Today, September 15, is “Respect for the Aged Day“, a national holiday in Japan that literally means “a day to honor older people.”
Every year, various statistics are released to mark the occasion. The key indicators this year are:
- Population aged 65 and over: 29.4 % of the total population (about 36.19 million people)
- Centenarians (100 years and older): 99,763 people
Japan’s population continues to age, bringing a range of social challenges. Because this trend occurs alongside a declining birthrate, it is easy to see how an increasing number of older adults who can no longer work, combined with a shrinking working-age population, will make it difficult to maintain the nation’s current social and economic systems.
While we celebrate longevity, there is also a less cheerful side. Since the 1960s, many municipalities have provided cash gifts to residents reaching a certain advanced age. Recently, however, the growing number of eligible recipients has strained local finances, prompting some cities and towns to scale back or discontinue these payments.
The rising number of centenarians also illustrates Japan’s remarkable longevity. Traditionally, the government has presented each new 100-year-old with a commemorative silver sake cup. But as the number of recipients soared, the cost became burdensome, and since 2016 the cup has been silver-plated rather than solid silver. The appearance remains the same, and the tradition continues.
Given these trends, some argue that defining “elderly” as everyone 65 and older may soon need reconsideration. For me, this is the first Respect for the Aged Day I observe as someone over 65.