers are more careful not to fall
due to their many years of experience and intuition. However, having an accident can lead to major
damage to elderly workers.
Therefore, in order to prevent accidents, companies install elevators,
remove hazardous materials fromwalkways, and make floors flat sothat they are barrier free. As a result,overall workplace accidents, including those involving young workers,
will decrease, and productivity will
increase. In the end, then, I always

say that treating the elderly well is aplus for the entire company.
The healthy life expectancy has

The Mindset of the Elderly

increased, nutrition has improved,

Fujita: Through various attempts

and people have become physicallystronger, so I have promoted theat productive aging, it is expectedthat we will be able to overcome

employment of 60- to 65-year-olds

ageism and create an accepting soci-without any thought to physicalety. What should the elderly keep inmind here?

conditions, but no research has
been done for those over age 65. In
this sense, as Mr. Otsu said earlier,
we may need to clarify this with ob-

Togari: From now on, the propor-

jective data in order to persuadetion of the elderly will increase, andso the elderly will tend to monopo-

employers and managers in the fu-

lize various social resources. Even

ture. Our organization has started
to do this kind of research with thenow, while 70 percent of social security budget goes toward the el-cooperation of occupational medicine and ergonomics experts.

derly, the budget for child-rearing isMorioka: In the last roundtable
talk, we discussed a leaf business•10

called Irodori

in Tokushima
Prefecture where people aged over
70 and 80 were working actively.
Irodori is currently working with
Tokushima University to quantitatively analyze from a medical perspective how much stronger theelderly working at Irodori have become since they started working.
Instead of just talking vaguely about
working hard by using mental power and stamina, if it could be medically proven that using one’s headand body to work definitely leads tohealth, then I think the view of theelderly and attitudes of society
would change completely.

•10 Irodori leaf businessIrodori Co., Ltd. merchandises leaves
and flowers used as decor in Japanesecuisine. Value was added to these products by sorting them according to color,size, and quality. The company employs
approximately 190 elderly people withan average age of 70.

much lower than in other developed countries. Under such circumstances, each elderly individual
must be a little more conscious ofwhether or not the Japanese society
and economy will be able to survive
in the future.
I think it is important for them toreally feel determined to support
society. Their notion of now wanting to be supported by young people because they had originally
fueled Japan’s rapid growth ends up
making themselves into weaklings.
Unless those who can support society actually do start to support society regardless of age, 21st century
Japan will lose its viability. In myview, not only working under an employment relationship, but also volunteering and being determined to
do what one can at home, depending

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200929

Roundtable Discussion

2

as little as possible on others, are im-

idea of citizenship in which eachportant. Otherwise it will be impossible to provide public assistance toindividual contributes somehow to
the good of the country, so I think

those who really need it.

this area is very weak. However, I

Considering that the burden on
young people will increase greatly

do not think that all of the elderly,in the future, I think it is the duty ofthe population, are weaklings who

the elderly themselves to also haveshould be protected.

the heart to work hard for the general good.

Otsu: As one who writes articles

Morioka: I think it is important toon social security, I am always
forced to think about what social

have social training so that the elderly feel motivated and aware.
Rather than providing only systemic help and monetary support, I
think training is necessary so thatthey can think on their own about
what kind of lives they will lead andwhat they view as important in life.
Role models are also necessary, butidealizing these alone is a problem,
so I feel that there needs to be amood or climate in society whereby
each individual is encouraged topromote his or her own motivation
and awareness.
Dr. Butler said that rights comewith duties and responsibilities.
President Obama also referred to “anew era of responsibility” in his inaugural address. I think people
must recognize that they are citizens first before being elderly persons, and they must act as citizens
first.

Fujita: Generally speaking,Japanese people are not used to the30

Rethinking Productive Aging

who comprise over 20 percent of

weaklings are. This was mentioned
earlier, but is the necessary support
really getting to people who needpublic assistance, people who wemust help with our taxes? For example, if we think about insurance
premiums and tax payments, I feelstrongly that we must also extend apublic hand to the impoverished intheir 20s and 30s who are distanced
from the social safety net, as well as
to young couples who are burdened
mentally and financially withchildrearing.
The elderly have no income andare becoming weaker physically, sothey are referred to as weaklings,
but as I said repeatedly, the elderly
actually have tremendous abilities
and assets, so we cannot make cuts
across the board based only on age.
Sometimes young people are weaklings, and sometimes there are people who are old but are blessed withabilities and wealth. Unless wethink of a new approach to social
security from this perspective, it isas clear as day that finances will not
last, so I feel that this should beconsidered seriously.

Fujita: The notion that the elderly

the average life expectancy, which
continues to be the highest in theworld. However, as Mr. Otsu mentioned at the beginning, I am notquite sure whether or not the elder-

are weaklings is also a problem intextbooks. In textbooks for compul-

ly themselves are truly happy aboutsory education, the elderly and per-In Japan, the era of wishing forlong life is over, and now we havesons with disabilities are portrayed
stereotypically as poor, pitiful peo-being able to live long.

ple to whom we should be kind.

entered an era in which the qualityof long life for each person is ques-This may teach students to betioned. Unless elderly people havekind to the elderly and persons withdisabilities, but it only looks at thetheir own goals and vision about

weak from above and sympathizes
instead of working towards making
use of their abilities. This is ludicrous even from an educational
standpoint. In that sense, society
must change, and the mind-set ofthe elderly also must change.

Morioka: Eleven countries are
members of the ILC, and in the process of exchanging various information, I have felt that Japan is at the
top level in terms of both systemand society as a place for the elderly
to live. This is directly reflected in“what to do with their long life, they
will become dissatisfied and grumbling senior citizens.
Putting a social framework inplace, of course, is important, but I
am hoping that a Japanese-style
productive aging comes from eachelderly person becoming aware of
his or her position as a member ofsociety and taking responsibility asa member of society.

		(1/21/2009)
Photography: Masahiro Minato

It is also necessary foreach elderly person to realize andtake responsibility for supporting society.

