THE COST OF LONELINESS - AGEISM AND THE POLITICS OF ASSISTED DYING IN CHIE HAYAKAWA’S PLAN 75

Sep 28, 2026

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This paper examines ageism and medically assisted dying as depicted in the Japanese dystopian film Plan 75 (2022), which imagines state-organized gerontocide as a remedy for old age. Healthy individuals aged 75 and above voluntarily enroll to receive financial incentives for final experiences before death in a clinic. The narrative normalizes ageism by framing voluntary death as a practical response to loneliness, poverty, and depression, while also positioning the film within broader social and policy debates. It further uses a cultural gerontological lens and film analysis to interrogate constructions of aging, autonomy, and societal worth.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Film portrayal of ageism

Medically assisted dying and incentives

Social inequalities and policy implications

Autonomy, societal worth, and cultural gerontology

FAQs

What does Plan 75 (2022) portray about assisted dying?

The film depicts a state-organized program in which people aged 75 and above can voluntarily enroll, receive incentives, and then die in a clinic after final experiences.

How does the paper describe the film’s treatment of loneliness and social conditions?

The paper states that the narrative normalizes ageism by presenting voluntary death as a response to loneliness, poverty, and depression.

What analytical framework does the study use?

Using a cultural gerontological framework, the study employs film analysis to examine how Plan 75 constructs narratives about aging, autonomy, and societal worth.

Sep 28, 2026

Upload by Cipher