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Healthcare Health Information Technology Japan Trade Development

Japan Healthcare Caregiving Technologies

As Japan’s population continues to decline and the number of individuals requiring care increases, the demand for securing and retaining caregiving personnel is becoming an urgent issue in Japan, and a great opportunity for U.S. companies. The number of caregiving personnel required to support elderly individuals in need of care in Japan is estimated to reach 2.72 million by 2040, with a projected shortage of 570,000 workers. Compounding the issue, many individuals who enter the caregiving industry do not remain in their positions, further exacerbating workforce shortages. To address these issues, attention has shifted toward improving caregiving environments and operations through the use of innovative technologies, including robotics and ICT devices.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) have been promoting initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of caregiving services, reducing staff burdens, and supporting the independence of elderly individuals via caregiving robots and ICT technologies (hereafter referred to as “caregiving technologies”). In 2012, the Japanese government introduced the policy initiative Priority Areas for the Use of Robotic Technology in Caregiving, which was later revised in 2014 and 2017. In June 2024, in response to rapid advancements in robotics and ICT, as well as evolving societal needs, this initiative was revised and rebranded as Priority Areas for the Use of Caregiving Technology. The updated policy priority areas include the following domains:

  • Transfer Support: Devices that assist elderly individuals to safely and comfortably transfer between beds, wheelchairs, and toilets with minimal physical burden.
  • Mobility Support: Walking support devices that use robotic technology to aid elderly individuals in standing, sitting, and moving both indoors and outdoors.
  • Toileting Support: Devices that utilize robotic technology to assist with removing and replacing clothing during toileting.
  • Bathing Support: Devices that support caregiving tasks and movement during bathing.
  • Monitoring and Communication: Systems equipped with various sensors and external communication functions for use in caregiving facilities.
  • Functional Training Support: Devices and systems that assist caregiving staff in conducting physical and daily life functional training for care recipients.
  • Dementia Life Support and Dementia Care Support: Devices and systems that support independent daily life and individualized care of elderly individuals with cognitive decline.

Currently, the adoption rates of these technologies vary by domain but remain generally low. For example, the adoption rate of toileting support devices is only 0.5%, whereas monitoring and communication devices have the highest adoption rate at approximately 30%. As these technologies are expected to see further adoption in the future, and given the challenges Japan faces with its aging population and increasing caregiving needs, U.S. companies specializing in innovative caregiving technologies can play a crucial role in addressing these issues.

As noted above, Japan’s initiatives to enhance caregiving services through robotics and ICT devices create an opportunity for U.S. firms to contribute their advanced technologies to Japan’s evolving caregiving landscape. As the Japanese government prioritizes the development of caregiving technologies, U.S. exporters can leverage the growing demand for these solutions, particularly in areas like transfer support, mobility assistance, and dementia care. By aligning with Japan’s strategic policy updates and supporting its caregiving sector, U.S. companies can position themselves as key players in Japan’s increased adoption of healthcare technologies, offering tailored solutions to meet the country’s urgent caregiving workforce shortage and improve elderly care outcomes.

Opportunities:

Care Show Japan
Dates: February 26 - 28, 2025 
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight
https://www.care-show.com/en/ 
Note: Approximately 350 exhibitors and 10,500 business and healthcare professionals participated in-person at the Care Show Japan in 2024.

Medical Japan Tokyo
Dates: October 1 – 3, 2025 
Venue: Makuhari Messe
https://www.medical-jpn.jp/hub/en-gb.html 
Note: Approximately 400 exhibitors and 15,000 business and healthcare professionals participated in-person at the Medical Japan Tokyo in 2024.

International Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition (H.C.R.)
Dates: October 8 – 10, 2025 
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight
https://hcr.or.jp/en/ 
Note: Approximately 400 exhibitors and 120,000 visitors, including business and healthcare professionals, participated in-person at the International Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition in 2024.
If you have further questions, please contact Office.Tokyo@trade.gov.