Technology and Japan’s Problem with People with Dementia Disappearing

In Japan, a growing number of people with dementia are going missing each year, with many tragically found dead close to where they disappeared—491 in 2024 alone. Efforts to prevent such outcomes include the promotion of GPS tracking devices and the introduction of an orange “dementia help mark,” designed to alert others that the wearer may need assistance. Despite these initiatives, individual cases like that of Yasuko Arakawa—a woman with rare semantic dementia who vanished in 2023 and remains missing—highlight the emotional toll on families and the urgent need for greater public awareness, early intervention, and nationwide support systems in a rapidly aging society. Episode Notes: ‘Despite Technology, Japan Faces Challenges with its Dementia and Disappearance Problem’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/06/09/despite-technology-japan-faces-challenges-with-its-dementia-and-disappearance-problem/