For the Sustainable Community of Mutual Support, Built in Partnership with Older Adults

The Social and Human Sciences Research Division aims to achieve healthy longevity and well-being. From the perspective of "prevention and involvement", our goal is to pursue applied or practical research along with some basic research intending to find solutions in older adults for dementia, frailty, and social issues in isolation and loneliness.

The research division consists of three teams: 1)Social Participation and Healthy Aging, 2)Promoting Independence and Mental Health, and 3)Human Care, adding to three thematic groups belong to each team.

Regarding research content, for individual older adults, we study their lifestyle habits including exercise, nutrition, oral care, and participation and contribution in the community, as well as managing chronic diseases, such as diabetes and musculoskeletal diseases. However, healthy longevity and well-being cannot be achieved through individual efforts alone. From the perspective of environmental factors in older adults, we also promote research on local and social surroundings, social system, and digital transformation.

We are also conducting comprehensive research on dementia and frailty in collaboration with "IRIDE, the Integrated Research Initiative for Living Well with Dementia", and "the Center for Preventative Frail Elderly Care", which are cross-sectional organizations that include the Hospital department and the Biology and Medical Sciences Research Division. We also collaborate with public sectors and private companies to enable the results of our research to be given back to society at large.

Mr. Eichi Shibusawa, the first director of the Youiku-in, the roots of our institution, in his masterpiece "Analects and Arithmetic", indicated that cooperation between welfare and business is the cornerstone for the sustainable development of Japanese society. This message is the true aim for the Social and Human Sciences Research Division, which is "development of research in health and welfare with its social implementation and return".

Japan faces impending " Year 2040 Issue". In 2040, the "baby-boom juniors" reach the "older generation", and a rapid decline of working generation is expected. Finding the solutions is necessary. One key approach is to develop, test, and implement programs that enable older adults to actively participate in various roles, to generate a ripple effect of benefits, what we call "Win-Win-Win" model, not only for older adults themselves but also for people around them and society. Through this initiative, we aim to foster a sustainable, inclusive society where all generations can live with hope and dignity while affording our super-aged society together. Our hope is, therefore, to contribute to a "sustainable community of mutual support, built in partnership with older adults".

We sincerely appreciate your support and cooperation in this endeavor.

Yoshinori Fujiwara, M.D., Ph.D.
Vice-president ( Social and Human Sciences )