Japonisme: Ikigai, Forest Bathing, Wabi-sabi and more. Erin Longhurst Niimi

might earn these credits by driving someone to the shop, helping with weeding the garden or physical or manual labour that an elderly person is unable to do themselves.

      People with elderly family elsewhere are able to assist in their own local community and then transfer their credits to their relatives so that they, in turn, can access similar services that traditionally might have been provided by their family, had they lived closer.

      Fureai kippu is, ultimately, a physical, tradeable manifestation of altruism, in a bankable, swappable form. Some beneficiaries of the fureai kippu system prefer services obtained through the community, rather than those driven by purely financial means, due to the perceived (if not slightly contrived) personal connection.

      The bottom line is that ageing isn’t something to be scared of or to shy away from – it happens to all of us. The lessons here that can be learned are about respect, compassion and helping to build a stronger, more thoughtful and welcoming community for everyone, at every stage of their journey.

       In Living Life Unfiltered