The Cabinet Office will survey private-sector initiatives aimed at preventing loneliness and isolation among older individuals, with a focus on programs that help employees build relationships before they retire.
The survey will likely examine programs such as encouraging employees to use volunteer leave for community activities, offering training on the importance of social connections ahead of retirement and creating opportunities for interaction through corporate activities, beyond just employee-focused initiatives.
The study is planned for fiscal 2026, with ¥6 million ($40,575) set aside in the budget request. The government plans to collect and analyze cases, then promote models that prove effective nationwide.
The move stems from concern that more people will be at risk of social isolation amid a rise in the number of single-person households. Loneliness was once seen as an issue largely affecting retired men, but it could now also apply to women as their participation in the labor force grows.
Officials of the Cabinet Office believe that forming ties to local communities during one’s working years can help reduce the risk of loneliness for both men and women.
Separately, the Cabinet Office requested ¥176 million for fiscal 2026 in subsidies to promote loneliness prevention measures, an increase of ¥40 million from the previous year.
The funds would support municipalities tailoring programs to local needs as well as private groups that assist nonprofits engaged in the issue, in a bid to establish a sustainable nationwide framework.
Translated by The Japan Times
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