ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the changes in the eldercare system since the implementation of long-term care insurance (LTCI) in Japan using the concepts 'familialization' and 'marketization'. It focuses on Japanese official LTCI data and OECD data. The chapter also focuses on eldercare and the long-term care insurance in Japan, and the working environment of care workers in Japan. It explains the term (de-)familialization that covers the trend to reduce the family care burden through the welfare state and markets, while the term of familialization is used for the trend to increase the family care burden. The chapter discusses the welfare state in Japan. It outlines ageing society and eldercare system in Japan and examines the familialistic character of Japanese eldercare. The chapter also outlines the home help transition and explores the marketization of facilities services. The chapter further discusses whether the LTCI and marketization has contributed to de-familialization and also presents the challenges of eldercare in Japan.
