How Minervans Worked to Transform Japan's Aging Society

Policy isn't just about laws and regulations; it's about people. For Patryk Borek, Class of 2027, a member of Minerva University's Policy Pathways to SDGs team during the Tokyo Sustainability Lab, this truth became increasingly clear as he spent the summer exploring how Japan approaches one of its most pressing challenges: an aging society.

"I’m really passionate about making a positive difference in people’s lives," Patryk explains. "So this was a perfect chance to do so."

From Classroom Theory to Tokyo Streets

Patryk came to the Tokyo Sustainability Lab with a background in both policy work and sustainability initiatives from high school. The program felt like the natural next step, a chance to combine his passions and create tangible change. But first, he needed to prepare.

During the academic year leading up to the summer internship, Patryk took three courses spanning sustainability and policy topics, building the theoretical foundation he'd need in Japan. As a work-study student, he and his team also dedicated hours to creating guides and materials for the in-person portion of the lab. By the time he arrived in Tokyo, he was ready to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application.

The Policy Pathways to SDGs team, which included Patryk alongside Raluca Grigoras, Class of 2026, Salome Gvirjishvili, Class of 2026, Sonja Monastyrski, Class of 2026, Laurens van de Hoef, Class of 2027, Ana Beatriz, Class of 2027, and Kaoru Yokomori, Class of 2028, worked closely with Project Mint, a Japanese startup focused on ikigai - the Japanese concept of finding purpose in life. Their mission was clear but challenging: find ways to help people in Japan become active participants in policy-making rather than passive observers.

The Research Process: From Theory to Reality

Policy research in Tokyo proved to be a multi-stage journey. "We would do an initial online search, and then identify stakeholders and interview them," Patryk describes. "Then we'd see how theoretical knowledge differs from real-life situations and problems."

Working in Tokyo provided something no amount of remote research could replicate: direct access to the people shaping and experiencing these policies. Patryk met with researchers at the University of Tokyo's Institute for Future Initiatives who study population decline, gerontology, and senior employment. He spoke with entrepreneurs building solutions for aging communities. He engaged with policymakers, navigating the complexities of demographic change.

"Working in Tokyo gave me the opportunity to speak with many stakeholders in person," Patryk reflects. "The city definitely provided me with more realistic knowledge about the problems and helped me think about the applicability of the solutions."

The experience also revealed unexpected insights about Japan's policy landscape. "I got to know that government representatives in Japan are not as approachable as I would expect," he notes. But on the other hand, "For policy stakeholders, I was amazed by how much expertise and passion they put into their work, and the way they solve their problems."

Beyond the Capital

Some of Patryk's most meaningful learning experiences occurred entirely outside Tokyo. His favorite part of the summer was traveling to other regions of Japan to understand how policy implementation differs from the perspective of the capital. Visits to culturally significant places, such as Kyoto and Hiroshima, showed him how the local context shapes policy effectiveness.

These trips reinforced a crucial lesson: good policy isn't one-size-fits-all. What works in Tokyo's dense urban environment might not translate to smaller cities or rural communities facing different demographic realities.

Creating Tools for Change

By the end of the summer, the Policy team had created multiple materials designed to empower civic participation in policies related to aging societies. They drafted a book chapter on policy approaches to post-retirement work and developed a policy design guide for those aiming to integrate ikigai into policies addressing Japan's demographic challenges.

But the work didn't end when summer did. "We are currently working on finalizing the projects, making them more accessible for our audience, and distributing them," Patryk explains. The goal is to ensure that their research has a real-world impact.

The team's work will also continue through Minerva's curriculum. Their research is being integrated into SS112: Political Science and Social Change, where future students will build on their findings to identify policy interventions for aging populations in other Minerva rotation cities.

Skills That Transcend Borders

Beyond policy expertise, Patryk developed skills that will serve him far beyond Japan: communication, project management, networking, and academic research. These practical abilities, honed through direct engagement with real stakeholders on pressing issues, are the hallmarks of Minerva University's experiential learning model.

What makes the Tokyo Sustainability Lab unique isn't just the opportunity to work on important problems; it's the chance to work on them in context, alongside the communities they affect. For Patryk, that meant learning not just about the policies that exist, but also how they work, who they serve, and how to improve them.

"The Tokyo Sustainability Lab sounded like a perfect combination of policy and sustainability," Patryk reflects. For him and his teammates, it proved to be exactly that, and a summer that transformed how they think about creating change in an aging world.

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