”

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200931

Participants:

RounAkira Kajimoto

Shuichi Nakamura

		 Senior Researcher, Asahi Institute of
		 Journalismdtab		 Director, Social Insurance
		 Medical Fee Payment Fund

le
ss
scu
Di

ion

3

Hope and Security inan Aged Society withFewer Children
Proposal for Employment-Based Life Security• Trust in others/trust in government
0.70

Percentage of people who answered that they trust others and government, 1999-2004
South Korea

Trust in government

0.60
0.50

UK

Denmark
USA
SwedenFrance0.40

Germany

0.30

Japan

0.20
0.10
0.00
0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30
0.40
Trust in others

0.50

0.60

0.70

• What is your image of your own old age and your children’s future?
Single answer (%)

Source: World Values Survey – Trust in others/trust in civic service
Source: Public Opinion Survey on the Future
Image of Japanese Society, 200732

1. I am confident that we will continue to have a comfortable life.
2. We may not be able to maintain our current lifestyle,		 but I am fairly confident.
3. I am a little worried that we will have to curb our current lifestyle.
4. I am worried that our life will become quite difficult.
5. I don’t know/no answer

3.9
23.9
42.0
29.1
1.0

Takashige Komoda

Taro Miyamoto

		 Director General, Research Institute for
		 Advancement of Living Standards

		 Professor, Graduate School of Law,
		 Hokkaido University

The net of trust in Japanese society is said to be rapidly weakening. Trustin others is still high compared with other countries, but trust in politics
and government is diminishing greatly. A vicious cycle of uncertainty anddistrust especially permeates the social security system, which is the backbone of life in an aged society with fewer children.
Considering that over 70 percent of people feel uncertain about the future,what is now necessary to ensure that Japan becomes a hopeful, dependable,
and active society? We looked at this from various viewpoints.

Looking Back at the 10 Years since
the Publication of “Social Security
and National Livelihood”

Kajimoto: In 1999, the Ministry of
Health and Welfare published awhite paper entitled “Social Security
and National Livelihood,” which
provided an outlook on social security in the 21st century. Ten years
have passed since this white paper
was published, and I have a strong
impression that people have rapidly
lost trust in social security. I would
like to hear everyone’s stance on how

we should interpret these ten years,
and what will happen going forward.
First, I would like to summarize,
from my standpoint as a newspaper
journalist who has covered social security for many years. The Koizumi
Administration made sweeping reforms in pensions, long-term care,and healthcare, but reforms without
really increasing the burden throughhigher consumption taxes and othermeans were unrealistic. Since then,there has been a polarization of the
middle class, a widening disparity
between rich and poor, and othersimilar phenomena, all of which can

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200933

Roundtable Discussion

3

be regarded as the expense paid forreforms. In addition, from last year
through this year, the world has fall-tion of health insurance financesalong with the collapse of the so-en into a global recession, resulting

called bubble economy, growth inin an inability to secure financial resources and a serious employment

social security expenses greatly exceeded growth in the economy.

crisis. The best effort was made at re-

Therefore, in the latter half of theforms, but I think people are more

1990s, hitherto unimaginable dis-

uncertain now than ever before.
If I were to summarize these ten

cussions about rethinking social security, such as abolishing employees’

years, I would say that they weremarked by thrashing around in anpensions and privatizing health insurance, occurred in the Economic

attempt to seal up financial resources

Strategy Council.

for social security and to balance

While such extreme discussions

benefits and expenses under the circumstances of a rapidly aging society

occurred, social security expenses asa percentage of national income roseand a flagging economy.
First of all, I would like to hearfrom Mr. Nakamura, who played afrom 13.5 percent in 1990 to over 20
percent in 2000. In this context, theWhite Paper on Social Security andcentral role when the Ministry of
Health and Welfare wrote this white

National Livelihood attempted tostart over and analyze social security.

paper.

In these ten years since 1999,
there have been many discussions
and opinions about social security,and there have been attempts at bipartisan discussions as well, butthese were unsuccessful, and ten
years ended without establishing aclear direction. In terms of the pension problem, many opinions havebeen expressed, one of which wasthat basic pensions alone should be
financed with taxes, but we are yet
to see a convergence of opinions.
With regard to healthcare system reform as well, after a long debate, wearrived at a healthcare system for theold-old, but there is still debate overabolishing it, and a national consen-

Nakamura: I would like to talk firstabout the history behind the “Social
Security and National Livelihood”
white paper. The social security system was significantly expanded in
1973, which is known as the firstyear of welfare. In the 1980s, social
security grew almost consistently
with economic growth. From 1980
to 1990, social security benefits almost doubled from 24 trillion yen to
47 trillion yen, but social security
expenses as a percentage of national
income only rose from 12% to13.5%. This is indicative of the factthat the economy was also growing.

34

However, as seen in the deteriora-

Hope and Security in an Aged Society with Fewer Children — Proposal for Employment-Based Life Security

sus has not been reached. I dare say

local governments. The government•1 “The Grand Canyon has nothat these ten years were full of confusion and turmoil.

strongly felt that a further expansion

A comparative phrase used to express
that while Japanese tourist sites take theutmost measures and regulate behavior
in order to prevent accidents, in the
United States, there are not even fencesat the Grand Canyon. It is used to raiseawareness of “individual responsibility.”This phrase became famous in Ichiro
Ozawa’s book, Japan’s Rebuilding Plan
(Kodansha, 1993).

Komoda: 1999 was a year in which
an LDP-LP coalition and an LDP-LPKomeito coalition government werein expenses would lead to economic
and fiscal failure. Therefore, emphasis was placed on creating an efficientsystem by curbing increases in thefiscal burden. I think “the macro

established. The average economic

economic slide system” of pensions

growth rate was around 0.8 percent
during the ten years from 1993is also a result of this, but that in-when the Hosokawa coalition government was established until 2002,
so 1999 was the middle of the “lostdecade” in which the Japanese economy suffered from non-performing
loans. The average annual growthrate from 2002 to 2007, said to be aperiod of economic expansion longer than the Izanagi boom period,
was over two percent, so the
Koizumi Administration was blessedwith the fortune of a global economic boom.
With the reorganization of cabinet
ministries in January 2001, theCouncil on Economic and Fiscal
Policy was established, and the
Koizumi Administration began in
April 2001. I helped for 18 months inthe secretariat and saw the so-called
Koizumi structural reforms quite
closely, but the source of debate overstructural reforms and deregulation
was Ichiro Ozawa’s statement, “TheGrand Canyon has no fences.”•1 The
biggest problems under discussion in
the Council at the time were social
overhead capital, social security, andthe relationship between central andfences”

cluded, there are many things that
only the Koizumi Administration
could have done. At the same time,
however, I cannot deny that muchstress was placed in this process, andwe are now paying the price in someareas.

Miyamoto: People tend to argue
that these ten years were dominatedby Koizumi’s structural reforms,
which ruined Japan, but I think weneed to take a step back in order to
see the big picture, to see the current
situation accurately.
I think there were two opposing
trends which led to the current
situation.
The first was a trend toward improving social security in Japan,
namely conducting universalistic reforms, such as efforts led at the timeby Mr. Nakamura. I refer to social security and employment security collectively as “life security.” Japan until
then had focused on employment
security, while social security functioned as a supplement to this.
Employment security had been
built on two pillars: the custom of

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200935

Roundtable Discussion

3•2 Trend of Social Security

long-term employment in publicployment in public corporations and

1995
		
		

Recommendations of theAdvisory Council on Social
Securitylarge companies, also was beginning

1997
		

Enactment of Long-Term Care
Insurance Law

corporations and large companies inmajor cities, and the system of creating jobs through public works in ru-

1998
		
		

Mid-term summary regarding
social welfare basic structuralreforms

White Paper on Social Security andNational Livelihood was published,

1999
		

Publication of “Social Security
and National Livelihood”

2000
		

Long-Term Care Insurance Law
goes into force

2006
		
		

Enactment of the Services andSupports for Persons with
Disabilities Act

System in Japan after 1995

ral areas. However, based on theview that it would be impossible torely only on family to support the el-

was actually an epoch-making year,
because on the one hand there was aderly after retirement, particularly

revision of the Worker Dispatch Law

with respect to long-term care andmedical treatment, reforms toward

symbolizing the demise of the em-

universalistic social security had already begun to take form as policies
and systems in the second half of the•2

1990s.

