The Japanese perspective on life after death holds profound cultural significance, particularly in the context of end-of-life care. Prof. Takahashi and Dr. Osako will examine dignified, person-centered end-of-life care in relation to individuals’ beliefs about the afterlife, as revealed through surveys conducted in Japan. In a society where Buddhist thought is a cultural element, many respondents express a belief in an afterlife and a desire for a sense of reconciliation with life, affirming that it was meaningful. This cultural framework influences the approach to person-centered care, emphasizing the need to address both physical and non-physical suffering.

 

The presenters will highlight the challenges faced by caregivers and care recipients in Japan and explore viable approaches to balancing “choice and protection” in end-of-life care. As the country’s aging population continues to grow rapidly, end-of-life care remains a widely debated issue among service providers, policymakers, gerontologists, and other stakeholders. This presentation draws on research published in both English and Japanese.

Prof. Zaiya Takahashi (senior author) is a faculty member at the Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University, Japan. He also serves as the head of research at the Japan Home Health Care Alliance. His research focuses extensively on the cultural aspects of end-of-life care and other issues related to aging in Japan.

 

Dr. Masako Osako, a social gerontologist with the International Longevity Global Alliance, Ltd., has spent several decades researching various aspects of aging in Japan, including retirement, long-term care, and end-of-life issues. She is also affiliated with the Robert N. Butler Aging Center at Columbia University.