Plan 75
International Panorama: Japan
Government program Plan 75 encourages senior citizens to be euthanized to remedy an aged society.
A low fertility rate combined with a high life expectancy, healthy lifestyles, and excellent medical care - not to mention the insularity of the nation and a strict immigration policy - have conjured the perfect storm and won Japan the menacing record of being the oldest country in the world.
An elderly woman, Michi, whose means of survival are vanishing, a pragmatic Plan 75 salesman, and a young Filipino labourer face choices of life and death. As Michi is slowly sucked into the euthanasia program, the whole thing is couched in bland, gently patronizing tones that perfectly mimic the language of Japanese bureaucracy and public information campaigns. A fascinating indictment of ageism.