Basic Act on Measures for an Aging Society
Act No. 129 of November 15, 1995
Table of Contents
Preamble
Chapter I General Provisions (Articles 1 through 8)
Chapter II Basic Measures (Articles 9 to 14)
Chapter III Aging Society Policy Council (Articles 15 and 16)
Supplementary Provisions
Through the diligent efforts of its people, Japan has achieved unprecedented economic prosperity and is realizing a society in which the people can enjoy the a long life that is the aspiration of mankind. In the future, it will be desirable to form a society in which all people can enjoy a long life and the elderly can live with peace of mind. Such a society is also a society in which all people can live with peace of mind.
However, the aging of Japan's population structure is progressing extremely rapidly, and it is expected that an aging society of a level never seen in the world will arrive in the near future. In spite of that fact, the awareness of the people and the response of the social system have lagged behind compared to the speed of the progressing aging population. There are a wide variety of issues that need to be addressed immediately, but there is very little time left.
In order to address these situations and build an aging society in which each person can truly enjoy happiness throughout their lives, it is necessary to make social systems related to employment, pensions, medical care, welfare, education, social participation, living environment and other key aspects of daily life appropriate by constantly reviewing them and making them suitable for an aging society. For this purpose, it is necessary that the various stakeholders, beginning with the national government and local governments, but also including enterprises, local communities, households and individuals, actively fulfill their respective roles while cooperating with each other.
This Act is hereby established in order to clarify the basic principles of measures for an aging society and indicate the direction of those measures, and to comprehensively promote countermeasures for an aging society as a whole society, including the national government.
Chapter I General Provisions
(Purpose)
Article 1The purpose of this Act is, in light of the situation where the progressing rapid aging population in Japan, combined with changes in the economy and society, has far-reaching effects on the lives of the people, to comprehensively promote measures to deal appropriately with the progressing aging society (referred to below as "measures for an aging society") by establishing basic principles, clarifying the responsibilities and duties of the national and local governments, and establishing matters that serve as the basis for measures for the an aging society, thereby achieving the sound development of the economy and society, and the stabilization and improvement of the lives of the people.
(Basic Principles)
Article 2Measures for an aging society must be implemented based on the basic principles of building a society stated in the following items:
(i)a fair and vibrant society in which the people are assured of opportunities to participate in employment and other diverse social activities throughout their lifetime;
(ii)a society in which the people are respected as important members of society throughout their lives, and local communities are formed based on the spirit of independence and solidarity;
(iii)an affluent society in which the people can live healthy and fulfilling lives throughout their lives.
(Responsibilities of the National Government)
Article 3The national government is responsible for comprehensively formulating and implementing measures for an aging society in accordance with the basic principles referred to in the preceding Article (referred to as the "basic principles" in the following Article).
(Responsibilities of Local Governments)
Article 4In accordance with the basic principles, local governments are responsible for formulating and implementing measures regarding measures for an aging society in accordance with the social and economic conditions of the relevant region, in cooperation with the national government.
(Efforts by the People)
Article 5People are to endeavor to deepen their understanding of the changes in society and economy that are associated with the progressing aging population, to further strengthen their mutual solidarity, and to become able to live a healthy and fulfilling life in their own old age.
(Outline of Policies)
Article 6The government must establish an outline of basic and comprehensive measures for an aging society, as guidelines for measures for an aging society that the government should promote.
(Legislative Measures)
Article 7The government must take necessary legislative, financial and other measures to achieve the purpose of this Act.
(Annual Report)
Article 8(1)The government must submit a report annually to the National Diet concerning the state of the ageing society and the implementation of measures for an ageing society adopted by the government.
(2)The government must prepare and submit to the National Diet annually a document which clearly describes the measures that will be adopted to take into account of the state of the ageing society subject to the report of the preceding paragraph.
Chapter II Basic Measures
(Work and Income)
Article 9(1)Contribute to the establishment of a vibrant society, the national government is to take necessary measures to ensure diverse opportunities for elderly to work in accordance with their wishes and abilities, and to enable workers to develop their vocational abilities through a long-term working life and to exercise those abilities until old age.
(2)In order to contribute to the stability of life in old age, the national government is to take necessary measures to secure an appropriate level of benefits in the public pension system in coordination with employment.
(3)In order to contribute to the realization of a better quality of life in old age, the national government is to take necessary measures to support the formation of assets and other wealth building activities through the voluntary efforts of the people.
(Health and Welfare)
Article 10(1)In order to ensure a healthy and comfortable life in old age, the national government is to take comprehensive measures to enable the people to endeavor to maintain and improve their own health throughout their lifetime.
(2)In order to appropriately respond to the diverse demands of the elderly related to health and medical care and welfare, the national government is to develop a system for comprehensively providing appropriate health and medical care services and welfare services while maintaining a coordinated framework of cooperation among health and medical care and welfare in the community, and is to implement the necessary measures to ensure the sound development and utilization of health and medical care services and welfare services provided by private business operators.
(3)In order to enable elderly in need of nursing care to receive appropriate nursing care services, the national government is to take necessary measures to promote the development of infrastructure that enables them to lead independent daily lives.
(Learning and Social Participation)
Article 11(1)In order to enable the people to live fulfilling and enriching lives, the national government is to take the necessary measures to ensure opportunities for lifelong learning,.
(2)In order to form a vibrant local community, the national government is to take the necessary measures to promote the participation of the elderly in social activities and to improve the foundation for volunteer activities.
(Living Environment)
Article 12(1)In order to enable the elderly to lead independent daily lives, the national government is to take necessary measures to promote the development of housing, etc. suitable for the elderly, to secure housing for the elderly, and to promote the development of public facilities which give consideration to smooth use by the elderly.
