#Japan #Tokyo #Healthy Aging #HAPI Award #JCIE

The Launch of the 5th Asian Healthy Aging Innovation Award

The Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) have officially announced the commencement of applications for the 5th Asian Healthy Aging Innovation Award (HAPI). This prestigious award seeks to recognize and celebrate innovative initiatives aimed at promoting healthy aging across various Asian countries as they tackle the challenges associated with an aging population.

The HAPI Award aims to call for and honor outstanding examples of innovative programs, services, products, and policies that contribute to health and longevity in the face of rapidly increasing aging demographics. The award also serves as a platform to share best practices within the Asian region and encourage the practical application of effective solutions to collectively address the common challenge of aging. Previously, the award has received over 300 submissions from 14 countries and regions in Asia and has recognized the efforts of 35 organizations across 10 countries.

As the 5th iteration of the award begins, JCIE and ERIA are particularly hopeful for submissions from Japan, showcasing exemplary case studies and ambitious projects that aim to foster collaboration among Asian nations.

Award Categories

The award is divided into three main categories:

1. Care and Well-Being: Initiatives that support the mental and physical health of the elderly and provide assistance for caregivers and health service providers.
2. Social Participation: Efforts that promote ongoing involvement of the elderly in community life and foster intergenerational connections.
3. Living Environment: Projects that create safe and accommodating living spaces, communities, and transportation options for older adults.

Eligible Countries/Regions

Eligible participants hail from Japan, South Korea, China (including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), and the ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam).

Application Details

For additional information on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and application processes, please visit the official HAPI Award website. The application deadline is set for May 15, 2026.

Background of the Asian Healthy Aging Innovation Award

Japan is one of the first countries in Asia to achieve significant longevity and has become one of the most aged societies globally. At the same time, other Asian countries are experiencing unprecedented rates of aging. The need to shift societal systems and raise awareness to ensure healthy and active aging is a shared challenge across nations. The United Nations has recognized the final decade for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), promoting global cooperation to guarantee health and welfare for all generations, including the elderly.

In this context, JCIE and ERIA initiated the Asian Healthy Aging Innovation Award in 2020 as part of Japan's promotion of the Asian Health Initiative (AHWIN). This award serves to gather and honor initiatives that contribute to the achievement of healthy aging and the improvement of elderly care from ASEAN countries as well as China, South Korea, and Japan.

Moreover, the award has been noted as a policy to enhance collaboration aimed at realizing a sustainable society for healthy longevity in the Joint Vision Statement adopted at the Japan-ASEAN Commemorative Summit held in December 2023.

About JCIE

The Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) is a public interest corporation dedicated to promoting policy dialogue and international cooperation at the civil level. They believe that in order to achieve stability and development in the international community, cross-border understanding and collaboration among diverse civil actors is essential in addition to governmental diplomacy. Acting as a frontrunner in citizen diplomacy, JCIE strives to connect global and national issues and contribute solutions. They implement international exchanges and policy dialogue across various themes, including human security, democracy support, global health, and women’s empowerment. Responding to the Japanese government's Asian Health Initiative launched in 2016, JCIE began the program on Aging in Asia and Regional Cooperation, collaborating with ERIA on policy dialogue and award initiatives regarding aging and elderly care in Asia.