The current Visit Japan campaign, where the government hopes to hit 10 million foreign visitors by the end of 2010, should be courting the American baby boomers — 78 million people between the ages of 50 and 70. We could call it the Visit Aging Japan Campaign.
Japan has a lot to be proud of when it comes to aging. While Europe and the U.S. are at the forefront of anti-aging, we're at the forefront of just plain aging. And we love aging! Age brings privilege, such as respect, retirement and a pension check. In Japan, if you're smart, you'd start getting older as soon as possible.
As the world's premier getting old country, there is a message the Japanese people can teach the West — mainly that getting old is OK. Here in Japan, people get old naturally but gracefully.