Japan Confronts a Deepening Dementia Crisis – Is Technology the Relief It Needs?
Last year, more than 18,000 older people living with dementia in Japan left their homes and went missing. Nearly 500 were later found dead.
The figures, released by police, represent a doubling of cases since 2012 and highlight the mounting pressures on a nation with the world’s oldest population.
Compounding the issue is a shrinking labour force and strict limits on foreign care workers, leaving fewer hands to look after an ageing society. The government has labelled dementia one of its most urgent policy priorities. By 2030, health and social care costs linked to the condition are forecast to reach 14 trillion yen ($90bn; £67bn), up from nine trillion yen in 2025.
In its latest strategy, Tokyo has signalled a decisive shift toward technological solutions.
Tracking and Prevention
Across Japan, GPS-based tools are being rolled out to help families monitor relatives prone to wandering.
Some local authorities now offer wearable location tags that alert officials when a person leaves a pre-approved area. In certain towns, even convenience-store staff are looped in: they receive real-time alerts that help form a community-wide safety net capable of locating missing individuals within hours.
AI Diagnostics and Robot Caregivers
Several companies are racing to develop technologies that can detect dementia earlier. Among them is Fujitsu, whose aiGait system uses artificial intelligence to analyse posture and walking patterns for subtle signs of decline — from shuffling steps to slower turns or difficulty standing. The software produces skeletal models that clinicians can assess during routine examinations.
“Early detection is essential,” says company spokesperson Hidenori Fujiwara. “If doctors can use motion-capture data, they can intervene sooner and help people stay active for longer.”
Meanwhile, at Waseda University, researchers are developing AIREC — a 150kg humanoid robot envisioned as a future caregiving assistant. The machine can already help users put on socks, scramble eggs or fold laundry. The team hopes it will eventually be able to change diapers and prevent bedsores.
But the technology is still years away from safe everyday use. Assistant Professor Tamon Miyake warns that the fine motor control and adaptive intelligence required mean meaningful deployment is likely at least five years off.
“It requires full-body sensing and the ability to adjust to each individual and each situation,” he explains.
Innovation is also targeting emotional wellbeing.
Poketomo, a 12-centimetre companion robot small enough to slip into a pocket, reminds users to take medication, provides weather updates and offers conversation — a feature designers say can help ease loneliness among older people living alone.
“We’re focused on using new technology to address social challenges,” says Miho Kagei from Sharp, the company behind Poketomo. Yet researchers stress that technology can never fully replace the human touch. “Robots should supplement, not substitute, caregivers,” Mr Miyake says. “Their purpose is to support both patients and those who look after them.”
A Café That Embraces Mistakes
In Sengawa, Tokyo, one restaurant underscores why social interaction remains indispensable.
The “Restaurant of Mistaken Orders,” founded by Akiko Kanna and staffed by people with dementia, welcomes customers who understand that orders may not always arrive as expected.
Inspired by her father’s experience with dementia, Ms Kanna created a space where individuals can participate meaningfully in community life. One of the servers, Toshio Morita, uses flowers as memory cues to keep track of customers’ tables. Despite cognitive decline, he relishes the chance to meet new people — and his wife says the café keeps him active and gives her a brief respite.
The project is a reminder that while technology can help ease workloads and enhance safety, social inclusion and human connection are what most profoundly sustain those living with dementia.
“Honestly? I just wanted a bit of pocket money,” Mr Morita says with a smile. “And I like meeting all sorts of people. Everyone’s different — that’s what makes it fun.”
