JAPAN: One in Five Japanese is "Elderly", Says White Paper

TOKYO (Mainichi Daily News), June 2, 2006: One in five Japanese are now aged 65 or older, and the nation's rapid demographic shift indicates the need to change the definition of "the elderly," said a government white paper released Friday. As of October 1, 2005, people aged 65 or over came to 25.6 million, an increase of 720,000 from a year before. This represents 20.0 percent of the total population of Japan, up 0.5 percentage point, according to the 2006 White Paper on Aging Society. Given the expanding senior population, the report effectively proposed that the definition of the elderly be changed to refer to a higher age group than the current bracket of 65 or older. The proposal could have an impact on discussions over reform of the creaking public pension system, as such definition change could affect the starting age for pension receipts. Specifically, the white paper pointed out that in several public opinion polls, nearly half of the respondents said those aged 70 or over should be defined as the elderly, suggesting public support for the idea of lifting the lower end of the age bracket for the definition. The report said that the conventional view on the elderly people and aging society should be scrapped, stressing the need to create a society where senior citizens can play active roles through employment or various volunteer activities. It also pointed to an expected decline in the Japanese workforce from 2007, when the postwar generation of baby boomers will start entering retirement in large numbers. A decline in the workforce is negative for economic growth, the report said, calling for a system in which people can fulfill their potential regardless of age. (Jiji Press) Copyright 2005-2006 THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS. All rights reserved.