A paper authored by Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) Senior Manager Mr. Shunichiro Kurita titled “The Basic Act on Dementia and Citizen Autonomy” was published in Policy and Legal Affairs Facilitator Vol. 83. This journal is published by Dai-ichi Hoki Co., Ltd. and provides information for personnel responsible for policy and legal affairs at central ministries and agencies or at local governments.

Based on the Basic Act on Dementia for an Inclusive Society (or, “The Basic Act on Dementia”), which came into effect in 2024 and aims to promote the creation of a dementia-inclusive society, from the perspective of functional centralization, the paper examines the importance of reflecting a broad range of voices from civil society when considering future dementia policies as well as the importance of thoroughly evaluating such initiatives. Specifically, the paper points out that in addition to people living with dementia, their families, and other parties close to them, the Basic Act on Dementia encompasses everyone in Japan, and that this perspective will be vital when further expanding measures for dementia.

This fiscal year, the HGPI Dementia Policy Project is also engaged in efforts to advance dementia policies at municipal governments. It is our hope that this paper and the various initiatives from HGPI will help promote dementia policies that contribute to civil society.