36

to change. 1999, the year when theployment security system, while on
the other hand the Basic Law for a
Gender-Equal Society was passed
and the Equal Employment
Opportunity Law was revised. In

Meanwhile, another trend pro-short, gender equality became estab-gressed at a pace faster than theabove: the demise of the employment security system. The demise oflished both legally and institutionallyin tandem with the continued demise of the employment security

the employment security systemgained momentum in the middle ofthe 1990s. Of the two pillars sup-system.
At any rate, because this occurredin conjunction with the demise of

porting employment security, thesystem of creating jobs in rural areas
through public works supported thelives of people well, despite the factthat they frequently involved conflicts of interest.
However, the ratio of public
works expenses to GDP, which at 6.4
percent in 1996 was much higher
than in other developed countries,
suddenly declined after 1996 to 3.2
percent by 2008, which is less than
the reported ratio in France. It is truethat Koizumi’s structural reforms accelerated this decline, but in fact it
had already begun before then.
The other pillar, namely the custom of medium- to long-term em-

employment security, universalistic
reforms were tripped up at least for awhile. In the first place, the National
Pension system was created mainly
for self-employed persons who retire
gradually, but because of employment trouble, temporary and parttime workers came into the system
and reversed the percentages, suchthat in 2005, temporary and parttime workers accounted for 24 percent of the participants, while
self-employed persons accounted forjust 17 percent.
Likewise, I think that the National
Health Insurance system was createdwith self-employed persons in mind,
but in 2002, individuals without

Hope and Security in an Aged Society with Fewer Children — Proposal for Employment-Based Life Security

jobs or careers accounted for morethan 50 percent of participants. Just
as the social security system was
moving toward universalistic reforms, employment broke down andjolted its very foundations.
In these two trends, will the de-would become more efficientthrough fiscal tightening, in reality
this did not necessarily happen. It isvery difficult to improve social security without increasing the burden
on people. I don’t think peoplemise of employment security under-

would be adamant against increasing
the burden. I think politiciansmine the intentions of universalistic
reforms? Or will universalistic re-should think more carefully about
how to propose and explain this. In

forms become stronger by incorporating employment mobility as aorder to persuade people, they will

variable? We must realize that we arealso need to take into consideration
the characteristics of Japanese peo-at this crossroad now.

ple. We Japanese are very sensitive to

Political Distrust Must Be Eradicatedto Improve the Social Security System

the sense of equality. Even with regard to parking violations and train
ticket inspection, we find it unacceptable that some are caught while

Kajimoto: People with different

others get away undetected.
Likewise, in terms of social security, I

stances have different ways of under-

think that the root of the problem

standing, so I listened with great interest. There have been many
attempts to stabilize and improve social security over these last ten years,
and we all have a common understanding that they have not worked
well.

lies in the feelings of distrust, causedby the fact that some people benefit
and others lose from the system.

Komoda: Thanks to the Council on
Economic and Fiscal Policy, transparency has increased considerablywith respect to policy debate andbudget formation process beginningwith the “Honebuto no Hoshin”(Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal
Management and Structural Reform).

However, with respect to the expectation that things automatically•3 Three worlds
Categorization according to the welfare
regime theory, a new concept of welfare
state proposed by Gosta Esping-Andersen (1947- ). The three worlds are theliberal welfare state, the conservative
welfare state, and the social democratic
welfare state.

Miyamoto: I think it is a matter of
how we think about the position ofJapanese-style welfare. If we position
it in relation to the “three worlds”•3
proposed by Danish sociologist
Esping-Andersen, the U.S. leaves
both social security and employment
up to the market instead of being
proactive, while Sweden is proactive
on both. Sweden aimed for synergistic effects where social security generates supporting services, which
create jobs for people.
Meanwhile, Germany spends

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200937

Roundtable Discussion

3

money on social security but has

worked well structurally. Various so-questionable employment. Germany
is currently working on changes tocial risks have been absorbed on thecondition that salaried workers be-

shift the primary weight to childcare

long to companies, self-employedsupport.
Japan was very strong in employ-

persons to their particular industries,
and housewives to their families.

ment, but social security was not

However, in fact, there were many

very large considering the size of the

problems with the Japanese model.

country’s expenditures.
Nonetheless, I do not think theThus the universalistic reforms, but
the bigger problem was in focusing

Japanese model is wrong. Rather, it
is only natural to provide support for

only on male breadwinners, whowere kept by companies and indus-

earning a living through employ-tries, and cared for their entire lives.

ment instead of through social secu-

The government’s policy thus is tority, and European and American
welfare reform is shifting toward

create a framework so that companies and industries do not fail and to“welfare to work,” so Japan can besaid to have led the way.
In short, until now, Japanese-style

ensure that the income of malebreadwinners is equally shared withfamilies.

life security has been based on a trinity structure, and the practice ofUniversalistic reforms, in myopinion, were really supposed to cre-long-term employment at large companies, in-company welfare, public
works, various protections and regulations, and long-term care andchildcare that rely on families haveate and support a more mobile
framework in contrast to this closed
framework.
This Japanese-style system, with
its negatives and positives, is demonstrating its negative side in distrustof politics and the government, as
Mr. Komoda mentioned.
That is, as a society, things worked
reasonably well, because everyone
had a place to work and we did nothave to spend much on welfare andsocial security, but as the limits ofthis closed system and special interests have given rise to scandals, andvulnerabilities of social security as aright appear one after another, people’s distrust of politics and govern-

Commitment to full employment

Large

Small

38

Japan

SwedenGermany

USA

Social security expenditure

Large

Hope and Security in an Aged Society with Fewer Children — Proposal for Employment-Based Life Security

ment has become very strong.

should be weakened. In addition, to

However, as Mr. Komoda also indicated, judging from public opinion

the question of how to secure the fi-

surveys, if the government ensuresnearly half say that extensive govern-

security, then people understand thatthey inevitably must foot the ex-ment reforms are the answer. People
want a welfare society but are very

pense to a certain extent.

distrustful of the government andAccording to a survey that I conducted with Professor Jiro
Yamaguchi of Hokkaido

cannot trust the government to takecare of welfare, which is an unfortu-

University•4, when asked, “Whatkind of society do you want to makeJapan?” 58 percent of respondents

the level of trust in government to bequite different. In Sweden, everyone

answered, “A welfare society like inbelieves that welfare services must

Northern Europe.” Meanwhile,
however, when asked how to comebe funded by their own taxes, so thepercent answered, “Raising consumption taxes would be fine.” Thisappears contradictory and self-serving, but I think it demonstrates what
people really think, given past experiences. Since the government cannot be completely trusted, if taxes
are raised and there is no reward for
this, then people would rather defend themselves instead of depending on the government.
Discussing costs and who pays,
strengthening social security, andmoving toward universalism whilebuilding trust in politics is required
now, in my opinion.

