Eternal Flame
Nope, we are not alluding to the famous song. This is rather a hint to life expectancy. When in many Western countries people aged over 60 are considered to be one foot away from the grave, Japan has been struggling to ensure a bright new life for its graying ones.
Japan stands in the frontline when it comes to dealing with population-aging issues. In 1965, 7% of the population was aged over 65, and it reached 14% in 1994. The post-war baby boom low birth rates combined with tremendous progress in various medical fields can explain a great deal about it. But when one predicts this rate will reach 26% in the year 2015 and 35.7% by 2050, you might wonder how to keep the rate down. One way could be rethinking social integration.
Older people have a natural right to live. This is a right to live in dignity. This is a right to be included in the social fabric. This is a right to be accepted and treated as an equal with the younger ones. The flame of life does not have to falter when one reaches 60. The flame will weaken more or less no matter what, but it will not go extinct as long as someone gives a hand. The Japanese society has long had an enormous respect for its ancestors and for the past 20 years, the Senior Olympics in Japan (”N—ÖƒsƒbƒN or Nenrinpics [a play on: "nen" meaning year and used in the word for age; "gorin" meaning five rings and refering to the Olympics; and "pics" from "Olympics" -ed]) have been proof that social coexistence can be possible between the older and the younger. It actually has become necessary as Japan's structure is inevitably heading towards an overwhelming third age-based (seniors-based) society. A focus on Japan now could, if not forecast, at least offer a glimpse into a possible future for many aging societies around the globe. This is an article about the Japanese eternal flame, or how a country cannot leave so many candles in the wind.
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Welcome to Ibaraki prefecture. This is the 20th Japanese Senior Olympics. Over the past 10 years, over 500,000 people have been involved at each venue. Last year, Shizuoka prefecture welcomed the event. Next year Kagoshima prefecture will be hosting it. Every single venue is organized following the founding principles of these Olympics. Advance in health, social participation and purpose-of-life promotion are keywords for an event created under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare upon its 50th foundation anniversary in 1988.
This year's Olympics brought a "refreshing breeze of longevity in Ibaraki," a slogan in the form of a logo representing the local historical pride: Lord Mito Kōmon, also known as Tokugawa Mitsukuni (grandson of famous Shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu). A striking symbolism of the heroes of this two-day sports competition including both modern sports and traditional martial arts. In four corners of the host prefecture Ibaraki, thousands of graying competitors show their skills in (only to name a few) soccer, marathon, tennis, volleyball, Japanese archery, kendō, dance or even pétanque (a game from Southern France with metal balls). They are not twenty anymore, but they have an undeniable vigor. Some came to win, some came to enjoy, in spite of some rain, in spite of some mud. This is an unstoppable generation. From the Olympic flame bearer in his seventies to one of the many marathon runners in her eighties, this event provides many opportunities to give a new meaning to the definition of life. Aging is a social mutation. It seems like it is not about "prime" of life anymore, but about "pride" of life.
