Hiroko Akiyama, gerontologist, is professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo – where she founded the Institute of Gerontology – and former vice-president of the Scientific Council of Japan. In 2006 he received a doctorate in Psychology from the University of Illinois (USA). Akiyama has conducted international studies of longevity, including a long-term work tracking the aging patterns of approximately 6,000 Japanese grandparents, which began 35 years ago and is ongoing.
The 81-year-old professor explained her conclusions at the Spain-Japan Longevity and Longevity Societies Summit organized in Salamanca by the International Center on Aging, dependent on the General Foundation of the University of Salamanca.
What do you think are the keys to the Japanese being the longest living in the world?
There are many factors. One is the universal public health system: citizens do not hesitate to go to the doctor if they need it and this is very important. In addition, as we know, Japanese people generally have a healthy lifestyle. Most have a private car, but they walk a lot on their daily commute. I lived in the United States for many years, there the difference between rich and poor is great; in Japan society is much more homogeneous, and this contributes to longevity.
For years they have been studying how to face the economic and social challenges of such an aging population. At what point are we?
We are trying to redefine society with respect to the needs of aging. Right now in Japan women have a life expectancy of 87 years, and the fertility rate is only 1.34. Up to 29% of the Japanese population is over 65 years old. The total population began to decline in 2010, and so did the working population. 15 years ago there were 9.1 people to care for an elderly person, by 2050 it is expected that there will be only 1.2. The national economy and social security are not sustainable at this rate. We have studied thousands of elderly Japanese, and we have seen what the trajectories and changes have been with increasing age.
They have studied a lot the economic impact of demographic evolution... Is the pension system sustainable? What solutions do you envision?
We live longer and work longer, as an OECD report from 20 years ago said, but we also now live healthier. We have seen that walking speed has improved a lot from the nineties to now. In addition, the level of training received also influences the health status of adults. In a survey of 5,000 Japanese aged 50 to 64, we asked what they wanted to do after 65. More than half wanted to work part-time, and expressed that they wanted to continue learning.
How do you explain that so many people over 65 want to continue being active?
Most people of this age in Japan want to continue working, but not necessarily full-time. I think most of them don't do it for the money, they want to stay connected to society and contribute to it. Another reason, in urban areas, is that when they retire they lose their social network and connections, and need to establish these networks in the area where they live.
What consequences, social and individual, does this work continuity have for people over 65?
The expansion of employment opportunities for the elderly is essential to maintain the pension system and society. We must get older workers, so that they have the capacity to consume and demand does not fall. We assessed the effects of working after age 65 and observed several indicators of capabilities and interactions starting at 6, 12, or 18 months of working after age 65. We have seen positive effects of returning to work. Working past retirement age is good for your health, and we have proof of that. In addition, it is also good for the welfare system. Those over 65 are a tremendous workforce, and in Japan we should allow you to continue working for a company at 75 or 80 if you still have the ability and that's what you want.
What evidence do you have of these supposedly positive health effects of continuing to work?
We have seen improvements in both physical and cognitive skills and social interaction. Indicators such as blood pressure, bone density, the amount of body fat and cognitive activity tell us that there is an improvement.
This is very difficult to understand from the Spanish perspective. There is a lot of job insecurity, age-related diseases, fatigue and a great need for rest after a certain age...
It is very important that the decision to remain active after retirement is voluntary. Each person has different physical, family and social conditions. In our case, in Japan, it is voluntary and they can also choose the time they spend working. If the workers are forced, this is much more negative. If you are not in good health, you must not take any work that is physical. I am 81 years old, and I and many of my friends work part time! The salary is lower than before, we have a pension, and it is positive.
With part-time job opportunities, they propose other aspects for the management of the aging population...
With job opportunities we have to offer long-term care insurance, services for the elderly, the possibility of an assisted living community. And also alternative transport systems for the older members of the community.