Nakamura: I also read those survey
results. The majority wish for a society that emphasizes welfare as inNorthern Europe, but nearly 30 percent answer that bureaucratic power

the Future Image ofJapanese Society” 2007

nancial resources for social security,

nate situation full of contradictions.
I have lived in Sweden and foundclose to Northern Europe, only 17•4 “Public Opinion Survey on

relationship between costs and services is very clear. People either ask
for more services despite an increasein the tax burden or they lower taxes
and tolerate the current level ofservices.
Transparency is important, and so
the connection between benefits andpayments in long-term care insurance is relatively similar to this.
However, in the case of National
Health Insurance, for instance, theNational Treasury pays half, so therelationship is difficult to see.
Also, this is similar to what Mr.
Komoda said, but a political scientist once wrote about the characteristics of Japanese people, saying thatwhile a great many people answeredthat they would want to help someone in trouble, they also answeredthat they would not use services
themselves if they were in trouble. I
think policies need to be made with

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200939

Roundtable Discussion

3

a good understanding of this very

they should have done, so we werestrong Japanese sense of independence, confidence, and pride.

asked to think about the image ofJapan. As Mr. Komoda mentioned
earlier, if the symbols of the Koizumi

Employment-Based Social Security
Also Included in Proposal by theCouncil for Realizing a Secure Society

Kajimoto: There were two major reviews of social security policy: oneby the National Council on Social
Security in 2008 and another by theCouncil for Realizing a Secure
Society in 2009. Professor Miyamoto
was a member of the Council for
Realizing a Secure Society, so I would
like to ask for his assessment of this.

reforms were Minister Takenaka andthe Council on Economic and Fiscal
Policy, then the Council for Realizing
a Secure Society, in the words ofMinister Yosano, was positioned tothink independently about the future of Japan.
Fifteen people from a wide rangeof viewpoints met together and held
intense discussions for approximately three months. They all agreed on
the importance of the Japanese-stylesystem through a lively discussion.

on Social Security was established by

The resulting report was publishedon June 15, 2009. At the discussion
table, I talked about realizing a se-

the Fukuda Cabinet, which distanced itself from the Abe Cabinetthat took over after Koizumi, following his policy. The purpose of thiscouncil was to develop a short- to
medium-term outlook for healthcare, long-term care and pension,and childcare, which were considered the main components of social
security until then. In contrast, theCouncil for Realizing a Secure
Society, in which I was involved,
talked more about the image of theJapanese state overall. It seems likethe order should have been reversed,
but the National Council on Social
Security went into specifics without
discussing the image of Japan first as

cure society based on employment,
and at the same time I proposed adding employment and education to
the three mainstays of social security,
namely, healthcare, long-term careand pensions, and childcare.
If we think about social security
as usual only in terms of healthcare,long-term care and pensions, andchildcare, we will not be able to link
security to dynamism, but if we add
employment and education, we will
be able to provide security throughout the lifecycle. This is far from passive security, but security in thesense that if any unexpected trouble
arises during the lifecycle, the dynamism to break a new path would be

Miyamoto: The National Council

40

Administration’s prime minister-led

Hope and Security in an Aged Society with Fewer Children — Proposal for Employment-Based Life Security

generated. I believe we accom-

ety that could provide a basis for so-plished something by showing a way
to link security to dynamism by add-cial security. Economic growth

ing employment and education to
the discussion of the National
Council on Social Security.

strategy must be linked with a securesociety, and employment is where
this link takes place. In addition, instead of arranging healthcare, long-

Kajimoto: The National Council onterm care and pensions, childcare,
employment, and education as fiveSocial Security should be lauded for
doing an estimated simulation ofequal pillars, employment is clearly
positioned as the anchor in this ex-

pensions, healthcare, and long-termcellent report. With this as the basic
framework, I think it will be possible

care through 2025. In particular, theCouncil presented future images of

to develop the various proposals

the systems for providing healthcare

about social security under debate inand long-term care, which were un-

the National Council on Social
Security.

clear until now.
The Council for Realizing a
Secure Society conveyed the message
that what we need is life security inthe form of social security and employment security, and that employment is the core of life security. This
was a very new and noteworthy
proposal.

Nakamura: I think it is very meaningful that the Council for Realizing
a Secure Society created an image of
our nation and an image of our soci-“Komoda: I, too, think that a securesociety anchored by employment is
a very good phrase. The image of
our nation as a construction state is
not good, but particularly in rural
areas, jobs were often created in thisway. There were many problems, so
it was not wrong to move awayfrom these, but confusion often
arose from pursuing things suddenly without preparing replacements
first. This report, which calls forIf we add employment and education,
we will be able to provide security throughout
the lifecycle.

”

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200941

Roundtable Discussion

3

developing social security based on

sentially was lifetime employment

employment, gave us a new direction in rebuilding social security.

with seniority-based wages at eachcompany, and Japan’s social security

This was a very meaningful propos-

system was developed based on thisal. The Democratic Party did not get
involved in this process, but if they

without much doubt about its future.

after the election, they will be in a

Now social security stands at a
crossroad, so naturally the task at
hand is to rebuild it into a system

good position to reap the benefits.

that can respond to the current em-

become the political party in power

Kajimoto: The link between em-

employment. However, this is easierployment and social security actuallybecame quite visible when the job

said than done. When the pension
system was revamped in 1994, we

crisis surfaced as a result of the glob-

proposed to apply employees’ pensions to part-time workers, but em-

al recession. In fact, with the globalization of the economy, since themid-1990s, the number of irregular
employees has continued to increase
to 17 million, representing one thirdof all employees. The economy wasgood, so it was not much of a problem, but now the global recession
has clearly shown how unstable theposition of these irregular employees
is.
From now on, for both regularand irregular employees, achieving
employment stability will be closely
related to social security and thus
something we must think about.

Nakamura: Looking back, until the
bubble economy collapsed, Japannever faced a serious employment
problem, so in the view of the
Ministry of Health and Welfare, employment was a given and social security was designed on the premise of
employment. Employment itself es-

42

ployment situation and changes in

Hope and Security in an Aged Society with Fewer Children — Proposal for Employment-Based Life Security

ployers flatly refused this. Even
though people are aware, in reality
there are high hurdles, and there has
not been much progress in stabilizing regular and irregular
employment.

