Thinking about the age of longevity through science, institutions, and views of life and death
A salon hosted by the Nikkei Longevity Project. Attendance was by invitation.
Thinking about the age of longevity through science, institutions, and views of life and death
A salon hosted by the Nikkei Longevity Project. Attendance was by invitation.
Thinking about the age of longevity through science, institutions, and views of life and death
A salon hosted by the Nikkei Longevity Project. Attendance was by invitation.
11
.
04
Wednesday 4 November 2026
13:00–17:00 (doors open 12:30)
SPACE NIO (2F), Nikkei Inc. Tokyo Head Office
By invitation; free of charge
From 17:00, we held a presentation session by seminar participants (optional).
Organizer
Nikkei Inc. Media Business (Nikkei Longevity Project)
Nikkei Inc. Media Business (Nikkei Longevity Project)
Special cooperation
Senjin Holdings, Inc.
Planning cooperation
Tokoyo Futures Foundation (in preparation)
How far has research into slowing ageing and extending lifespan progressed? And further ahead, how will the ways we learn and work, relations between generations, and the ways we face death change? We considered these questions about longevity from three perspectives: science, institutions, and views of life and death. Hosted by the Nikkei Longevity Project, this was a salon by invitation that brought together invited guests and the people they introduced.
In September 2026, the number of people aged 100 or older in Japan passed 100,000 for the first time. At the same time, it is not yet known whether healthy lifespans will be greatly extended. The talk and conversations set out where research stands today, and attendees exchanged ideas with one another.
People who hope to live long and people who wish to accept ageing and death share the same society. Without deciding in advance which is right, we began with the hopes and concerns of each.
We also presented the plans of Tokoyo Futures Foundation (in preparation), which cooperated in planning the event, and exhibited works on the theme of life and death at the venue.
The three sessions correspond directly to the three questions the foundation explores: the state of science, changes in culture, and visions of a possible society.
Kan Suzuki
Conversation
On institutions and education
Professor at the University of Tokyo, Project Professor at Keio University, and head of Shakai Sohatsu Juku (School for Social Emergence). After working at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, he served two terms, totalling 12 years, in the House of Councillors, and was responsible for education reform as Senior Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and as Special Advisor to the Minister. He works on designing social systems in education, his central focus, and in healthcare, sport and culture, and science and technology.
Shoko Takahashi
Talk
Where the science of lifespan and ageing stands today
President and CEO of TAZ Inc. and founder of Genequest. In 2013, while a graduate student at the University of Tokyo, she founded Genequest, a genome analysis company. In 2023 she established TAZ Inc., which works on the science of ageing and lifespan. She has held positions including specially appointed (visiting) professor at Tohoku University. Her books include Seimei kagakuteki shiko (Thinking in terms of life science).
Hiromi Shimada
Conversation
On views of life and death, and on culture
Writer and scholar of religion. He completed the doctoral programme at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Humanities, and has held positions including professor at Japan Women’s University. He has published numerous works on religion, funeral practices and views of life and death in contemporary Japan, and has written on the relationship between religion and society. His books include Soshiki wa, iranai (Funerals are unnecessary) and Nihon no judai shinshukyo (Japan’s ten major new religions).
Interviewer
Akihiko Shimoyama
Founder of Tokoyo Futures Foundation. Artist and CEO of Senjin Holdings. He sold the media business he founded while a student at the University of Tokyo, and completed graduate studies at Tokyo University of the Arts. He presents work on the theme of life and death every year. He was selected for Forbes 30 UNDER 30 JAPAN 2025. He will serve as interviewer in the conversations with Kan Suzuki and Hiromi Shimada.
Interviewer
Akihiko Shimoyama
Founder of Tokoyo Futures Foundation. Artist and CEO of Senjin Holdings. He sold the media business he founded while a student at the University of Tokyo, and completed graduate studies at Tokyo University of the Arts. He presents work on the theme of life and death every year. He was selected for Forbes 30 UNDER 30 JAPAN 2025. He will serve as interviewer in the conversations with Kan Suzuki and Hiromi Shimada.
Date and time
Wednesday 4 November 2026, 13:00–17:00 (doors open 12:30)
From 17:00, we held a presentation session by seminar participants (optional).
Venue
Attendance
The event was held by invitation and free of charge.
Attendees
We invited business leaders and heads of new business initiatives, researchers and physicians, artists and practitioners of traditional culture, and members of the media. The event brought together invited guests and the people they introduced.
Recording
The on-stage sessions were filmed for the record.
Organizer
Nikkei Inc. Media Business (Nikkei Longevity Project)
Special cooperation
Senjin Holdings, Inc.
Planning cooperation
Tokoyo Futures Foundation (in preparation)
A foundation that studies the changes the science of longevity brings to society from three perspectives (science, institutions, and views of life and death) and creates forums for dialogue. It will also build ways to attract people and funding to research and initiatives in this field. Preparations are under way for its establishment in April 2027.
Thank you to everyone who took part. To hear about future gatherings, please use “Receive news by email” at the bottom of this page.
Senjin Holdings, Inc. (the preparatory office of Tokoyo Futures Foundation) handles information obtained in connection with this event, including information entered in the application form for this event, attendance on the day and survey responses (hereinafter “personal information”), in accordance with its privacy policy. The personal information is used for guidance and check-in on the day, for contacting you about this event, and for informing you about the activities of Tokoyo Futures Foundation (in preparation).
Personal information will also be provided to Nikkei Inc., the organizer of this event. Once provided, it will be managed and used under Nikkei Inc.’s responsibility, and Nikkei Inc.’s event privacy policy will apply.
To request correction or deletion, please contact info@tokoyo-futures.org. Please also review each company’s policy below.
Senjin Holdings, Inc. privacy policy
Nikkei Inc. event privacy policy
Inquiries: Tokoyo Futures Foundation preparatory office (Ei Nakagawa), info@tokoyo-futures.org