Asia faces a problem: Its population is aging faster than any other continent. The proportion of people over the age of 65 in Japan, South Korea and China is increasing, and the economies of these countries are struggling because of a lack of available labor. The government is struggling to find money to support retirees.
The problem is pronounced in Japan. I spoke with Motoko Rich, The Times’ Tokyo bureau chief, about what it means to have such a rapidly aging society.
Claire: You reported on the rapidly aging population in Japan and other Asian countries. How old is Asia and how did we get here?
Motoko: Let’s start with Japan. Almost a third of the population is over 65 years old. For comparison, in the US that number is about 17%. And experts say South Korea and China are on track to reach similar levels in the coming years.
One reason is the low birth rates in these countries. In China, it’s because of the one-child policy. In Japan and Korea, gender inequality and the high cost of raising children play an important role. Due to high expectations at home, it is difficult for women to combine parenting with having a fulfilling career. As a result, more and more women are delaying childbirth or deciding not to have children.
Life expectancy is also long in these countries. Seen from a distance, there are some hilarious aspects to that, like happy centenarians are living a healthy life on the Japanese island of Okinawa. But there is a dark side. Japan has the highest percentage of elderly people with dementia. And there are not enough workers to take care of them and even fill the jobs to run the economy.
I understand why an aging population poses challenges in a country. What does it mean for people living elsewhere?
It is coming to you. Population growth in the US is at an extremely low level. Italy’s population is aging at the fastest rate in the West. Other countries will look to Asia and learn from it. They will see what to do or not to do.
You can compare this to how people see climate change: It’s been going on for years, but we don’t pay attention. Societies need to plan for aging, and they are not well established to do so. It’s not a direct crisis – it’s a slow-moving crisis.
Elderly people in Asia are generally in good physical health. What about their mental health?
Mental health is a big deal. Someone died alone, as my colleague Norimitsu Onishi wrote a few years ago. People have fewer children than before. Those children moved to cities, and were unable to take care of their parents, who were left in sparsely populated areas. So the elderly are living in isolation.
Aside from older people working longer, what are some potential solutions?
Bringing in workers from other countries seems to be the only solution, but Japan is notoriously opposed to immigration. A few years ago it changed the law to allow some workers, but the parameters were strict and it didn’t have a big impact.
Japan is not the only country in the region struggling with this. Last year in China, for the first time in six decades, the number of deaths exceeded the number of births. How is China dealing with an aging population?
China has been trying to stem this decline by ending the one-child policy and encouraging families to have more children, including – as in Japan – subsidies for assisted reproductive technology, with hopefully it will spur more births.
You recently wrote a story about the elders in Tokyo manual jobs. How did you get that idea?
I wanted to do the story because I saw it everywhere. A few years living here, I hired someone to move the house. When they appear, they look like grandparents. My husband and I are constantly asking for help – they seem too old for this job. When you open the door for delivery, often the person looks too old to still work.
If you go into a post office or bank, there will usually be a variety of reading glasses at the counter. There are also small nooks and crannies where people can hang their sticks. At train stations, there are more seats for older people, but there are also more agile elderly people climbing stairs than I’ve seen in New York. It was very clearly an older society.
Motoko Rich is the head of The Times office in Tokyo. She the first front page story from Japan is about the middle-aged disbandment of a beloved boy group.
for more
NEWS
Politics
War in Ukraine
On the cover: The surreal imagination of the world’s greatest animator, Hayao Miyazaki, is turned into an amusement park.
Introduction: fell asleep BBC shipping forecast.
number 1 hit: Shane McAnally is remaking the gender politics of country music.
NEXT WEEK
What to watch
-
The NBA All-Star game will take place tonight in Salt Lake City.
-
The NASCAR’s Cup Series season opens today with the 65th run of the Daytona 500.
-
President’s Day is tomorrow, a federal holiday in the United States
-
President Biden will travel to Poland tomorrow to meet with NATO allies.
-
The Supreme Court will hear the arguments on Tuesday in a challenge to a law that protects Google, Facebook and others from lawsuits over what their users post.
-
On Tuesday, the super PAC supporting Donald Trump’s presidential campaign will held the first fundraiser for the 2024 election.
-
Tuesday is the day before Lent, a day of celebration around the world. That includes Mardi Gras — and New Orleans is set to host more parades than ever before, Report by Nola.com.
-
Harvey Weinstein will be sentenced on Thursday, in Los Angeles. He was convicted of rape and sexual assault and is serving a 27-year prison sentence for related charges.
-
Friday marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine.
What to cook this week
Making Eggplant Parmesan — as well as the chicken, pork, mushroom, and other options — often takes a lot of time. That’s why Emily Weinstein recommends This eggplant Parmesan pasta, can easily be done on a weekday evening. Combine it with these four other delicious recipes.
NOW TO PLAY
