The Cabinet Office will survey private-sector initiatives aimed at preventing loneliness and isolation among older individuals, with a focus on programs that help employees build relationships before they retire. The study is planned for fiscal 2026, with ¥6 million ($40,575) set aside in the budget request. The move stems from concern that more people will be at risk of social isolation amid a rise in the number of single-person households. Officials of the Cabinet Office believe that forming ties to local communities during one’s working years can help reduce the risk of loneliness for both men and women. Separately, the Cabinet Office requested ¥176 million for fiscal 2026 in subsidies to promote loneliness prevention measures, an increase of ¥40 million from the previous year.