Japan - Planet of the Old

Calligraphy LONG LIFE

0,25

The cultural beauty of Japan has long captured the attention of the world. Recently, however, this global attention has had a different focus.

0 `34

Japan is facing a dramatic demographic development: 30 million Japanese people are now over 65. 

Life expectancy here has extended by 25 years in the past four decades. It is now the highest in the world. 

0.50 to 1 elderly woman OT `19 (Kong)

"Here in Japan, it gets harder every year. The problems with the elderly are only more difficult to master. For example, hospitals can barely accommodate more old people. Sons will have to bear this burden instead. Then, when your family must care for you, this brings the rhythm of the family into utter confusion. And another problem is when the old have to look after the even older. " 

1,21

Okinawa - a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean - is the starting point for a journey through an aging society. If the West can learn something from the elderly Japanese, it is here. Nowhere else are there so many old people. Okinawa is the ideal place to reach a truly biblical age. 

1,41

At 70 you're a child, a teenager at 80, and at 90, call to your ancestors in the sky to please wait until you're 100 to meet you. That is the motto written on this stone block in the village Ogimi.

The women of Okinawa hold the record of the highest life expectancy in the world at 86 years. Several centenarians also populate the island. 

2,08

So what is their secret? Sumi Tiara may be 92, but she still labours in the fields, singing traditional songs as she works.

2.37-2 `54 OT Sumi Taira, 92 years (Fischer)

"I get up regularly at seven o’clock, pray to my deceased husband, go to the field and the coast. In the afternoon I play gateball with my friends. I cannot afford to be motionless. Movement is one of the secrets to our health here in Okinawa. "

3,00

In a small restaurant in Okinawa Emiko Kinjo only serves food that will supposedly prolong life. The small dishes are mostly vegetarian and almost all low in calories. Diners are not allowed to reach saturation - only up to 80% of the stomach is ever filled. 

3,20

Most old people live alone, yet life here is not lonely. Conversations with neighbours and decades of friendships hold society together here. 

3.33 to 3 `46 OT Katsu Yamagawa, 93 years (fast) (Kong)

"With my husband I used to go hiking, which was the best time for me. After his death I felt very sad. Now I have my life force back. We support each other; without my friends I wouldn’t go anywhere. "

3.54-4 `27 OT Emiko Kinjo, restaurant owner (Fischer)

"In this village there is not enough land to cultivate, so the boys are leaving and only the elderly remain. But they have remained strong - even if they are a hundred - they want to do anything to live on. They have friends, neighbours and live like a big family; they want to control their own lives to the last breath. The positive mental attitude to life, that's what counts. The elderly are a model for us all, not only here in Okinawa. "

4,30

Playing gate ball, a faster version of Croquet, the elderly appear quite youthful... but traditions change slowly, even in Okinawa. 

4.43 to 5 `03 OT Morio Taira (Waibel)

"It worries me very much that our sons no longer follow our traditions. They eat American fast food, play computer games, and don’t spend time outdoors. It is very doubtful that they will reach our age. They had to close schools here because the young are absent. Who will provide for us? "

5.05 Calligraphy SOUL PEACE

5,20

A completely different way of life for older people is found in the Zen monastery Dai-joji. At 3:30am the day begins.

Get up, clean, meditate - everything is formal and ritualised in the Japanese Zen Buddhism.

5 `40

More and more often older Japanese are submitting to the rigid rules. They call it escapism - a search for the ideal world in troubled times. Monks like Kanyo Kakuya have chosen to adopt this extreme way of life. It is the rejection of a world that has become alien to him.

6,30

Why not continue to search for spiritual meaning and question your values in old age? In days gone by, the elderly in this part of Japan used to just go into the mountains to die when they could no longer contribute to society.

6.46-7 `11 OT Kanyo Kakuya, Monk (translation on tape)

"My family accepted my decision to become a monk; nobody was against it, on the contrary. I want to go the Buddhist way until the end of my days. Maybe not in this temple, because I think it is important to search for new challenges on the spiritual path. I don’t think about death now, but I live each day very consciously. That I will remain a monk is certain for me. "

7.12 Calligraphy ZEAL

7,20

Tokyo – this is the world from which the monks flee; it is a place of restlessness, stress and over-work, especially for older people.

But in the Sugamo quarter, the elderly are among their own kind. Here they can find what they want; the market is tailored to their needs.

In Tokyo the elderly often work up to their death. Only 20 percent of pensioners have effectively retired. Working into old age is seen as a privilege in the second largest industrial nation in the world. It is seen as playing an important role in society. Many also have to work in order to cope financially. The pensions are meagre.

