「敬老の日」にあたって思うこと：2024年9月16日（月）
今の日本では，ハッピーマンデー制度の適用により，「敬老の日」は毎年9月第3月曜日（2003(平成15)年以降）と定められ，今年は本日がその日である。ただし，老人福祉法では毎年9月15日を「老人の日」と定めている。
総務省統計局が「統計からみた我が国の高齢者－「敬老の日」にちなんで－」と，毎年，この時期にトピックスとして統計データを纏めて公表している。日本の総人口は1億2,376万人（2024年9月15日時点）である。65歳以上の高齢者人口は3,625万人，総人口に占める割合は29.3%と過去最高を記録し，この割合は世界最高の水準だという。65歳以上の就業者数は914万人（就業者総数に占める割合は13.5%）と過去最多であり，20年連続で増加しているという。
敬老とは「老人を敬うこと」をいうが，人は何歳から老人となるのだろうか。
1972(昭和47)年に老人福祉法が改正され，70歳以上を対象に老人医療費無償化が始まったが，わずか10年間で老人医療費無償化は廃止（1983(昭和58)年の老人保健法施行により）された。一方，高齢者の医療の確保に関する法律（通称：高齢者医療確保法，2008(平成20)年施行）では，65歳から74歳までを「前期高齢者」，75歳以上を「後期高齢者」としている。
このように，日本では，医療保健福祉の財源の都合により，「老人の定義」が都合良く修正されてきたとも言えないわけでもない。厚生労働省「令和5年簡易生命表」によれば，日本の2023（令和5）年の平均寿命は，男が81.09歳，女が87.14歳である。日常生活に制限のない期間を示す健康寿命（2019(令和元)年）は，男が72.68歳，女が75.38歳だという。
日本社会でも少子高齢化は確実に進行しており，労働力人口が減少し，国民所得が伸び悩めば，国の税収増加は大きく望めない。その一方で，医療保健福祉関連支出は，予見可能な範囲で，増加傾向を辿ることは必然である。
こうした大雑把なスケッチを描いただけでも，日本社会が持続可能であるためには「定年制を廃止して，労働市場の流動化を進めながら，何歳になっても働ける人が働くことができる社会システムに移行することが不可欠だ」と，個人的な希望でもあるが，そのように推察する。
Thoughts on Respect for the Aged Day(Keirō no Hi): Monday, September 16, 2024
In modern Japan, due to the application of the "Happy Monday" system, "Respect for the Aged Day" has been designated as the third Monday of September each year since 2003 (Heisei 15). This year, that day falls on today. However, the Welfare Act for the Elderly designates September 15th of each year as "Elderly Day."
The Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications annually compiles and publishes statistical data as a topic around this time under the title "The Elderly in Our Country as Seen Through Statistics – In Honor of Respect for the Aged Day." As of September 15, 2024, Japan's total population stands at 123.76 million. The population of elderly people aged 65 and over is 36.25 million, accounting for 29.3% of the total population, marking a record high, and this proportion is said to be the highest in the world. The number of employed individuals aged 65 and over has reached 9.14 million (accounting for 13.5% of the total number of employed people), the highest ever recorded, and has been increasing for 20 consecutive years.
"Keirō" (respect for the elderly) refers to "showing respect for older people," but at what age does a person become considered elderly?
In 1972 (Showa 47), the Welfare Act for the Elderly was revised, and free medical care for those aged 70 and over was introduced. However, within just ten years, free medical care for the elderly was abolished (with the enactment of the Health and Medical Service Act for the Aged in 1983 (Showa 58)). On the other hand, under the Act on Assurance of Medical Care for Elderly People (commonly known as the Elderly Medical Care Act, enacted in 2008 (Heisei 20)), those aged 65 to 74 are classified as "early-stage elderly," and those aged 75 and over as "late-stage elderly."
In this way, it could be said that in Japan, the "definition of elderly" has been conveniently adjusted to suit the availability of financial resources for healthcare and welfare. According to the "2023 (Reiwa 5) Abridged Life Table" by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the average life expectancy in Japan in 2023 is 81.09 years for men and 87.14 years for women. The healthy life expectancy, which indicates the period without limitations in daily life (as of 2019 (Reiwa 1)), is 72.68 years for men and 75.38 years for women.
Even in Japanese society, the trends of a declining birthrate and an aging population are progressing steadily. As the working population decreases and national income growth stagnates, a significant increase in tax revenue cannot be expected. On the other hand, it is inevitable that healthcare and welfare-related expenditures will continue to rise within foreseeable limits.
Even with just such a rough sketch, it is my personal hope and estimation that, for Japanese society to be sustainable, it is essential to abolish the retirement age system, promote labor market flexibility, and shift to a social system where people who are able to work can continue to do so regardless of age.