Technological Engagement
With over half of its population age 60 and over online, and the nation’s competitive edge in information and communications technology (ICT), Japan is better positioned than most countries to capitalize on new technologies for older consumers. The government has been seeking ICT-driven solutions in various aspects of older adults’ lifestyle, ranging from healthcare and social welfare to economic participation. The government and private sector are also seeking to secure a competitive advantage in the booming global older-age market, with a focus on developing robotics technologies to meet the needs of older people and caregivers.
Japan already has the largest number of patents in the robotics field, and in 2015 the government developed a five-year plan to support the robotics innovation, with one-third of the budget (JPY 5.3 billion or USD 47 million) dedicated to research and development in nursing and medical use.
The Otsuki project
Otsuki City, approximately 80 kilometers from Tokyo and located near Mt. Fuji, has 35 percent of the local population age 65 and older, many of whom are engaged in farming. In 2014, the local government, in collaboration with NTT DoCoMo and Waseda University, and funded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, launched the Otsuki Project to promote e-Agriculture, e-Health, and e-Tourism. E-Agriculture connects the local farming industry with consumers residing in urban areas, like Tokyo, through digital technology. People residing in Tokyo can rent farming fields in Otsuki, and by using sensors, the Internet, and digital cameras, they can monitor the fields remotely and communicate with local farmers who are entrusted with daily maintenance. E-Health uses digital networks to enable local people, including seniors, to use a digital device to monitor their health status and send data to medical care providers. Pilot funding ended in 2016 as planned, but the local government has continued the program because of the tangible benefits achieved during the pilot phase.