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Episode details

World Service,02 Mar 2013,28 mins

Ageing in Japan

Global Business

Available for over a year

Japan is the fastest ageing country in the world and now the baby boomer generation are reaching retirement. This is putting a huge strain on Japan’s finances, which are already burdened by an enormous public debt of more than twice GDP. Japan is also shrinking, because of a slowing birth-rate, so there aren’t the young workers to pay for their elders’ retirement. Peter Day travels to Japan to find out how the country is dealing with this conundrum. On the island of Shikoku, in a village where almost half the population are over 65, he meets a 90-year old lady who is but one of many elderly people still working. Is this what the future holds for us all?

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