On Sept 19th, several news organisations in Japan reported on Tomoji Tanabe becomming Japan’s oldest man at 111 years old. This coincided with a national holiday called Respect for the Aged Day or Keiro no Hi. The Mayor of Miyakonojo, in Miyazaki (southern Japan) was on hand to congratulate the birthday boy. The secret to Tanabe’s success, “no drinking, smoking and getting up early.”
Japan has long faced a very significant grey population problem, more so than in other Western country. It’s not so much the grey population but the growing number of pensioners as a percentage of the overall population. According to a recennt Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry survey, as of Sept 15 this year, the number of those aged 65 years or older, stood at 26.4 million, an increase of 830,000 from a year earlier. Seniors now account for 18% of the male population and 23.2% of the female population.
Unlike other countries that have looked to immigration as a solution, Japan has stubbornly resisted this with government and public sentiment against any big “social” changes that accompagny a large influx of foreigners. For now, Japan seems intent in pouring money into technology and robotics as possible solution. Less people so lets make smart wheelchairs with built in toilets! (photo from MDN)
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