Komoda: The employment issue isreally a serious problem. Measurestaken by the government up to now,
such as the Employment Adjustment
Subsidy, have preserved jobs withincompanies for the time being, but
employment indicators could further
worsen. As a result of the global recession, the production activity levelat companies has fallen to approximately 80 percent of the most recent
peak level, so even if the economy has
hit bottom, the number of unemployed could still rise. Mismatch unemployment also is rising, and thisrefers not only to mismatching of occupation but also to mismatching ofemployment type. Not only thosesocial security.

who need labor, i.e. companies hiring, but also those who supply labor,First is social security for leading
people to employment. This includes childcare services that enablei.e. workers, are major contributing
factors to the increase in diversification of employment types, so in thiswomen to work, job training so thatsense, we must hammer out short-time education.

term measures while maintaining a
medium-term orientation.

Second is social security for increasing rewards. In Europe, an ex-

Kajimoto: In such a serious employ-traordinary amount of effort has
been placed on social security lead-

young people can get jobs, and life-

ment situation, how should we link
employment with social security? As

ing to employment, but in Japan,

a disciple of the Miyamoto School (hehigh, we need to think about improving working conditions a little

laughs), I certainly would like to hear

Professor Miyamoto’s opinion as an
advocate of this.

Miyamoto: I merely summarized
and analyzed the viewpoints thathave arisen in welfare reform discussion over the past 20-30 years, so
there is not much originality on mypart… (he laughs)
At any rate, now we are at a crossroad, and reform must address employment mobility. In that case, I
think there are four points regarding
the link between employment and“where the employment rate is quite

more. Examples of this include tax
deductions with benefits to supplement the incomes of the working
poor, who have low incomes despite
working.
Third is job creation. In the 1980s
and 1990s, Keynesian job creation
was regarded as already behind thetimes, and only work that could survive on the global market was regarded as important. Therefore,
many argued that job training
should be done and people relocatedto these divisions in the forefront.

The link between employment andsocial security actually became quite visible
when the job crisis surfaced as a result of”

the global recession.
Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200943

Roundtable Discussion•5 Sixth Industry
A new type of primary industry inwhich farmers are revitalized by getting
involved in as far as secondary industry(processing) and tertiary industry (distribution and sales). Primary + Secondary + Tertiary = Sixth Industry. Refer to“Global Information Journal on Longevity Society,” No. 9.
•6 Tokumi Odagiri (1959- )Professor at Meiji University

3

Northern Europe was taking this di-and 70 percent of social security

rection, but such divisions in theforefront actually cannot absorb all

benefit payments actually go to theelderly, but of course it is not right tothe people who come.

regard all senior citizens as the weak

In this sense, Northern Europe
has come to adopt Japan’s view thatof society. Considering living condi-

it is not entirely meaningless to cre-among all generations, and their out-

ate jobs in rural areas. Of course, giv-

flows also are higher than those ofpeople in their twenties, according

ing priority only to roads and dams
and other public works like in theto survey results. Thus, policies withpast will cause problems, but it isnecessary to realize that labor unab-

an understanding of this situation

sorbed by divisions in the forefront

are great differences among seniorcitizens in terms of wealth andcannot just be put out onto thestreet. The “Sixth Industry”•5 pro-are necessary, but meanwhile, there

posed by Professor Tokumi Odagiri

health condition.
While providing sufficient medi-

et al is a very good example of thecal care, long-term care, and public

fact that the idea of creating jobs inrural areas not involving public

assistance when necessary, we must
think of a way in which healthy, in-works is starting to take hold.
Fourth is work sharing. In order
to secure high-quality employment,
work sharing is also very important,and in the working hours accountsystem used in Germany and theNetherlands, working hours can besaved and withdrawn at any time.
By linking these four points together well, I think social security
and employment will come together well.

dependent senior citizens can be involved with society just as othergenerations. We must respond with

•6

Give Thought to the Diversity ofSenior Citizens and Make Most of
Their Experience and Abilities

Kajimoto: The proportion of the elderly already exceeds 20 percent,44

tions, their savings are the highest

Hope and Security in an Aged Society with Fewer Children — Proposal for Employment-Based Life Security

ideas about how to use limited resources effectively.

Miyamoto: The average householdsavings of those aged 65 or over isquite high at 25 million yen, but if
we look at a breakdown of this, 35%
have 10 million yen or less, and 18%
have 40 million yen or more, so thisaffluent class obviously is pushingup the average amount.
In this sense, as Mr. Kajimoto has
said, instead of lumping together all
senior citizens, who are quickly becoming a majority of society, I think
it is very important to consider how
to respond to their individualdifferences.

Nakamura: Japanese people have

Even in terms of realizing employment-based social security, utiliza-

the world’s longest remaining life after age 65, and there are many peo-tion of senior citizens is a very

ple with a high degree of physicalimportant factor. In discussions of
the Council for Realizing a Secureand mental independence. They area relatively fortunate group, so I

Society, one of the major topics was

agree that it is very important to dis-

how to achieve participation in thecuss how senior citizens can actively

labor force among senior citizens. If
we look at Northern Europe, which

participate in society. Perhaps the
NPO activities, through which Mr.

has built a society based on employment, it is prohibited in Sweden to

Komoda was involved in legislation,
may end up as one type of participa-

lay off workers on account of age

tion by senior citizens.

until the age of 67, and the employment rate of senior citizens inNorthern Europe is the highest in
Europe.
We can see from this that evenwith strong public welfare, work is
the highest indicator of well-being.
Taichi Sakaiya proposes the ideaof Pensions While Working, which
encourages pensioners to work in local communities for enough pay tosupplement their pensions, thereby
revitalizing Japanese local community with this small labor force.
However, entering local community
smoothly after retirement would require effort by both communities
and senior citizens, but communities
need the experience and abilities ofsenior citizens, and likewise it is important for senior citizens to find
new purposes for living in the local
community. Who will move forwardwith this match-making and how? If
this can be realized, I feel that it will
open big possibilities.

Komoda: According to the Revised
Law Concerning Stabilization of
Employment of Older Persons, taken in effect in 2006, individual companies are working in various ways
toward continuing the employment
of senior citizens. Meanwhile, not afew senior citizens reject invitations
to continue employment and decideto join an NPO in which they are interested. Ten years have passed since
the NPO Law became effective, andmany issues are arising with concern
to NPO activities. For example, lowbudget projects contracted by local
governments have produced a newkind of working poor. However,from now on, NPO activities shouldbe able to take a larger role in contributing to society, and they certainly are a place where senior citizens
can use their experience andabilities.

