Much of the roads, bridges, sewage pipes, and other major infrastructure across Japan will soon be more than 50 years old. With the potential for accidents increasing, the government knows that it will be necessary to repair or replace much of the country's infrastructure. In total, it is expected to take 40 years and cost over 3.5 trillion dollars. This episode will feature some Japanese companies that hope their innovative repair methods will help Japan to quickly and efficiently update its infrastructure. From transparent bridge repair sheets to sewage pipes that can be fixed without digging, we show how some companies are working to keep decades-old Japanese infrastructure running smoothly.

Japan is now trying to figure out how to deal with one of the most rapidly aging societies in the world. While health care and social security are major concerns, some experts also see business opportunity. Yumiko Murakami, head of the OECD Tokyo Centre and regular commentator on our show, says that there is untapped business potential in Japan's growing elderly population. In this episode, we visit 2 companies that are already putting that theory to the test - a metal processing company which has lowered labor costs by hiring older employees and a business started by aging tech whizzes that makes high-performance speakers designed for the hearing impaired.