Editorial

15:41 JST, December 30, 2025

An increasing number of elderly people are living alone, without relatives or acquaintances to rely on in times of need. The central and local governments should establish systems to support these individuals’ livelihood during the final stages of their lives and help with procedures that must be dealt with after their deaths.

According to an estimate by the central government, the number of households with a sole resident aged 65 or older rose from 7.37 million in 2020 to 8.15 million in 2025, There are projected to be over 10 million such households by 2040. This trend is perhaps driven by weakening ties with families or communities, as well as declining marriage rates and lower birth rates.

The number of “unclaimed bodies” — those with no one to collect them after death, forcing local governments to cremate the body — was........

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