1. IFA 11th GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON AGEING
29th May 2012
Age-Friendly City and Winter
Challenges and Solutions
Motomu Hozumi
Mayor of Akita City
Akita City

2. Profile of Akita City
･ Area 905.67 km2 (349.68 mi2)
･ Population 320,703 (1st April 2012)
Akita City

3. Population Ageing in Akita City
Percentage of the population age 65 and over (2005)
･ Japan 20.1 %
･ Germany 18.8 %
･ USA 12.4 %
(UN, World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision)
Changes in the Population
（％） Ageing Rate
45 40.1
40 38.7
36.5 36.4
33.1 34.2
35 31.6
29.6
30 26.9 28.1
30.5 31.8
24.1 29.2 Akita City
25 21.1 26.9
20 23.0
20.1 Akita Pref.
15
10
1/3 of the population is Japan
5 age 65+.
0
2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
Akita City

4. Climate of Akita City
･ Average 11.8 oC (53.2 oF)
･ Record low -7.1 oC (19.2 oF)
･ Record high 35.6 oC (96.1 oF)(2011)
･ Snowfall (Dec. 2011 - Feb. 2012)
Month Dec. Jan. Feb. Total
Snowfall (cm/ inches) 99/ 39 94/ 37 73/ 29 266/ 105
･ Snow depth (Dec. 2011 - Feb. 2012)
Month Dec. Jan. Feb. Total
Deepest (cm/ inches) 43/ 17 48/ 19 42/ 17 48/ 19
Akita City

5. Four Challenges - Winter Life for Older People
Challenge 1 Transportation
Challenge 2 Risk of Falls and Fractures
Challenge 3 Snow Removal
Challenge 4 Social Isolation
Akita City

6. Challenge 1 Transportation
Solution 1 Coin Bus (100-Yen Bus) Project
October 2011-
- Akita City residents age 70 and over
- Coin Bus Pass
- One ride = 100 yen
≒
１ＥＵＲ
Mayor Hozumi and Coin Bus riders
Akita City

7. Challenge 1 Transportation
Solution 1 Coin Bus (100-Yen Bus) Project
Now I don’t have to
worry about the bus
fare to the hospital.
I pay just 100 yen and can
go anywhere in Akita City.
Coin Bus Pass
Akita City

8. Challenge 2 Risk of Falls and Fractures
Solution 1 Snow Melting Sidewalks
･Snow Melting Systems
- Steep streets
- Busy sidewalks
- School zones etc.
･ installed at the 30.8 km (19.1 mile) sidewalks
in Akita City
- City sidewalks 12.1 km (7.5mile)
- Prefectural sidewalks 18.4 km (11.4mile)
- National sidewalks 0.3 km (0.18mile)
(2010)
Akita City

9. Challenge 2 Risk of Falls and Fractures
Solution 2 All-Weather Pedestrian Areas
Roofed area at Akita Station
Akita City

10. Challenge 2 Risk of Falls and Fractures
Solution 2 All-Weather Pedestrian Areas
Roofed shopping area
in front of Akita Station
Akita City

11. Challenge 3 Snow Removal
Solution 1 Stronger and Cooperative Support
Snow removal cost in 2011
2,650,000,000 JPY
= 33.2 million USD
= 26.7 million EUR
（Second highest expenditure
in history of Akita City）
Neighborhood Cooperation
Snow Blower
Akita City

12. Challenge 4 Social Isolation
Solution 1 Physical Activity Programs
Semimonthly aquakinetics
in heated indoor pools
Three-month course x 9
Total participants 2,032 (2010)
Monthly physical activities
in local community centers
265 classes
Total participants 3,923 (2010)
Akita City

13. Challenge 4 Social Isolation
Solution 2 Senior Citizens’ College
Akita City

14. New Support System using GIS
Support system for older people using GIS*
*Geographic Information System
User information page
Map information page
= system users
Akita City

15. To Be More Age-Friendly City
Self-Help
Mutual-Help Public-Help
Akita City