social sciences $€ £ ¥ Review Review AnAn AcquaintanceAcquaintance withwith AnAn Aging Society Kazumasa Yamada 1,2 Kazumasa Yamada 1,2 1 Organization for Co-Creation Research and Social Contributions, Nagoya Institute of Technology, 1 OrganizationGokiso-chou, for Showa-ku, Co-Creation Nagoya, Research Aichi and 466-8555, Social Contributions, Japan; [email protected]; Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso- chou,Tel.: +81-52-735-5230 Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan; [email protected]; Tel.: +81-52-735-5230 22 LiaisonLiaison Office, Office, Innovation Innovation Center Center for for Clinical Clinical Research, Research, National National Cent Centerer for for Geriatrics Geriatrics and and Gerontology, Gerontology, Morioka-chouMorioka-chou 7-430, 7-430, Ob Obu,u, Aichi Aichi 474-8511, 474-8511, Japan Japan Received: 31 January 2019; Accepted: 29 March 2019; Published: 3 April 2019 Received: 31 January 2019; Accepted: 29 March 2019; Published: 3 April 2019 Abstract: Low birth rates and higher life expectancy have been ravaging Japanese society. This Abstract: Low birth rates and higher life expectancy have been ravaging Japanese society. This article article summarizes some of the latest medical knowledge and assistive activities, with a nod toward summarizes some of the latest medical knowledge and assistive activities, with a nod toward one one nonprofit organization’s efforts to deliver better home healthcare to the elderly through housing nonprofit organization’s efforts to deliver better home healthcare to the elderly through housing and technologies, in the world’s first super-aging society. The response to the transforming society andrequires technologies, a combination in the world’s of familiar first super-aging customs and society. new Thetechnologies response tothat the transformingcreate a favorable society requiresenvironment a combination for mobility of familiarand continuous customs learning and new th technologiesat are key to that elderly create health. a favorable As other environment countries forwill mobility face similar and issues, continuous further learning international that areinterdisciplinary key to elderly knowledge-building health. As other countries will be necessary will face similarto face issues,the challenges further of international super-aging interdisciplinary societies. knowledge-building will be necessary to face the challenges of super-aging societies. Keywords: assistive technologies; physical environment/space; community care; rural aging; urban Keywords:aging assistive technologies; physical environment/space; community care; rural aging; urban aging 1. Japan’s Super-Aging Society 1. Japan’s Super-Aging Society According to an announcement from the Statistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ) on 30 November 2018, Japan’sAccording total population to an announcement decreased by from a record theStatistics 0.21 percent Bureau to 126.44 of Japan million (SBJ) (provisional on 30 November estimates) 2018, Japan’sas of 1 October total population 2018; meanwhile, decreased the by population a record 0.21 of those percent aged to 126.4465 years million and above (provisional surpassed estimates) the 35 asmillion of 1 October mark for 2018; the first meanwhile, time—an the increase population of 468,000 of those (1.34%) aged over 65 yearsthe previous and above year surpassed (Ministry theof 35Internal million Affairs mark and for theCommunications first time—an Statistics increase ofBureau, 468,000 Japan (1.34%) 2018). over According the previous to theyear United (Ministry Nations, of InternalJapan was Affairs already and the Communications oldest country Statisticsin the world, Bureau, as shown Japan in2018 Figure). According 1, which to lists the those United countries Nations, Japanin the was world already with the the oldest highest country life expectancy in the world, te asn shownyears before in Figure and1, after which 2015 lists (United those countries Nations, in theDepartment world with of the Economic highest and life expectancySocial Affairs, ten yearsPopulation before Division and after 2017). 