In this session, we share our view of public policy as a designed artifact, shaped not only by ministries or government but also by the lived experience and innovations of grassroots policy actors and academic partners. As part of the Tokyo Sustainability Lab of Minerva University, our cross-cultural team interviewed and shadowed University of Tokyo’s Institute of Gerontology team to examine how ikigai operates as cultural wisdom and a practical catalyst for more effective aging policy in Japan. Using elements of design thinking such as empathy, user-centered reframing, qualitative inquiry, alongside Clifford Geertz’s “thick description”, we analyzed how ikigai-driven aging initiatives reflect in-depth user insights and cultural symbolism that influence later-life well-being. For example, the norm of “not wanting to inconvenience others” is deeply rooted among older adults and can unintentionally heighten loneliness, even within multigenerational households. Across our discovery work, we observed that academics, NPOs, community leaders, and older adults themselves already act as “policy designers from below”, influencing policy from regional to the Cabinet office in Japan. In discussions with Professor Nobuhiro Maeda, the Sociality-first Kashiwa Model emerged, identifying four core needs for post-retirement meaning: belonging and social role, lifestyle continuity, manageable work scope, and deep human connection. NPO Sonrissa founder Mr. Ryohei Hagiwara surfaces invisible forms of isolation and prototypes community-led nurturing pathways. Professor Atsushi Hiyama’s GBER platform helps elderly identify their life purpose via volunteerism placement, and encourages healthy community engagement beyond conventional welfare framings. These practice-based research is starting to form important foundation of policymaking.

Authors:
Gloria Tam, Minerva University and Harvard University, United States
Levy Odera, Minerva University, United States
Laurens van de Hoef, Minerva University, United States
Patryk Borek, Minerva University, United States
Tomoe Ueyama, Project Mint, Japan
Salome Gvirjishvili, Minerva University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Gloria Tam is currently a Professor at Minerva University and a lecturer at Harvard University. Her expertise is on design thinking, and she led a Tokyo Sustainability Lab project on ikigai, aging and community-based approaches to elder well-being.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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