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200945

Roundtable Discussion

3

Where Is Social Security in Japan
Headed?

to believe that wise choices by thepeople will guide the system in a bet-

Kajimoto: Lastly, I would like to ask
where social security in Japan isheaded. What is the outlook 10
years from now and also in 2025
when the baby-boom generation become the old-old?

Nakamura: Social security is thebiggest challenge of domestic politics, and social security policy may

ter direction.

Komoda: In employment-based social security, I think that qualitative
improvement concerning labor isimportant. In other words, while thequality of employment, i.e. working
conditions, improves, the quality oflabor must also improve; otherwise
people’s lives will not improve. As aeven determine the government ad-

national strategy, investment in thequalitative improvement of humanministration. That is how big social
security has become and how mature Japanese society has become.

capital is extremely important in myopinion.
In the 1980s, I lived for threeSocial security definitely is a topic
that the government must address
seriously, but it is also a system thatyears in the socialist country ofCzechoslovakia and daily experienced the costs of an undemocratic

people must support. In this sense,
people must carefully protect andnurture the system, and for this purpose, it is imperative to provide accurate information and havediscussions based thereon. I think
the responsibilities of journalism will
increase in the future so that people

society. Therefore, although there aremany costs of democracy in Japan, I
believe that they are much less thanthe costs of non-democracy.
Under the precious democracy,
people must have more interest in
how taxes are used, and I also thinkthat journalism as mentioned by Mr.

“
46

can make wise decisions, and I wantSocial security is a topic thatthe government must address seriously,
but also a system that people must support.

Hope and Security in an Aged Society with Fewer Children — Proposal for Employment-Based Life Security”

Nakamura and retired public offi-

very weak and ends with connec-

cials like us must play a role in turning society in that direction.

tions among one’s own relatives only.
Therefore, one can feel secure about
someone as long as he is a relative,

I want to say, also to myself, that
democracy naturally is something
created and supported by everyone.

Miyamoto: Mr. Nakamura and Mr.
Komoda talked earlier about thecharacteristics of Japanese people. It
is impossible to explain Japanesechallenges in widening the ring oftrust built among relatives. We are aculture that thinks too much, andwe somehow must break throughno longer stick only to family now.
I think that new connections

ory by political scientist Francis
Fukuyama•7, that “Japan is a hightrust society.”
In contrast, social psychologist
Toshio Yamagishi•8 says, “Japan is
not a trust-based society eventhough it is a secure society.” People
are connected by industries andcompanies, but trust beyond this is“Professor, Department of Behavioral
Science Graduate School of Letters,
Hokkaido University

If this is true, there are major new

dividualists. They always pay atten-

Actually, there are two theories
about whether or not Japan is atrust-based society. The first is a the-•8 Toshio Yamagishi (1948- )weak.

the tendency to stick only to family.

around them, but why doesn’t thislead to more public-spiritedness?

American political scientist

but trust beyond this relationship ispeople across the board, but I think
we can say that Japanese are not intion to getting along with those•7 Francis Fukuyama (1952- )Fortunately or unfortunately, we canwhich arise among Japanese willlead to a trust-based society that goesbeyond family-based society, and thiswill become the power of people andsociety to support the upgrade ofuniversalistic welfare that I mentioned earlier.
I have spoken very abstractly, but
I think that this is a good starting
point.		

(8/7/2009)
Photography: Masahiro Minato

While the quality of employment improves,the quality of labor must also improve;
otherwise people’s lives will not improve.

”

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200947

Participants’ List

Ayako Fujita

Mitsuhiro Ishida

Takashige Komoda

Professor, Graduate School of Human Sciences,
Osaka University

Manager, Welfare for Elderly Section,
Welfare Department, Inagi City

Director General, Research Institute forAdvancement of Living Standards

Ayako Fujita was born in 1946 and has a
Ph.D. in human science. She came to hercurrent position in 2003 after working at
Osaka University School of Human
Sciences as a research associate, at the
Osaka Prefectural Senior Center, and at
Kyoto Koka Women’s University as a professor. Her publications include “A SuperAged Society Is Supported by the Elderly”(Osaka University Press) and “Psychology of theElderly and the Disabled” (Editor, Minerva
Shobo).

Mitsuhiro Ishida was born in 1957. He has
a Ph.D. in economics and joined Inagi City
Government in 1979. Prior to his current
position, he served as Senior Staff, Longterm Care Insurance Section, Inagi City,
Senior Planner for Health and Welfare for
the Elderly, Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare, and then Chief, Long-term Care
Insurance Section, Inagi City.

Takashige Komoda was born in 1946. He
joined the Economic Planning Agency in1972. After holding positions as director ofSocial Policy Division, Economic Planning
Agency, assistant vice-minister, Cabinet
Office, and director-general of National andRegional Planning Bureau, Ministry ofLand, Infrastructure and Transport, he became the vice research director-general ofJapan Institute for Labour Policy andTraining (JILPT). He came to his present position in 2006. From 1981 to 1984, heworked at the Embassy of Japan in
Czechoslovakia.

Akira Kajimoto
Senior Researcher, Asahi Institute of Journalism

Kiichiro Horiike
Advisor, Senior SOHO Salon Mitaka (NPO)Kiichiro Horiike was born in 1941. He wasin charge of production management andsales education at Hitachi, Ltd. but resigned
from Hitachi before the mandatory retirement age to take part in NPO activities.
Besides being an advisor Senior SOHO
Salon Mitaka, he serves as a secretary at
Greater-Kanto Community Business
Promotion Council and as a Local
Community Revitalization Evangelist appointed by the Cabinet Secretariat. He coauthored “Senior Citizens, Let’s Return to
Our Communities with IT” (NTT PublishingCo., Ltd.).

48

Participants’ List

Akira Kajimoto was born in 1948. He
joined The Asahi Shimbun Company in1973. He worked in the News Division of
the Hokkaido Office and in the Political
News Division of the Tokyo Head Office,and held positions as deputy editor of
Shukan Asahi (weekly magazine) and politicalnews editor in the Political News Divisionof Asahi Shimbun. In 2003, he began working as an editorial writer (in charge of social security and politics). He came to his present
position in 2008. In addition, he is a visiting
professor at Waseda University Graduate
School (The Okuma School of Public Management).

Taro Miyamoto
Professor, Graduate School of Law,
Hokkaido University
Taro Miyamoto was born in 1958. His fieldof expertise is comparative social security
theory. After holding positions such as professor in the College of Policy Science at
Ritsumeikan University, he came to his
present position in 2002. In 1998, heworked as a visiting researcher at the
National Institute for Working Life in
Sweden. His publications include Welfare
Politics: Japan’s Social Security and Democracy(Yuhikaku) and Comparative Welfare Politics:
Actors and Strategies of Institutional Change(Waseda University Press).

