The Shibuya Longevity Health Foundation (SLHF), which is the successor of the Fukuyama Transporting Shibuya Longevity Health Foundation established in 1992, is a general incorporated foundation helping people in Japan spend longer and healthier lives in the aging society. 

SLHF conducts research in the field of healthcare and promotes medical welfare activities in cooperation with medical institutions, research laboratories, and Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Our main activities are as follows.

• Research
• Education
• Commendation&
• Donation

Dr. Kosuke Ota, the CEO of Ota Memorial Hospital (of the time), asked me "I strongly believe that it is requried to create a social system for an imminent aging society. Would you kindly donate to establish a research foundation for that end?" 

I owe what I am today as a successful entrepreneur to my wife and many other people. It was a request that came to me when I was thinking about repaying the cordial support I had received to society with my humble savings.

I have not received formal education, which some people describe as uneducated. But I have been trying to find out how I can contribute to this community. Having said that, I do not mean anything showy. I do mean something that would really make people happier, which would ultimately give pleasure to me. I do not know how to say this, but I would like to live as long as I can so that I can use the time to help others as much as possible. Although there have been some dominant figures in Fukuyama City, I have not flattered them to tip the balance in my favor. That is because I have my faith about life. I always have, and I always will.

I have turned 88 this year, which is a milestone in life called beiju in Japanese. I have been telling myself, again and again, to lead a simple and humble living. And I have been trying to turn over a new leaf at every turning point in my life. I think it is important to mend your ways once in a while, or you will be less likely to live a longer and happier life. 

Last but not least, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all of those who have contributed to the establishment of this foundation. I hope the foundation will have many successful years and contribute to societies through research activities. 

March, 1992 

Rebirth of the Foundation

April 1st 2013 has marked the rebirth of our foundation after two decades of operation. The Shibuya Longevity Health Foundation has been established on this day. 

As I expected 20 years ago, we are now seeing a super-aging society. Health is the keyword for people to live their golden years without worrying. Our foundation aims to provide individuals with useful information for health self-management as well as access to our unique personal health record system.

We previously presented open lectures to disseminate health information, but we could only reach a limited number of people. Thus, we are also planning to create easy-to-understand medical information videos that will be released on the Internet.

Regarding our personal health record system, we will create software called "My Chart for Longevity and Health" or "Watashi no Choju Kenko Karute" in Japanese, in which data is stored through medical check-ups allowing people to keep track of their own medical records for health self-management.

Now that we have changed into a general incorporated foundation, we also plan to engage in profit-making activities. Our Sleep Support Center will continue to operate. 

April 1, 2013 

Establishment of the Foundation

Japan is about to see a society where one out of four will be 65 and older towards the 21st century, which no country in the world has experienced yet.

We firmly believe it is needed to build a society where elderly people can spend their golden years with as little worries and problems about health as possible. We need to find out the right social model and make every effort to realize it. 

Unfortunately, it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of basic research and development of databases in geriatrics, one of the most important fields in an aged society. With this situation in hand, we should create a social model for an longevity society by conducting research from the combined viewpoints of economics, medical science, politics, sociology, and so forth.

Japan and other advanced countries share the same issues around the aged society. Western countries are doing highly advanced research in geriatrics, let alone other fields. Going forward, we must carry out international research in partnership with institutions in such countries.

If Japan succeeds in taking initiatives to combine expertise and knowledge from all over the world on how to solve these shared problems, it would be highly appreciated by the international society. Our hope is that this foundation will contribute to societies by undertaking synthetic research and assisting international research activities in geriatrics in cooperation with the Ministry of Welfare of Japan.

The Fukuyama Transporting Shibuya Longevity Health Foundation is hereby declared upon.

March, 1992

Directors

Kosuke Ota, M.D. - Chair　Honorary Director, Ota Memorial Hospital

Noriyuki Komaru - Managing Director　Chairman and Representative Director, Fukuyama Transporting Co., Ltd.

Keiichi Iguchi, M.D.　Director, Iguchi Clinic

Akiko Ota　Ota Memorial Hospital

Noboru Fujii Fomer Member, Fukuyama City Council

Ikuhiro Mesaki, M.D. Director, Mesaki Hospital for Internal, Gastrointestinal, and Cardiovascular Diseases

Trustees

Shigehisa Kondo Former CEO, Fukutsu Logistics Co., Ltd.

Shinzo Ota, M.D. Neurosurgeon-in-Chief, Ota Memorial Hospital

Shohei Fujii Former Secretary-General, Fukuyama Transporting Shibuya Longevity Health Foundation

Iwao Matsuoka, M.D. Director, Matsuoka Hospital

Controllers

Yuji Honda Attorney at Law

Shingo Kusaka Certified Public Accountant