8,10

At the Shinto shrine, the elderly gather to ease their aches and pains. Body parts that hurt are covered with incense....

8,37

Anyone who calls a taxi in Tokyo will often have drivers who have gone long past retirement age, like Yasuyoshi Matsui. The global economic crisis is very noticeable in Japan. He has sleepless nights worrying about it.

8.56-9 `18 OT Yasuyoshi Matsui, taxi driver

"Obviously the economy is doing poorly. The pensions are very low in Japan. Without additional work it would be impossible to survive. (3 sec) I'm healthy and will remain active as long as possible. As I am doing, so are millions of other Japanese people. " 

9,22

Chizuko Takahashi is a member of parliament. Her party has risen strongly in the last elections. She is critical of the fact that so far, Japan has hardly laid any emphasis on social policy.

9.38-10 `05 OT Chizuko Takahashi, Lower House Member, Communist Party (Fischer)

"In itself it is good that we have a society that is so old and that people live so long, but the problem is that there are hardly any young people. Soon every worker will have to provide for an old person. And poverty among the elderly will continue to rise; already 20 percent of elderly Japanese live on the poverty line. No one takes notice of them, and they die alone. This is a reality that frightens me. "

10,10

Many old people lose their position in society. More and more elderly, unemployed people line the pavements of the big cities, like here in Tokyo's Sanya district. They kill time, waiting for odd jobs. 

10,33

Feeding the poor is funded by private donations. The state looks away. 

One third of all suicides in Japan are now committed by someone over 65 - a world record.

10,50

Standing in line for food distribution in the north of Tokyo. More and more elderly Japanese are taking part in such scenes, unworthy of wealthy Japan. Lifetime employment and seniority - that is now history in Japan. 

11.09-11 `18 OT Old Man

"I come here because I meet friends and get to eat. I had a job until I was 65. Now I live from one day to the next. "

11,20

The sociologist Aya Abe predicts a sharpening of the distribution struggle between old and young. 

11.29-12 `16 OT Aya K. Abe, a sociologist, poverty researcher, Tokyo (ENGLISH)

"Many Japanese are pessimistic about the future, because of the rapid aging of society. Public spending on pensions and health policy are rising rapidly. This will not change anything in the near future. Our society is aging and fewer and fewer people have to support more and more elderly. (3 sec) Many feel that they are always having to do more in order to care for our elderly. " 

12.15 calligraphy METROPOLE

12,25

At Ueno Park in Tokyo people are relaxing during the cherry blossom season. It is a time when different generations can come together.

As many as 90% of young Japanese say they would like children. Having only one child has long been customary in Japanese families. The work environment keeps many from starting to raise a family. 

12 `58

Today, a third of young Japanese are no longer in a permanent job role. For the first time, the descent into poverty has become a frighteningly real prospect for many people.

13,15

The ageing society arouses fears, particularly amongst boys. Trust in the national pension has decreased, especially in the trendy district of Harajuku.

The younger generation sees itself at a disadvantage. Good jobs are hard to find and the pension fund requires their input. But what are they getting in return?

13.45-13 '58 OT girl (Fischer, fast)

"Yes, we accept the old, but the big problem for our generation is that we are now paying their rent. My dad has threatened me, that if I stop paying it I should leave the country. "

14.07-14 45 `OT Abe (ENGLISH)

"I think the boys feel they have drawn the short straw. They must now pay large amounts to the pension funds. (3 sec) This burden weighs heavier and heavier. The fact today is that the young no longer collect such high pensions as previous generations of Japanese have." 

14,46

The Ishizu family live on the outskirts of Tokyo. Two children have become rare in Japanese families, but the recently increased child benefit is providing the means to have more children again.

How do young families like this see the challenges of the future?

15 `15-15` 38 OT Daisuke Ishizu, Clerk (Waibel, slow)

"The population lives very long in Japan. For those over 60 there should be enough jobs - the government should ensure this. I think this would take the stress off the young families. The elderly would also be able to be more independent.

15.39-16 `01 OT Yuka Ishizu, housewife (Fischer, slow)

"" I'll probably get both my own and my husband’s parents to take care of. If things go bad economically in Japan, it will be very difficult for us."

16.00 calligraphy COUNTRY LIFE

16,15

In the province of Kyoto the priorities are very different to those in the city. Living amongst nature is important, as is the maintenance of traditions. This is the Sugimoto family’s farm.

16,45

What was once common is now increasingly rare - three generations living together under one roof. 

17 `02 - 17` 25 OT Yoshimi Sugimoto, farmer's wife (Kong)

"It may already be a great burden for the boys to care for us. For everybody it is exhausting. We are privileged, because our son cares about us. We must occasionally take some of the load and get involved, to show gratitude. Then we can function well in living together. "

17.25 calligraphy POWER OF THE SPIRIT

17,40

The Gion district in the old imperial city of Kyoto.