(2)In order to enable the elderly to lead a life free from anxiety, the national government is to take necessary measures to ensure the traffic safety of the elderly and to develop a system for protecting the elderly from criminal damages, disasters or other events.
(Promotion of Research and Studies)
Article 13In order to ensure the health of the elderly, and provide support and other matters for their self-reliant daily lives, the national government is to endeavor to promote research and study on the prevention and treatment of diseases specific to the elderly, and research and development, etc. of nursing goods.
(Reflection of the People's Opinions)
Article 14In order to contribute to the proper formulation and implementation of measures for an aging society, the national government is to take necessary measures, such as developing a system for reflecting the opinions of the people in the measures taken by the national government.
Chapter III Aging Society Policy Council
(Establishment and Affairs under Jurisdiction)
Article 15(1)Aging Society Policy Council (referred to below as the "Council") is to be established in the Cabinet Office as a special organ.
(2)The Council takes charge of the following affairs:
(i)preparing a draft of the outline referred to in Article 6;
(ii)necessary coordination among the regions regarding measures for an aging society is to be made in each relevant administrative organ;
(iii)beyond what is set forth in the preceding two items, deliberating on important matters concerning measures for an aging society and promoting the implementation of measures for an aging society.
(Organization)
Article 16(1)The Council is composed of a chairperson and members.
(2)The Prime Minister serves as the chairperson.
(3)Council members are appointed by the Prime Minister from among the Chief Cabinet Secretary, the head of the relevant administrative organ, the Minister of State for Special Missions prescribed in Article 9, paragraph (1) of the Act for Establishment of the Cabinet Office (Act No. 89 of 1999), and the Minister for Digital Transformation.
(4)An executive secretary is assigned to the Council.
(5)The executive secretaries are appointed by the Prime Minister from among officials of the relevant administrative organ.
(6)The executive secretary assists the chairperson and members regarding the affairs under the jurisdiction of the Council.
(7)Beyond what is provided for in the preceding paragraphs, necessary matters concerning the organization and operation of the Council are specified by Cabinet Order.
Supplementary Provisions [Extract]
(Effective Date)
(1)This Act comes into effect as of the day specified by Cabinet Order within a period not exceeding three months from the date of promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 102 of July 16, 1999 Extract] [Extract]
(Effective Date)
Article 1This Act comes into effect on the date in which the Act Partially Amending the Cabinet Act (Act No. 88 of 1999) comes into effect; provided, however, that the provisions stated in the following items come into effect on the dates specified respectively in those items:
(i)omitted;
(ii)the provisions of Article 10, paragraphs (1) and (5), Article 14, paragraph (3), Article 23, Article 28, and Article 30 of the Supplementary Provisions: the date of promulgation.
(Transitional Measures Specified Separately)
Article 30Beyond what is provided for in Article 2 through the preceding Article, transitional measures that become necessary as a result of the enforcement of this Act are provided for separately by law.
Supplementary Provisions [Act No. 36 of May 19, 2021 Extract] [Extract]
(Effective Date)
Article 1This Act comes into effect on September 1, 2021; provided, however, that the provisions of Article 60 of the Supplementary Provisions come into effect on the date of promulgation.
(Transitional Measures Concerning Dispositions)
Article 57(1)Unless otherwise provided for in laws and regulations, a disposition such as certification, etc. or any other act which, before the enforcement of this Act, has been made by a former organ of the national government pursuant to the provisions of the relevant Act before amendment by this Act (including an order under this Act; referred to below as the "former laws and regulations" in this Article and the following Article) is deemed, after the enforcement of this Act, to be a disposition such as certification, etc. or any other act which, pursuant to the corresponding provisions of the relevant Act amended by this Act (including an order under this Act; referred to below as the "new laws and regulations" in this Article and the following Article), has been made by the corresponding organ of the national government.
(2)Unless otherwise provided for in laws and regulations, an application, notification, or other action that has been undertaken with a former organ of the national government pursuant to the provisions of the former laws or regulations as of the time this Act comes into effect is deemed to be an application, notification, or other action undertaken with the corresponding organ of the national government pursuant to the corresponding provisions of the new laws and regulations, after this Act comes into effect.
(3)Regarding matters for which application, notification, or any other procedures must be carried out with the former organs of the national government, before the enforcement of this Act, pursuant to the provisions of the former laws and regulations, if these procedures have not yet been carried out with the former organs of the national government before the date of enforcement of this Act, the provisions of the new laws and regulations apply after the enforcement of this Act, except those otherwise provided for by laws and regulations, by deeming that the procedures have not yet been carried out with the corresponding organs of the national government pursuant to the corresponding provisions of the new laws and regulations.
(Transitional Measures on the Validity of Orders)
Article 58Unless otherwise provided for in laws or regulations, a Cabinet Office Order as referred to in Article 7, paragraph (3) of the Act for Establishment of the Cabinet Office or a Ministerial Order as referred to in Article 12, paragraph (1) of the National Government Organization Act which has been issued pursuant to the provisions of former laws or regulations, is to remain in force after this Act comes into effect as the corresponding Digital Agency Order as referred to in Article 7, paragraph (3) or Ministerial Order as referred to in Article 12, paragraph (1) of the National Government Organization Act which has been issued pursuant to the corresponding provisions of the new laws and regulations.
(Delegation to Cabinet Order)
Article 60Beyond what is provided for in Article 15, Article 16, Article 51, and the preceding three Articles of the Supplementary Provisions, transitional measures necessary for the enforcement of this Act (including transitional measures concerning penal provisions) are specified by Cabinet Order.