Shigeo Morioka

Takeo Ogawa

Toshikazu Togari

President, ILC-Japan

Professor, Yamaguchi Prefectural University
Graduate School of Health and Welfare

President, Japan Organization for
Employment of the Elderly andPersons with Disabilities (JEED)

Shigeo Morioka was born in 1922 andjoined Yamanouichi Pharmaceutical (nowAstellas Pharma) in 1947. He served as president, chairperson, and advisor. During his
tenure, he was chairperson of theFederation of Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers’ Associations of Japan andvice chairperson of the International
Federation of Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA). He
has been in his current position since 1998.

Shuichi Nakamura
Director, Social Insurance Medical Fee
Payment Fund
Shuichi Nakamura was born in 1948. He
joined the Ministry of Health and Welfare in
1973. After holding positions as chief of theDivision of Welfare for the Elderly, chief of
the Pension Division, chief of the Policy
Planning Division, Minister’s Secretariat,
deputy vice-minister for health insurance
and health policy, and director-general of
the Health and Welfare Bureau for the
Elderly, he became the director-general of
the Social Welfare and War Victims’ Relief
Bureau in 2005. He came to his present position in 2008. From 1981 to 1984, heworked at the Embassy of Japan in Sweden.

(Professor, Faculty of Social welfare, Kumamoto-Gakuen
University since April 2010)

Takeo Ogawa was born in 1943. He has a
Ph.D. in literature. Prior to his current position, he was an assistant professor at
Miyazaki University, professor at Yamaguchi
University and then emeritus professor at
Kyushu University Graduate School. He
serves as the chairperson of Yamaguchi
Prefecture Health and Welfare Promotion
Council for the Elderly. He is a director of
Active Aging Business Center, a specified
nonprofit organization. His publications include “Community Development by theOlder Persons” (Agricultural Policy ResearchCommittee, Inc.) and so on.

Kazuo Otsu
Reporter, Yomiuri Shimbun, Tokyo
Headquarters, Social Security Division
Kazuo Otsu was born in 1969 and joined
the Editorial Bureau of the Yomiuri
Shimbun at its Tokyo Headquarters in
1993. He came to his present position in
December 2000 after working in the politics division. From 2004 to 2005, he was avisiting researcher at Columbia University
in the United States. His subjects of focus
are employment, decreasing fertility, andpensions. His publications include “LongTerm Care Hell: America” and “Lonelinessin a Castaway Society” (Nippon Hyoron-sha).

Toshikazu Togari was born in 1947 andjoined the Ministry of Labour (now the Ministryof Health, Labour and Welfare) in 1971. He became Vice-Minister in 2004 after serving in
positions such as Deputy Director-Generalof the Employment Security Bureau,
Director-General of Minister’s Secretariat,
Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare, Director-General of the
Employment Security Bureau, and Vice
Minister for Policy Coordination, Ministryof Health, Labour and Welfare. He retired in2006 and assumed his current position.
Since April 2008, he has served as visiting
professor at Hosei University Graduate
School.

Tomoji Yokoishi
Managing Director and Vice President,
Irodori Inc.
Tomoji Yokoishi was born in 1958. He
joined Kamikatsu-cho Agricultural
Cooperative as an agricultural operations
instructor in 1979. In 1986, he plannedand organized Irodori, a garnish distribution business. He became a director of
Irodori, Inc., a joint public-private venture,in 1999 and became managing director andvice president in 2005. In 2007, he waschosen as one of the “100 Social
Entrepreneurs Who Change the World” by
the Japanese version of Newsweek magazine. He is the author of “Why Not Sell
Leaves – An Underpopulated Town’s
Regeneration from the Bottom” (Soft Bank
Publishing).

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200949

ILC Japan Attends“Alzheimer’s in an
Aging Society” at
New York

Glo
ba
lT
r
d
en

A distinguished multidisciplinary group of experts working in the field of
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia met in New York on September 22 for the
first in a series of dinner salons on Alzheimer’s in an Aging Society. Dr.
Kazuo Hasegawa, who serves as the chairperson of the organizing committee, attended the meeting to represent ILC-Japan. He presented the results of
the Japan’s campaign to raise dementia awareness and establish communities designed to ensure the dignity of people with dementia.
Alzheimer’s in an Aging Society
Hosted by: ILC-USA and Columbia University Mailman School of Public HealthPlace: Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Date: September 22, 2009

Hosts:

Robert Butler, M.D.
President & CEO,ILC-USA (New York, USA)

Daisy Acosta, M.D.

Chairperson, Alzheimer’s Disease
International (Dominican Republic)

Linda Fried, M.D., MPH

Sube Banerjee, M.D.

Masako Osako, Ph.D.

Olivier Brandicourt, M.D.

Dean, Mailman School of Public Health,
Columbia University (New York, USA)

Observer:Participants

Secretary-General,
ILC Global Alliance (New York, USA)

Professor of Mental Health and Aging,
Institute of Psychiatry,Kings College (London, UK)
President and General Manager, Global
Primary Care Business Unit,
Pfizer Inc (New York, USA)

Nick Eberstadt

Henry Wendt Scholar in Political Economy,
American Enterprise Institute for Public
Policy Research (Washington, D.C.)

50

Positioning of the meeting andexpectation for the future
Robert Butler, M.D.
President & CEO, ILC-USA

On September 22, distinguished leaders in social, political, scientific, andcultural fields related to Alzheimer’s disease met to begin a collaborative process. The purpose of the meeting was to let people from all over the world
know that Alzheimer’s disease is one of the top priorities of the modern
world. For that purpose, the salon was designed to exchange information,gather wisdom, and explore possible paths for the future.
The discussion covered many topics, ranging from educational activities toraise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease among Japanese citizens; to advancement of research and development of new treatment; and to the expansion ofassessment methodology.
In the course of discussion, we agreed on the importance of collaborationand leadership that transcends national borders, and came to a consensus
that our goal requires us to clarify and focus on specific themes.
We plan to start a Web site to house any relevant documents you submit
and help carry on the conversation virtually.
We welcome your suggestions.

Howard Martin Fillit, M.D.
Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Drug
Discovery Foundation (New York, USA)

Françoise Forette, M.D.
President, ILC-France (Paris, France)

Tomas Guilarte, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Environmental
Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University,
Bloomberg School of
Public Health (Maryland, USA)

Eric J. Hall

CEO, Alzheimer’s Foundation ofAmerica (New York, USA)

Kazuo Hasegawa, M.D.

Member of Adovisory Board, ILC-Japan
President Emeritus, Tokyo Dementia Care
Research and Training Center (Tokyo, Japan)

Michael W. Hodin, Ph.D.

Vice President, Public Affairs, World Wide
Primary Care, Pfizer (New York, USA)

Zaven Khachaturian, Ph.D.
President & CEO,Lou Ruvo Brain Institute (Las Vegas, USA)

Florence Lustman

General Inspector of Finances, Alzheimer’sPlan, Ministry of the Economy (Paris, France)

Mary Mittelman, Dr.P.H.

