As population ageing accelerates across Asia and the Pacific, driving higher rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), the Government of Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan and the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office have formalized a partnership to address these megatrends and inform regional health policy. The agreement was signed in Yokohama by Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa and WHO Regional Director Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala ahead of the International Day of Older Persons.
The partnership focuses on three key areas: identifying priority knowledge gaps related to healthy ageing and NCDs in the context of demographic transitions; generating multidisciplinary research and synthesizing evidence to address these gaps; and translating findings into actionable policy through knowledge-sharing, pilot programs, and contributions to national strategies and scalable interventions.
Dr Piukala emphasized that population ageing is not a crisis but a development triumph. However, the accompanying rise in NCDs, mental health challenges, and healthcare expenditure must be addressed. Japan, as the world’s first hyper-aged society, provides a model for tackling these challenges, and Kanagawa Prefecture’s innovative policies focus on promoting well-being and preventing disease rather than merely treating illness.
Governor Kuroiwa highlighted Kanagawa’s Healthcare New Frontier policy, which incorporates the ME-BYO approach rooted in traditional Chinese health concepts. ME-BYO views health as a continuum between wellness and illness, emphasizing early detection of risks and lifestyle improvements to prevent disease onset, rather than simply treating symptoms. This holistic perspective allows for proactive health management and has become a template for sharing knowledge internationally.
The partnership will also involve the General Incorporated Association Global Strategy Center for ME-BYO, established by Kanagawa in 2025. Together, WHO and Kanagawa aim to extend healthy lifespans, promote universal health coverage, and offer solutions to global health challenges. Dr Piukala described the collaboration as an opportunity to turn the dual megatrends of population ageing and rising NCDs into innovation and impact, unlocking what he termed a “silver dividend” while advancing the goals of SDG 3 to ensure the highest attainable standard of health for all.
