The Japanese Community Approach Linked To Healthier Ageing

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about “ikigai”, a phenomenon the Japanese government’s site describes as “that which brings value and joy to life: from people, such as one’s children or friends, to activities including work and hobbies”.

Ikigai could help us to lead happier, healthier lives as we age.

And think tank and charity The King’s Trust has suggested that the UK could stand to learn from another of the country’s policies – community gathering places, or CGPs.

In a project run with the International Longevity Centre UK, they wrote, “In our roundtable, CGPs were pointed to as a key example of the kind of preventive, community-based initiatives that Japanese policymakers view as key to both tackling the health effects of ageing and preventing loneliness and social isolation.

“Evidence suggests that CGPs have been reasonably successful in these aims.”

Japan was chosen as an example because almost a third of its population is aged 65 or above.

CGPs “arrange community activities ranging from exercise classes to hobby groups, with the aim of improving health and cognition, preventing frailty and fostering social connection,” The King’s Fund’s site reads.

Residents usually lead these events, which are “free or extremely cheap”.

They’re described as being a key part of Japan’s healthy ageing policy.

Social isolation has been linked to a shorter lifespan, increased dementia risk, and worse mental health.

A 2026 paper found that among older adults who didn’t exercise regularly, participating in CGPs seemed to lower the risk of developing cognitive disabilities.

This effect wasn’t seen among those who already worked out, though.

Women, those over 75, people who live alone, those on low incomes, and rural residents appeared to get more out of the scheme.

Another study showed that monthly CGP participants tended to have lower disability prediction scores and greater levels of happiness. “Higher frequency of participation was associated with lower disability scores and greater happiness,” it reads.

Associate Professor Uemura, who conducted research into GCPs, said: “These findings support a growing direction in long-term care prevention policy, which creates opportunities for participation that are accessible to older adults who may find regular exercise difficult.

“We hope this evidence will help inform community-based initiatives that support a wide range of older adults and contribute to policies aimed at reducing health inequalities.”