As in earlier times, the role of women is still important today in creating social developments. In Japan, divorces are piling up between retired couples. Mostly it is the women who apply for the separation, to be able to enjoy retirement without the burden of a bored and awkward spouse. 

18 `13

Such problems do not exist in the mysterious world of geishas, however. How do they deal with the burden of ageing?

18 `30

The white masks of the geishas are a symbol of aloofness and discretion.

The first entertainment districts emerged in the 17 Century. The visitors were looking for amusement, romance, and witty entertainment. Ensuring they got this was the geisha.

19,05

Yukie Kudo leads the geisha house.  Age is not an issue for them in their world.

19 `16-19` 46 OT Yukie Kudo, owner of a geisha house (61 years) (Kong)

"If you feel old you are old, everything is old to you, that's all. But if you think you are young, then everything is young - it depends on the mental attitude. (3 sec) I was very sick and almost gave up, but I have never resigned. A positive attitude is the secret to a long life. "

19.47 Dance of the Geisha 

20 `11-20` 38 OT Yukie Kudo (Kong)

"Even if you're older, you need to look pretty. Everyone can come to my house and become a Geisha. I always say, you should look as beautiful as possible; put make-up that is as pretty as possible on your face, then you will remain physically attractive into old age. Never let go, I find that important. Each day will be like a birthday."

21 `00 Calligraphy INNOVATION 

21 `30

Whilst Japan, on the one hand, maintains tradition, on the other it is focused on future technology.

21 `40

In Japanese laboratories the future is already happening. Robot masks are becoming more like humans. Robots with human features - a notion that has not gone down well in the West - in Japan could be the future for the elderly.

22 `20

The technophile Japanese see robots as a great opportunity for elderly care. The machines can carry an old woman into the bathroom and wash her, lead her to the lift and carry her bags. The visions of these engineers seem to have no limits.

22 `44

Still in its infancy, is this computer-controlled walking aid for the elderly and infirm. This most recent innovation works as follows: The brain sends electrical signals to the limbs. The prosthesis reads this information from the nervous system with its sensors on the skin and then relays the desired movement from the brain to its engines. If the technology is fully developed, the disabled could learn to walk again. 

23 `18-23` 46 Yoshiyuki Sankai OT, President, Cyberdyne (ENGLISH)

"This device is intended to enable the elderly and the sick to live a life independently, and also relieve their carers. If it can enable the elderly to live life independently, this would also reduce demand for nurses in Japan. "

23.48 calligraphy HOPE

24 `05

You don’t often see strange faces in Japan’s major cities; immigration to Japan is still very difficult.

The government is now considering filling its nursing shortage with carers from other parts of Asia. But many fail to get past the language barrier. The Japanese are happy amongst themselves.

24 `32

Just like here in the Koto nursing home in Tokyo, where there is a much more relaxed view on the elderly.

24 `50

Young life meets old here. 140 elderly people live here; the oldest is 101 years old. The idea of the extended family forms the basic philosophy of this nursing home. The child visitors learn to deal with older social behaviour, and the old forget for a while about their frailties.

25 `20

Close personal relationships between children and the elderly here are the exception. There is still the traditional type of Japanese relations where the individual stands back behind the group.

25 `47-26` 05 OT Tsuruko Tsukaguchi, 81 years (Fischer)

"The children are so honest, they do not lie. They give me strength to make myself physically strong - it is great.  They make me healthy and I am very grateful. This can’t be replaced by anything. I was not always so healthy, but the atmosphere here has changed me fundamentally. "

26 `07 - 26` 16 OT Toshio Yamasaki, 71 (Waibel)

"The boy has always stretched out his hands to me when he sees me coming. That's wonderful. "

26 `18

It is this generation that built Japan into the wealthy place that it is. In their professional life, there was little time or opportunity to sit back and relax. Japan is not a country of leisure.

 

26 `31-26` 57 OT Takahashi (Fischer)

"We Japanese are the hardest working people and rest the least. I hope this will gradually change for the better, no matter how poor or rich someone is. In the process communication has suffered, at the expense of young people. We must learn from European countries, like France and England, which do that much better than us. " 

27 `05

The Japanese have paid a high price for their old age social problems: income is shrinking, Japan's prosperity is volatile and old values are slowly disappearing. Japan has responded to the aging of its society too late. As Europe’s demographic heads in a similar direction, there are valuable lessons to be learnt.

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End insert:

Report: Alexander Steinbach

Camera: Alexander Muliar

Editor: Romana Meslitzer