Ageing population in East Asia: Are we heading towards the Plan 75 dystopia?
East Asia has the world’s oldest population. By 2050, around a third of the population in the region is expected to be over 65 years old. Both lower birth rates and higher life expectancy contribute to the significantly ageing population in the region. High costs of living and the bleak job market drive the East Asian young generation to pursue “lying flat” (or tangping), a life philosophy promoting the use of minimal effort to survive and giving up the conventional routes to succeed in a career, buy a home, and start a family. The terminology originated and went viral in China, while similar phenomena can also be traced in Japan and South Korea. An ageing population means countries may have to spend more on social security payments and pensions, while the working-age population shrinks in size and government tax revenue reduces.
Plan 75 explores the future of ageing societies. The 2022 film takes place in Japan, renowned for having the largest proportion of elderly citizens in the world. In the movie, the government launches Plan 75 – a highly propagandised initiative encouraging individuals aged 75 or above to consider voluntary euthanasia in exchange for various financial benefits, such as a luxurious holiday or free funeral. Proponents of the program argue that it offers a solution to the ageing population crisis by reducing the number of elderly people. Writer-director Chie Hayakawa drew inspiration from the Sagamihara Massacre, where 19 lives were lost at a disabled care home, prompting reflection on societal attitudes towards vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly.
At first sight, Plan 75 seems far-fetched. Firstly, contemporary policies worldwide primarily focus on boosting birth rates rather than reducing the elderly population. For instance, China abandoned its one-child policy and now pushes for three children per family, while regions like South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong provide cash bonuses to parents. Secondly, any proposal resembling a mass suicide plan, such as Plan 75, would raise huge ethical concerns as it undermines the universal value of respecting human life, thus, it seems impossible to navigate such legislation through state channels.
Yet, when we closely examine the movie’s details, it becomes obvious that a lot of problems depicted in the movie already exist within our society. Plan 75 serves as a symbol of extreme ageism, and while the specifics of the plan may not be entirely realistic, it highlights the systemic oppression and discrimination that marginalise the elderly – an existing issue that is truly concerning.
The 78-year-old protagonist, Michi, is suddenly fired from her hotel job after an elderly colleague fainted during their shift, fearing reputational damage if an older worker were to die on the job. Soon after, she finds out that her apartment building will be demolished. Despite Michi's good health, unwavering energy, and determination to be self-sufficient, she feels increasingly alienated from society as she struggles to find affordable housing and employment due to her age. Taking on the only available job – directing traffic at night in freezing weather – she is left feeling isolated and desperate, ultimately leading her to lose her will to live and signing up for Plan 75.
Michi’s story represents the struggles of many elderly living in the absence of financial and social support. East Asia grapples with higher old-age poverty compared to Western societies. For example, South Korea has the highest old-age poverty rate among OECD countries, reaching 40%. This is partly due to the relatively immature pension system in the region, making it difficult for elderly, especially those who worked in secondary job markets or unemployed, to sustain themselves financially on low pension incomes. Many elderly have no choice but to continue working past retirement age to make ends meet.
The change in family structure and the influence of Western neoliberal values on traditional Confucian principles in East Asia also contribute to old-age poverty. Traditionally, East Asian people live in multigenerational households, deeply rooted in Confucian ideals that emphasise family ties and ‘filial piety’ (xiao). The proverb "raising children is an insurance when you grow old" (yangerfanglao) underscores the expectation that children will care for their elderly parents. Many senior citizens did not expect things to change when they spent all their money on their children’s education during their working years, leaving them unprepared for retirement. However, family dynamics have gradually evolved over time. For instance, in Japan, the proliferation of danchi, clusters of public housing, in the 1960s introduced the concept of nuclear family lifestyle to the Japanese salaryman, moving families away from the traditional multigenerational homes of the pre-war era. Furthermore, the rise of Western neoliberal values and individualism has also unravelled family connections as younger generations prioritise individual development. Moreover, the competitive and demanding job markets in the region make it challenging for the younger generation to fully support their ageing parents, both financially and emotionally.
In addition to poverty, loneliness and isolation are pressing issues that elderly face. The phenomenon of passing away without anyone noticing, known as Kudokushi in Japan, is the fate of an estimated 30,000 people per year. This has given rise to the "lonely-death-cleanup" industry, which addresses the need to clean up the apartments of those who died alone to make them habitable again. Moreover, both Korea and Japan have seen a rise in elderly crime rates, their reckless behaviour could be explained by feelings of having nothing to lose or the promise of companionship in jail. Asian elderly suicide rates are also significantly higher than English speaking countries, especially for elderly who lack of family companionship.
While our society may not have a Plan 75 explicitly implemented, elderly are already making extreme decisions, such as suicide and criminal activities, which are no less concerning than voluntary euthanasia. We might not be as far away from the dystopian reality depicted in Plan 75 as we believe.
At the end of the movie, the government announced Plan 65. In reality, projections indicate by 2070, 1 in 3 people in the world will age over 65, including most of us now studying in university. After contributing to society in our prime years, the thought of being coerced into euthanasia upon retirement is grim. How do we establish a support system that prevents discrimination as we age? I believe the answer lies in one of the movie’s most powerful scenes. When Michi went bowling in a youth centre, she showed her brightest smile when she scored a strike and was cheered on by other young people. The scene shows that older people are not incompetent, rather, they thrive when surrounded with encouragement and companions — the environment we should strive to create.
Sources
https://www.mitsui.com/mgssi/en/report/detail/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2023/08/30/2307k_suzuki_e_2.pdf
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36890655
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https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/world/asia/japan-lonely-deaths-the-end.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1moiwYGHRk
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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030438782300010X
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