2015 (LowUnited birth Nations, rates and Department higher oflife Economic expectancy and resulted SocialAffairs, in Japan Population becoming a Division super-aging 2017 ).society, Low birth and its rates population and higher started life expectancydeclining resultedin 2017. in Japan becoming a super-aging society, and its population started declining in 2017. FigureFigure 1.1. CountriesCountries or areas with the highest life life expect expectancyancy at at birth, birth, before before and and after after ten ten years. years. Soc. Sci. 2019, 8, x; doi: FOR PEER REVIEW www.mdpi.com/journal/socsci Soc. Sci. 2019, 8, 110; doi:10.3390/socsci8040110 www.mdpi.com/journal/socsci Soc. Sci. 2019, 8, 110 2 of 27 Soc. Sci. 2019, 8, x 2 of 27 FigureFigure2 2shows shows developing developing markets markets stimulatedstimulated byby Japan’sJapan’s agingaging society,society, usingusing datadata obtainedobtained fromfrom a a 2016 2016 report report from from thethe JapanJapan AssistiveAssistive ProductsProducts Association,Association, which which took took over over this this duty duty from from Japan’sJapan’s Ministry Ministry of of Health, Health, LabourLabour andand WelfareWelfare inin 2003.2003. While the market market for for products products that that assist assist the the mobilitymobility of of the the elderly elderly hashas surgedsurged sincesince 1993—welfare1993—welfare vehicles, canes and and walking walking frames, frames, diapers, diapers, andand handrails—the handrails—the market market forfor allall otherother welfarewelfare productsproducts has grown 2.5-fold since since 1993. 1993. Across Across Japan Japan today,today, it it isis commoncommon to to see see people people walking walking with with thei theirr canes, canes, often often dressed dressed in colorful in colorful clothes clothes for high for highvisibility. visibility. FigureFigure 2.2. TheThe developingdeveloping market of welfare products in Japan. Japan. TheThe super-aging super-aging societysociety isis transformingtransforming Japan.Japan. Local governments, following following policies policies based based on on “The“The Basic Basic Law Law on on Measures Measures for for thethe AgingAging Society”Society” (Law(Law No.No. 129, 1995), id identifyentify three three components components withwith towns: towns: administrative administrative organs, organs, companies, companies, and citizensand citizens (Cabinet (Cabinet Office 1995 Office). Although 1995). companiesAlthough havecompanies long been have developing long been healthcaredeveloping products healthcare for products the elderly, for asthe shown elderly, in as Figure shown2, the in Figure cry for 2, more the innovationcry for more in innovation and access in to and such access products to such and prod otheructs formsand other of aid forms went of largelyaid went unheeded largely unheeded until the sizableuntil the profit sizable potential profit becamepotential clear. became clear. 2.2. Sawayaka-Aichi: Sawayaka-Aichi: Mutual-AidMutual-Aid ActivitiesActivities 24 Hours and 365 Days InIn 1994, 1994, oneone nonprofitnonprofit organizationorganization (NPO),(NPO), Sawayaka-Aichi,Sawayaka-Aichi, began to to carry carry out out “mutual-aid “mutual-aid activitiesactivities inin 2424 hh ofof 365365 days”days” forfor thethe elderly,elderly, disabled,disabled, and families facing facing age-related age-related challenges. challenges. Sawayaka-AichiSawayaka-Aichi hashas developeddeveloped itsits servicesservices to provid providee assistance all all day, day, every every day day for for those those in in need. need. Sawayaka-Aichi’sSawayaka-Aichi’s president, president, Satomi Satomi Kawakami, Kawakami, has ha earneds earned an awardan award for her for efforts, her efforts, honored honored as “Social as Entrepreneur“Social Entrepreneur of the Year of inthe Japan Year 2010”in Japan by 2010” the Institute by the forInstitute Strategic for Strategic Leadership Leadership (ISL) Center (ISL) for Center Social Innovationfor Social Innovation and the Schwab and the Foundation Schwab forFoundation Social Entrepreneurship. for Social Entrepreneurship. Today, Sawayaka-Aichi Today, Sawayaka- provides manyAichi servicesprovides (see many Figure services3), with (see about Figure 350 3), helpers with about supporting 350 helpers 850 elderly supporting and disabled850 elderly people, and anddisabled families people, facing and problems, families regardlessfacing problems, of age andregardless gender. of age and gender. Soc. Sci. 2019, 8, 110 3 of 27 Soc.Soc. Sci. Sci. 2019 2019, 8,, 8x, x 3 3of of27 27 FigureFigureFigure 3.3. 3.The The nonprofitnonprofit nonprofit organization organization (NPO) (NPO) Sawayaka-Aichi Sawayaka-Aichi Sawayaka-Aichi in in in a a Japanesea Japanese Japanese suburb. suburb. suburb. Sawayaka-AichiSawayaka-AichiSawayaka-Aichi means means means Fresh Fresh Fresh Aichi, Aichi, Aichi, and Aichiand and Aichi isAichi the localis isthe prefecturethe local local prefecture prefecture name. Basically, name. name. theBasically, Basically, organization the the isorganization committedorganization to is supportingiscommitted committed mostto to supporting supporting people’s desire most most people’s to people’s remain desire living desire to at to remain home. remainTheir living living services at at home. home. include Their Their services disabled services welfareincludeinclude services,disabled disabled nursingwelfare welfare services, in-home