International Longevity Centre Global Alliance - Designing the Future of Ageing

30 July 2026

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Professor Tetsuo Tsuji on July 30, 2026. At the time of his passing, Professor Tsuji was President of ILC Japan and, until March 2026, a Professor at the Institute of Gerontology, University of Tokyo, one of Japan’s leading institutions for research on ageing.

During the last few months, Professor Tsuji was actively involved in the affairs of the Association for Health Economics Research and Social Insurance and Welfare, the parent organisation of ILC Japan.

Professor Tsuji had a distinguished career spanning several decades in public service. He served as a senior civil servant at Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, culminating in his appointment as Vice Minister (Jimu Jikan) in 2006.

Following his retirement from the Ministry, Professor Tsuji remained deeply engaged in ageing policy and practice. In particular, he devoted himself to promoting comprehensive, community-wide approaches to health and well-being in later life. Through his extensive lectures, research, and numerous publications, he made important contributions to Japan’s ageing policy and to the broader understanding of how communities can support healthy, active ageing.

Many of us at the ILC Global Alliance will remember his important contribution to our work and discussions on ageing. In 2023, the ILC GA featured his co-authored book, Prevention of Frailty among Older Persons in Japan: A Community-wide Approach, on our website. The book, drawing on decades of his experience, presents valuable lessons on community-wide approaches to frailty prevention and long-term care that are relevant well beyond Japan.

Professor Tsuji’s long career bridged government, academia, and community practice. His commitment to improving the lives of older people, and his belief in the importance of comprehensive community support left a lasting mark on Japan’s ageing policies and on the field of gerontology.

His passing is a great loss to the ILC Global Alliance community and to all of us working to build societies in which people can age with dignity, health, and purpose.

On behalf of the ILC Global Alliance, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and friends, and especially to our colleagues at ILC Japan.

We will remember Professor Tsuji with great respect and gratitude for his many years of service and his enduring contributions to the field of ageing.

With deepest sympathy,

ILC Global Alliance, Ltd.