Non-profit Corporation KOTOBUKI Establishes Research Division: Launching Participatory Social Research to Explore a 'Society That Celebrates Longevity'

■ Background of Establishment

Aging is often discussed in society as a burden or a problem.

Following Japan, many other countries and regions will soon face an aging population.

We perceive that 'aging is not a problem, but an opportunity to rethink how society should be.'

Through participating in international conferences and advancing our projects, we have realized that precisely because Japan has faced aging head-on and gone through trial and error, it holds the potential to contribute to the future international community.

Based on the sentiment embedded in our company name, KOTOBUKI (Longevity/Celebration)—'a society that can truly celebrate longevity'—we are establishing the 'KOTOBUKI Research Lab' to work toward its realization.

■ Participatory Social Research and the Creation of the 'KOTOBUKI White Paper'

First, we will conduct social research to gather the voices of people from diverse standpoints regarding the theme of 'a society that can truly celebrate longevity,' which is the core of KOTOBUKI.

In this initiative, we will combine interviews and surveys to broadly collect opinions and delve deeply into individual voices. We will also create spaces where people with similar opinions or positions can converse, continuously deepening the inquiry.

The knowledge accumulated in this way will be organized into the 'KOTOBUKI White Paper.' This white paper will record the voices of diverse individuals and the process of their changing perspectives, visualizing practical knowledge regarding a 'society that can celebrate longevity.'

This research is not something that concludes within a set period. It will operate as a system that continuously accumulates opinions while feeding back progress and the voices of others to the participants. By continuously updating, we will connect personal inquiries to societal inquiries and broadcast them both domestically and internationally.

■ Future Developments

This initiative will begin its research in March 2026 and will fully roll out in April 2026.

Through participation in the TOKYO Co-cial IMPACT Acceleration Program (Impact Design Course), this project has continuously examined the ideal form of social impact.