Japan is a country of longevity. According to the latest WHO ranking, Japan ranks among the top in the world in terms of average life expectancy. As life expectancy increases in developed countries, the “100-year life era” has become a hot topic. Recent years have seen remarkable technological advances in medicine and science, with rejuvenation techniques that revive the body at the cellular level emerging. In the beauty industry, the mainstream has shifted from anti-aging to reverse aging, and recently, research on “immortality” has gone even further. On the other hand, there are those who seek euthanasia from the suffering of illness. And there are those who support death with dignity from perspectives such as caregiving and pension issues. In the “100-year life era,” there will be virtually no retirement age and a future in which people may be forced to work on a semi-permanent basis. In addition, the pursuit of looking young can lead to impatience and obsession, which can lead to mental exhaustion and a distorted sense of beauty. As the world moves toward the “100-year life era,” some say that healthy life expectancy is more important than longevity. The question now is how each of us will live and die. Everyone has the right to make their own choices in determining this. ( From September issue, 2023 / 2023年9月号より）