Award Ceremony for 2022 Healthy Aging Prize for Asian Innovation

More than 100 people joined in person to celebrate the winners of the 2022 Healthy Aging Prize for Asian Innovation (HAPI). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2022 marked our first opportunity to celebrate our award winners together in person and to introduce leading innovations from around the region.

The awards were presented by the Hon. Keizo Takemi, a member of the Japanese Diet and leading expert on global health who chairs the International Advisory Committee for HAPI, and Mr. Akio Okawara, president of the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE). A congratulatory video message was also shared from Prof. Hidetoshi Nishimura, president of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), the co-organizers with JCIE of HAPI.

Rapid population aging requires creative approaches from both the public and private sectors. Launched in 2020, the Healthy Aging Prize for Asian Innovation (HAPI) seeks to recognize and amplify innovative policies, programs, services, and products that address the challenges facing aging societies, help extend healthy and meaningful lives, and improve the provision of care to older adults.

Ms. Zhang Yu, founder of Longzhen Senior Care, accepts the Grand Prize in Community-Based Innovation from Hon. Keizo Takemi

Ms. Yukiko Yoshida, President of ORANGE LINKS accepts the Grand Prize for Technology & Innovation

On behalf of Jinmei Care of Shanghai, Ms. Wang Qing accepts the Grand Prize for Supporting Self-Reliance. Ms. Gu Chunling, founder of Jinmei Care, sent a video message.

Mr. Prasan Ingkanunt, Founder and Managing Director of Boonmerit Media Co. accepts the Special Award for Combatting Ageism

Mr. Toshiaki Onza, Chairman of the NGO SPICE Works Lab and Mr. Takehiro Morikawa, Director of the Community Welfare and Services Division of Takarazuka-City accepted the Second Prize for Supporting Self-Reliance.

Mr. Teiichi Matsuda, Chair of the Odekake Rehabilitation Promotion Council, receives the Second Prize for Community-Based Initiatives from JCIE's president Akio Okawara

Mr. Daisuke Kiuchi, Senior Consultant to Mediva, accepted the Second Prize in Technology & Innovation

Mr. Tadamichi Shimogawara, President of Silver Wood, accepted the Second Prize in Technology & Innovation

JCIE's Kim Ashizawa opened the ceremony by outlining the goals of the award

HAPI Grand Prize Winners

Technology & Innovation

ORANGE LINKS | Japan
QR Code Jell Nail Stickers for People with Dementia

Community-Based Initiatives

Longzhen Senior Care | China
One-Stop Community Elderly Service Program

Supporting Self-Reliance

Shanghai Jinmei Care for the Elderly | China
Memory Home

Special Prize for Combatting Ageism

Boonmerit Media | Thailand
Manoottangwai Intergenerational Online Media Campaign

Second Prize Winners

Technology & Innovation (Tie)

SILVER WOOD Co., Ltd. | Japan
VR Dementia

Mediva inc. | Japan
“Dementia Eyes”—Experiencing Dementia through AR

Community-Based Initiatives

Odekake Rehabilitation Promotion Council | Japan
Initiative to Promote Outings for Older People and Commercial Revitalization

Supporting Self-Reliance

Takarazuka City Collaborative Community-Building Council | Japan
Healthy and Purposeful Employment Trial

SITE VISIT FOR WINNERS

The day after the ceremony, Grand Prize winners from China and Thailand visited Hedate-ku in the town of Minamiboso (Chiba Prefecture) for a site visit to learn about their project, “Older people take the lead! Passing on the vitality of the region,” which was selected as a 2022 HAPI Japan Finalist. The town has been carrying out intergenerational exchanges in order to engage older residents in passing on local traditions to the younger generation and to revitalize the local community. They have created a local space to promote connections between youth groups, senior groups, and local medical facilities, and they hold various events, like paper theater to teach kids the local folk tales and traditions. The village warmly welcomed the delegation of HAPI winners and proudly shared their work and their town’s heritage with the other winners, members of the selection committee, and the HAPI secretariat.