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Japan's Dementia Crisis: 18,000 Missing, Tech Solutions Emerging

12/8/2025

Summary

Story summary

Japan faces a dementia crisis, with more than 18,000 elderly people missing in 2023.
The number has doubled since 2012, and the government prioritizes dementia care amid shrinking workforce.
Technological solutions include GPS tracking and AI-driven robots such as Fujitsu's aiGait and Waseda University's AIREC.
Healthcare costs are projected to reach 14 trillion yen by 2030, and experts say human interaction remains essential, as shown by Restaurant of Mistaken Orders.

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Story summary

Japan faces a dementia crisis, with more than 18,000 elderly people missing in 2023.
The number has doubled since 2012, and the government prioritizes dementia care amid shrinking workforce.
Technological solutions include GPS tracking and AI-driven robots such as Fujitsu's aiGait and Waseda University's AIREC.
Healthcare costs are projected to reach 14 trillion yen by 2030, and experts say human interaction remains essential, as shown by Restaurant of Mistaken Orders.