Solitary Living

The number of households consisting of a single person aged 65 or older in Japan has surged to 8.15 million in 2025. An expert panel from the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry proposed in December a new system to support the livelihoods of these elderly individuals and handle post-death procedures. The system would cover funerals and identity verification for hospital admissions, with low or no cost options for those in financial hardship.