Azalee Group CEO shares Japan aging lessons at Bangkok symposium

By AI, Created 11:26 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Azalee Group CEO Dr. Koji Kurusu delivered the keynote on aging at the STS forum Japan-Thailand Symposium 2026 in Bangkok and later lectured at Thammasat University on preventing bedridden care. The talks centered on Japan’s long-term care lessons, Thailand’s faster aging curve, and the role of technology in supporting — not replacing — human care.

Why it matters: - Thailand is aging faster than Japan did, but with fewer policy and care resources in place. - The comparison raises pressure on Thailand to expand long-term care, rehabilitation, and workforce support before demand outpaces supply. - Japan’s experience offers a practical reference point for governments, providers, and researchers looking for aging-care models that can be adapted locally.

What happened: - Dr. Koji Kurusu, founder and CEO of Azalee Group, delivered the keynote for the “Aging Society and Economic Impact” session at the STS forum Japan-Thailand Symposium 2026 in Bangkok. - The symposium took place April 24-25 at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld. - Dr. Kurusu was invited to lead the aging society session at the two-day event. - Dr. Kurusu later lectured on April 27 at Thammasat University Business School for a seminar titled “Preventive Care to Avoid Bedridden.” - The Thammasat event was hosted by the ABCD Center, or Aging Business and Care Development Center.

The details: - The symposium was co-organized by Thailand’s National Research Council under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and Japan’s Science and Technology in Society forum. - This year’s theme was “The Great Convergence: AI-Driven Health, Environment and Bio-Economy.” - Parallel sessions covered energy, health, and the bio-economy, each led by a keynote speaker. - STS forum was founded in Kyoto and is sometimes described as “the Davos of academia.” - H.E. Masato Otaka, Japan’s ambassador to Thailand, attended the Bangkok edition. - Dr. Kurusu compared demographic indicators in Japan and Thailand during his keynote. - Japan’s fertility rate is 1.20. - Thailand’s fertility rate is 1.16, below Japan’s level. - By 2040, people age 60 and over are projected to make up 40% of Japan’s population and 31% of Thailand’s. - The projected care workforce gap by 2040 is about 570,000 in Japan and 100,000 in Thailand. - Dr. Kurusu said Thailand today mirrors Japan 20 years ago, but is aging faster and has fewer resources to respond. - He cited Japan’s universal long-term care insurance, introduced in 2000, as one policy lesson. - He also pointed to pension reform, raising the retirement age, and increasing female and elderly workforce participation. - Dr. Kurusu said Azalee Group uses technology as a tool to give staff more time and attention with residents. - Muscle Suit CARE from CoreHealth is a wearable device developed by a Tokyo University of Science startup. - Azalee facilities use Muscle Suit CARE in rehabilitation to help older adults improve posture and build core strength. - Toppan Safety Floor is shock-absorbing flooring designed to reduce fracture risk from falls. - Falls are a leading trigger for becoming bedridden in both Japan and Thailand. - Voxela AI automates documentation and other indirect tasks. - Dr. Kurusu said human connection, not technology, is what ultimately sustains quality of life for older adults. - At Thammasat University, his talk focused on post-stroke rehabilitation and fall prevention. - The ABCD Center is led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Duangjai Lorothai and is introducing Japan’s Functional Recovery Care approach into Thailand. - Azalee Group operates an integrated network in Tokyo that includes special nursing homes, rehabilitation clinics, disability support services, and licensed early-childhood facilities. - The group organizes its services around a “Care from Age 0 to 100” philosophy. - Azalee Group says it welcomes overseas operators, government delegations, and researchers interested in visiting and comparing approaches to aging.

Between the lines: - The Bangkok appearances position Azalee Group as a cross-border care policy voice, not just a service provider. - The message is also a warning: demographic change is moving faster than the systems needed to absorb it. - The technology examples suggest a labor-strained care sector where automation supports operations, but trust and daily care still depend on people.

What’s next: - Azalee Group expects the Bangkok discussions to continue as part of ongoing dialogue with Thai partners. - The company also signaled interest in broader international exchange with operators, delegations, and researchers. - The broader policy challenge remains how Thailand adapts Japan’s aging-care lessons before workforce shortages widen further.

The bottom line: - Azalee Group used the STS forum and Thammasat University to argue that aging-policy reform, rehabilitation, and human-centered care matter more than any single technology.