FEATURE: Japan startup expands "granny business" to put elderly women to work

FUKUOKA - A Japanese startup is expanding a "granny business" that turns seniors' lifetime skills into paid work through cafes, food stalls and community festivals, placing elderly women -- including those with dementia -- at the center of local economies.

The company based in the Fukuoka Prefecture city of Ukiha, Ukiha no Takara Co. (Ukiha's Treasure), draws on cooking, hospitality and fashion skills accumulated over decades, offering paid employment rather than volunteer roles.