Director of Psychosocial Research andSupport Program, Center of Excellence forBrain Aging and Dementia, NYU Langone
Medical Center (New York, USA)

Daniel Perry

President, Alliance for Aging Research(Washington, D.C.)

Nancy Turett

Global President, Health,Edelman (New York, USA)

Marc Wortmann

Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Disease
International (London, UK)

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200951

Global Trend

Participating in the salon

Kazuo Hasegawa, M.D.
Member of Advisory Board, ILC-Japan
President Emeritus, Tokyo Dementia Care Research and Training Center;
Professor Emeritus, St. Marianna University School of Medicine

The salon was held with the theme of Alzheimer’s in an Aging Society. All
participants were leading experts in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, encompassing the fields of medicine and medical care, public health, psychology, economics, public administration, pharmaceuticals, family support
groups and so forth. I gave a message from ILC-Japan. What I shared waswhat I believe and practice in my daily life as I work for human resource development at the Tokyo center under the auspices of the Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare, as well as the campaign to build communities that arefriendly to people with dementia, and the program to build the community
support system for dementia. Several participants later expressed their agreement and I believe people appreciated what I had to say.
As we have entered the 21st century, we are facing the environmental challenge of global warming. I believe that for aging societies in the world,
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia is a challenge comparable to global
warming. We have so many unknown realms, including the mechanism ofbrain function and that of aging. In light of the measures for people with disability that have only recently been introduced, it is desirable that we build
an international network to work out the problems. I am truly thankful to bepart of the first step towards such a goal.

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ILC Japan Attends “Alzheimer’s in an Aging Society” at New York

Alzheimer’s in an Aging Society
Salon Report

Topic 1: In light of the current global conditions, what is called for to promote
public measures and broader social
activities for Alzheimer’s disease?

• It is very unfortunate, but not muchprogress has been made since 1978
with regard to Alzheimer’s disease.
For example, neither its diagnosis
nor treatment has been perfected,
and treatment drugs are utterly
insufficient.
• There are two approaches exploredwith regard to prevention and treatment; life-style based approach andbiological approach. (Many of the participants believed that Alzheimer’s disease
was a disease and not a phenomenon arisingfrom one’s lifestyle. Some pointed out that
research on prevention had been
insufficient.)• Funding for research is greatly lacking. In particular, the limited funding for longitudinal study has been achallenge.
• Alzheimer’s disease will inevitably
become increasingly costly. 30 years
ago, the remaining life of those who
developed Alzheimer’s disease was 9
years. The remaining life will more
dramatically increase in the future.
• For long-term care, it is important toconsider the following perspectives
pointed out by Dr. Hasegawa.
1) An approach that is centered on
Alzheimer’s disease patients
2) Community support system for patients and their family
3) Promotion of caregiver training• All countermeasures must be promoted globally.

Topic 2: What kind of international strategy
can we take to spread the understanding that Alzheimer’s disease isa major political agenda, posing a
tremendous challenge to the society
as a whole?

• We need a leadership that builds a
powerful global campaign and a network to promote the awareness ofthe critical nature of the situationand to seek for the resolution. We
need a strategy that:
1) Helps enhance the QOL of
Alzheimer’s disease patients.
2) Disseminates a compelling, scientifically reliable message consolidated in
one voice.
3) Is accompanied by the improved education and awareness among the
public, politicians, health care providers, professional and family caregivers, as well as other family
members.
4) Ensures leadership not only by scientists but by broader talents; and values cost-effectiveness.
5) Establishes international network
where each country’s results and accomplishments are consistently
shared.

• We should learn from the AIDS
movement as a model for raisingpublic awareness and building a political platform.

• It is necessary to acknowledge that
there are many people with dementia, not only in developed countries
but also in developing countries.

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200953

Global Trend

Statements made by
Dr. Kazuo Hasegawa (summary) at
the first salon Alzheimer’s in an Aging Society
J apan leads the aging world; in2008, Japan’s average life expectancy reached 79.29 years formale and 86.05 years for female.
• The longer life expectancy is accompanied by increased morbidity of dementia (7.6% in 2005 andexpected to rise to 8.4% by2015), indicating an unprecedented challenge.
• To state my conclusion first, theonly proper way to address dementia is to build communities
where people can live with
dignity.
• Person-centered approaches andcommunity-based support systems are the principles of services
for people with dementia.
• The first key point is that thetraining of professional caregivers
is critical for that purpose. There
are three dementia care researchand training centers in Japan, andthey have trained about 1200
care leaders since the introduction of the long-term care insurance system in 2000. The
underlying philosophy of the
training is the person-centered

54

ILC Japan Attends “Alzheimer’s in an Aging Society” at New York

care proposed by T. Kitwood.
Care assessment is based on theassessment center method, integrating the patient’s thought, his/her family’s desire, and the caregiver’s opinions.
• The second key point is community-based care. When Japan’s longterm insurance program was revisedin 2006, the importance of community was further emphasized withthe prescribed development of community comprehensive support
centers and the promotion ofsmall-scale multifunctional corefacilities. Collaborations acrossprofessions have been promoted
at the same time.

Kazuo Hasegawa speaks on
Alzheimer’s in an Aging Society(center in the photo)• The third key point is the establishment of local networks that

medical care and QOL of people
with dementia. This project calls

support people with dementia. It
is critical that all citizens understand dementia. To this end, anawareness campaign has been
implemented since 2005. There
are already more than 1 million
citizen supporters. To date, 300
communities throughout thecountry have applied for the consideration of model activities, under community building
campaigns to support people
with dementia.

for collaboration between primary care doctors and care workers,
and enhanced measures to address premature dementia.

• Finally, I would like to report on
our recent undertaking - theurgent project to improve the• I have introduced Japan’s attempts to support people withdementia in the community.
Please remember that right at thismoment, people with dementia
are struggling with their difficulties all over the world. I would
like to remind ourselves that wehave the responsibility to support
the dignity of people with dementia of today.

Global Information Journal on Longevity and Society 200955

Global Information Journal onLongevity and Society
2009
Published by: International Longevity Center-Japan

			
			
			
			
			
			
			

Toranomon33Mori-building,
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Tokyo, 105-8446 Japan
Tel. 81-3-5470-6767
FAX. 81-3-5470-6768
E-mail ilcjapan@mba.sphere.ne.jp
URL http://www.ilcjapan.org

Publisher:

Shigeo Morioka, President

Editors:

Seitansha, Inc.

Printers:

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

Copyright ©ILC-JapanAll rights reserved. No part of this journal may be reproduced in any form or by any
electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems
without permission in writing from the publisher.

International
Longevity
Center-Japan

Printed in Japan
Published 2009