Life Conference Day
OtherWhat Is Life Conference Day?
November 30 is "Jinsei Kaigi no Hi," or Life Conference Day, in Japan. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare designated November 30 as Life Conference Day, a day to think about medical care and care at the final stage of life. The date was chosen through a Japanese wordplay ("ii mitori, mitorare," meaning good end-of-life care given and received). It was set in 2018 at the announcement of "Jinsei Kaigi" (Life Conference) as the nickname for Advance Care Planning (ACP).
What Is "Jinsei Kaigi"?
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "Jinsei Kaigi" is the following approach.
- Thinking ahead: Thinking in advance about the medical care and care you would want in case of an emergency.
- Talking it over repeatedly: Discussing and sharing your wishes repeatedly with your family and your medical and care team.
- A nickname for ACP: The ministry had promoted the concept as "ACP: Advance Care Planning," but decided to call it "Jinsei Kaigi" to make it a more familiar term.
- Chosen by public contest: The nickname was selected from 1,073 entries submitted by the public.
A Logo and a Learning Website
To help the nickname take root in people's daily lives, the ministry also selected a logo through a public contest. It has also launched a portal site and a "Jinsei Kaigi" learning website that explains key points and helps people organize examples of what to discuss.
Tips for Marking This Day
- Write down your thoughts about the medical care and care you would want in an emergency
- Talk with your family or people close to you about what matters to you
- Visit the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's Jinsei Kaigi learning website
- Share what you discussed with your family and your medical and care team
A Day to Talk About Living Your Own Way
The ministry describes Jinsei Kaigi as an approach of discussing and sharing your wishes repeatedly with your family and your medical and care team. Why not use Life Conference Day on November 30 as a chance to start talking, little by little, about what matters to you and your family?