Akita City

Motomu Hozumi Mayor of Akita City

Age-Friendly City and Winter Challenges and Solutions

IFA 11th GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON AGEING

29th May 2012

Akita City

Profile of Akita City

･ Area 905.67 km2 (349.68 mi2)

･ Population 320,703 (1st April 2012)

Akita City

21.124.1

28.131.6

34.236.4

26.929.6

33.136.5

38.740.1

20.123.0

26.929.2 30.5 31.8

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Changes in the Population Ageing Rate

Akita City

Akita Pref.

Japan

（％）

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)

1/3 of the population is

age 65+.

Akita City

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)

･ Snow depth (Dec. 2011 - Feb. 2012)

Month Dec. Jan. Feb. Total

Snowfall (cm/ inches) 99/ 39 94/ 37 73/ 29 266/ 105

Month Dec. Jan. Feb. Total

Deepest (cm/ inches) 43/ 17 48/ 19 42/ 17 48/ 19

Akita City

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

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

Challenge 1 Transportation

Solution 1 Coin Bus (100-Yen Bus) Project

Coin Bus Pass

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.

Akita City

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

Challenge 2 Risk of Falls and Fractures

Solution 2 All-Weather Pedestrian Areas

Roofed area at Akita Station

Akita City

Challenge 2 Risk of Falls and Fractures

Solution 2 All-Weather Pedestrian Areas Roofed shopping area

in front of Akita Station

Akita City

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

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

Challenge 4 Social Isolation

Solution 2 Senior Citizens’ College

Akita City

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

To Be More Age-Friendly City

Self-Help

Public-Help Mutual-Help