Fundamental Policy Concepts for Realizing Vital Participation of Aged Persons in Social Activities

Abstract

What are policies to support and manage a society consisted of a number of aged persons and a few of young persons? The question is important for Japan because it is the first country among the developed countries in the world to enter an aging society. A number of past policies created and implemented in Japan have the characteristic of separating generations and administrative territories. For example, there are extending policy of retiring age and care policy for old people. These separable policies are of course necessary, but not sufficient. More essential policy concepts underlying separable policies will be indispensable to support and manage an aging society. The purpose of this paper is to present some fundamental policy concepts which are not separable. Our basis ideas are from educating followers to educating leaders on human being and from administration leading to citizen leading on social systems.