Director of Hiroshima Research Center for Healthy Aging (HiHA) Seiji Kawamoto (Professor of Division of Biological and Life Sciences Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life)

Thanks to “Washoku” Japanese cuisine, which has been added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, and improvement of the health and welfare system that has been supported by Japan’s post-war economic growth, Japan’s average longevity has increased and the Japanese have come to enjoy long lives. Currently, Japan’s longevity stands at 80 years for men and 87 years for women. On the other hand, however, declining birthrate combines to produce the most advanced rate of ageing among the G7 nations. This trend is expected to continue from now on, and it is forecast that Japan will enter an age of super ageing in the near future that no country has experienced before. In these circumstances, the concept of healthy ageing, that is “extending life while retaining health”, will become increasingly important. Healthy ageing is an important issue not only for Japan but for all mankind in the 21st century. As a research agency charged with realizing healthy ageing, HiHA is committed to making the utmost efforts in basic and applied fields.