Is it true that the Japanese government has released a program that encourages euthanasia for those aged over 75? No, that's not true: This is a fictional plot point from a film called "Plan 75," released in 2022. The Japanese government does not have such a plan to tackle the aging population problem.
The claim originally appeared on a TikTok video (archived here) on June 7, 2023. The sticker on the video can be translated as follows:
This is Japan's future... A life that ends at 75...
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Tue Jun 13 01:31:27 2023 UTC)
The video shows the trailer of "Plan 75" in its entirety, which can be found on YouTube and on the film's official website. The film's plot turns around a hypothetical future where the Japanese government gives those over the age of 75 the right to die. While watching the full trailer, it is clear that the structure of the fictional bill in "Plan 75" is not even intended to force the elderly to be euthanized but rather to give them a choice of whether or not to live. Later in the trailer (around the 01:41 mark), a social worker even tells one of the main characters, Mishi (actor Chieko Baisho), that she can opt-out at any point in the process.
Furthermore, the Cabinet Office has published its strategies to mitigate the problem of the aging population in Japan. It didn't mention a euthanasia program. The Cabinet's most recent effort to deal with the aging population problem is called the "Ageless Life" campaign. It aims to encourage older people to live their lives more self-determined and free, regardless of age.
