New Ties in Old Age

Text by Laura Fornell
Photos by Oscar Espinosa/Amalgama Project
Abridged by Syharn Shen (沈思含)

New Ties in Old Age

Text by Laura Fornell
Photos by Oscar Espinosa/Amalgama Project
Abridged by Syharn Shen (沈思含)

Nagaya Tower is a housing project that fosters interactions and support between people from different generations. When the little girls living in the building need help with their homework, they sometimes turn to Kaneko, 92, who was a teacher at a primary school.

In the peaceful city of Kagoshima on the Japanese island of Kyushu, a kayak paddles leisurely down the Kotsuki River. This could be an ordinary scene in this city of nearly 600,000 inhabitants if it weren't for the fact that the two rowers are more than forty years apart and are part of a special community located just a few meters from the river. Masatoshi, 80, was the first to move into Nagaya Tower 10 years ago, while Hidaka, his partner on today's kayak tour, 38, was the latest to join this community less than a month ago.

Nagaya Tower is an apartment building that houses 43 members between the ages of 8 and 92 who live independently, providing support to one another without the bond of family ties. "This community is inspired by the ancient nagayas of the Japanese Edo period, which more than 150 years ago constituted a collective way of life. From children to the elderly, families, singles, from different occupations, all lived together in the same long compartmentalized house, and around the common well they would chat while washing clothes or doing household chores," explains Yasunori, 72, who joined five years ago with his wife Mutsuko, 70. On the ground floor, the Muffin Child Development Support Office, a center for children with developmental issues, partners with the tower for joint activities, bridging the gap between young and old. "The children learn rules and manners through interaction with other elders who are not members of their immediate family, developing communication skills," says Nobuhisa, 39, who runs the center.

Masatoshi, 80, helps Hidaka, 38, into the kayak. Both are residents of Nagaya Tower.

Behind this project is the vision of Dr. Haruhiko Dozono, 71, who at the age of 43 founded one of Japan's first palliative care clinics, having realized that most of his mentally deteriorating patients suffered from social isolation. He believed that what these patients needed was not medication but human interaction, but he was also aware that there were not many opportunities and places where such connections could be made. His vision led to Nagaya Tower's inception in 2013 as a haven for intergenerational living to combat the loneliness of the elderly, which has become a significant problem in Japan's increasingly aging society.

According to the UN, Japan held the world's oldest population in 2021, with nearly 30% aged 65 and above. Loneliness, an accompanying challenge, resulted in the appointment of a minister for loneliness and social isolation the same year. A survey by Japan's National Institute of Population and Social Security Research in 2017 showed that 15% of older men who live alone talk to one person or less every two weeks, while 30% feel they have no reliable people they can turn to for a little help, even if it is something simple in their day-to-day lives.

Every Monday at Nagaya Tower, Yasunori meets Kaneko, 92, and Yamamoto, 85, in the living room on the second floor to practice music. "I'm learning to play the harmonica," says Yamamoto, who decided to move to Nagaya Tower three years ago when she became a widow. Yasunori sits in front of them with his guitar and acts as a teacher, with Kaneko and Yamamoto following him attentively with their harmonicas. The atmosphere is relaxed and between songs they take the opportunity to have a few laughs and tell each other stories. Mutsuko is sitting at another table doing sudokus and is joined by Tamaoki, a 70-year-old who has been in the community for 10 years.

Kaneko, 92, and Yamamoto, 85, are learning to play the harmonica. Every Monday they meet Yasunori, 72, at the Nagaya Tower community space to practice music together.

Residents come to Nagaya Tower because they want to be in a community and at the same time have their own space. "When someone new wants to live here, we make sure to explain the philosophy of the place and encourage residents to interact and help each other," explains Asahi, 32, who is in charge of managing the building and supporting the residents. "We often see residents playing music together, chatting in the common space or in their own rooms, or helping the younger ones with their homework," notes Asahi. The idea is that all residents help each other and don't hesitate to ask for help when they can't do something on their own. The building itself promotes interaction. Designed in a V-shape, residents can easily see and greet one another. Elderly residents use door magnets to signal their departures, while balconies without partitions facilitate conversations.

A communal dinner is organized once a month, with almost everyone attending. "After coming to Nagaya Tower I feel rejuvenated. Nursing homes are full of old people, but here you stay young because you are surrounded by children and young people," says Kukita, 83, who arrived three years ago with his wife Mikiko, 89. "I also decided to move here five years ago because there is such a good atmosphere, and even though I live alone I don't feel alone," explains Kaneko, who recently injured her knee but doesn't miss any community event for a chance to socialize. "I like living alone, but not lonely," remarks Takai, 37, echoing the sentiments of many residents. He is one of the young residents who enjoys sharing his time with the elderly. "I can learn a lot from the elderly people through the exchange," he says, looking at 70-year-old Morizane, who arrived a year ago after becoming a widow. "We interact with each other through events like tonight's dinner, and we help each other from time to time if we have a problem," Takai says as Morizane smiles knowingly. Masatoshi loves the community life here and boasts of being the "resident zero." "I signed up before the construction of the building was finished, and I will stay here for the rest of my life." His words are a testament to the motto of Nagaya Tower—"Life is happy when you have someone to smile with."

At the Nagaya Tower community kitchen, Morizane, 70, shows two 15-year-old students from the first-floor's child development center how to cook rice.