Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI), an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan think tank, has long been committed to addressing challenges in health and social security. By harnessing the collective intelligence of diverse stakeholders, HGPI aims to present new options for society, fostering citizen-centered health policy.

Japan’s social security system is currently facing structural challenges, including rapid population aging and a shrinking working-age population. With the increasing demand for healthcare and long-term care services due to the growing number of elderly aged 75 and over, social security benefits are projected to reach 190 trillion yen by 2040. Coupled with labor shortages due to the declining workforce, this trend threatens to increase the burden on the working generation and jeopardize the sustainability of the system. On the other hand, proactive efforts are being made by government and private sector experts to address these issues. Technological innovation is accelerating in healthcare and long-term care, giving rise to new services and system innovations. Moreover, policies and initiatives aimed at realizing a symbiotic society are being implemented nationwide, offering hope for a brighter future. These efforts have the potential not only to position Japan’s healthcare and elderly care industries as growth sectors but also to revitalize regional communities.

In the past, the National Council on Social Security System Reform, established in 2012, deliberated on the sustainability and future direction of the social security system from a long-term perspective. These discussions laid the foundation for Japan’s social security policy by seeking the optimal balance between “self-help, mutual assistance, and public help” while pursuing system enhancement and efficiency. Building on that momentum, the Meetings on a Social Security System Oriented to All Generations are currently advancing these discussions further. Additionally, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare unveiled the “Future Health and Active Society Strategy” in 2024, presenting a concrete vision for achieving a sustainable social security system. This strategy identifies three primary goals: promoting the growth of the healthcare and long-term care industries, harnessing innovation for societal benefit, and creating a society where individuals can lead healthy and active lives.

Against this backdrop of emerging changes, we have provided a platform for future-oriented discussions through the “HGPI Salon 2025” held in 2025. Under the Chatham House Rule, participants engaged in free and candid dialogue, generating insights and ideas for policy formation through an active exchange of opinions. In 2026, we will expand upon the discussions held during HGPI Salon 2025 by launching “HGPI Salon 2025-2026.” This series will focus on exploring the value of healthcare in a shifting social landscape and envisioning the next generation of medical care. Furthermore, we will delve deeper into the challenges of health policy by revisiting infectious disease control. Ultimately, by synthesizing these discussions, we aim to re-examine the realization of citizen-centered health policy, which remains the core mission of our institute.

The HGPI Salon provides a positive space to share challenges in healthcare and social security while collaboratively exploring solutions for the future. The event is supported by participation fees, which are exclusively allocated to venue and operational expenses. Individual supporting members can attend free of charge. We warmly invite you to join us in envisioning a brighter future for Japan’s social security system.

For this sixth session, Mr. Yoshiyuki Sagara, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics, joined us as our guest speaker, and Ms. Eri Cahill, an Associate at HGPI, served as moderator for a discussion with participants. Mr. Sagara gave a presentation on the basic concepts of security and economic security, the defining features of the second Trump administration, global economic trends in which liberalism and mercantilism coexist, and the security environment surrounding Japan. He also discussed health security, including supply chains for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, the military medicine field within defense policy, and the emerging risks posed by AI and synthetic biology. The session further examined how Japan could leverage its strengths in fields such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices from the perspectives of strategic autonomy and strategic indispensability. The discussion also touched on approaches to dual-use technologies, the strategic use of water resources, which stages of the process should be secured domestically when Japanese-origin drugs are developed for global markets, and preparedness for the next infectious disease crisis and the role of international cooperation. Throughout the venue, participants engaged in a lively discussion on the importance of sharing threat perceptions and continuing dialogue between stakeholders in health and security.

[Event Overview]

• Session 6 Speakers

  Guest Speaker: Yoshiyuki Sagara (Senior Research Fellow, The Institute of Geoeconomics)
  Moderator: Eri Cahill (Associate, HGPI)

• Date & Time: Tuesday, October 13, 2026; 19:00-21:00 JST
• Format: In-person Only
• Venue: International House of Japan (5-11-16 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032)
• Rules: Chatham House Rule
• Language: Japanese only
• Participation Fees: Individual Supporting Members and Students (undergraduates only): Free
  General Participants: ¥4,400 (Credit card payments only)
  * Light refreshments were provided at the venue. Participation fees were fully allocated to operational and venue costs.

 

[Program]

 

19:00-19:10	Introduction & Opening Remarks Yukiko Kawata (Manager, HGPI)
19:10-20:30	Cross-Session *An interactive discussion involving presentations and audience participation. Theme: “Japan’s Health Policy through the Lens of Global Security” Guest Speaker: Yoshiyuki Sagara (Senior Research Fellow, The Institute of Geoeconomics) Moderator: Eri Cahill (Associate, HGPI)
20:30-21:00	Reception

 

■ Profile

Yoshiyuki Sagara (Senior Research Fellow, The Institute of Geoeconomics)

Yoshiyuki Sagara is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics (IOG), based at the International House of Japan (IHJ). His research focuses on international political economy, economic security, and international conflicts. Prior to his current role, Mr. Sagara served as Assistant Director of the Second Northeast Asia Division (North Korea desk) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan from 2018 to 2020. He also worked in the United Nations Department of Political Affairs in New York, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Sudan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Headquarters, and a tech company in Tokyo. He holds a Master of Public Policy from the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo and a BA in law from Keio University.

Eri Cahill (Associate, Health and Global Policy Institute)

Ms. Eri Cahill is a graduate of the National Chengchi University International Master’s Program in Asia-Pacific Studies. While still a student, she joined Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) as an intern and was involved in duties for planetary health. Her other past experience includes advocacy activities, policy research, and legal support at non-profit organizations in the United States, Taiwan, and Japan. She is currently involved in projects for planetary health, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and global health.

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■ Upcoming Salon Sessions

• [DONE] Session 5 (June 29, 2026): “The Value of Healthcare in Society—Perspectives from the Reiwa Era”
  Guest Speaker: Ataru Igarashi (Fellow, HGPI)
• [DONE] Session 6 (October 13, 2026): “Japan’s Health Policy through the Lens of Global Security”
  Guest Speaker: Yoshiyuki Sagara (Senior Research Fellow, The Institute of Geoeconomics)
• Session 7 (December 18, 2026): “Building a Policy Foundation for the Next Health Crisis”
  Guest Speaker: Shigeru Omi (Chairman, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association)
• Session 8 (February 19, 2027): “The Future of ‘Healthcare’ Japanese Society Aspires To”
  Guest Speaker: Shinsuke Muto (Board Member, HGPI)

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