Causes of Japan’s Older Adults Living Alone and Policy Implications for China

Comparative research is a widely applied method in social science studies. Examining differences and similarities across countries, regions, or groups enables a deeper understanding of the essence of social phenomena. This chapter adopts a comparative research approach to analyze the causes and policy responses related to elderly living alone in Japan and China. Building on the findings from previous analyses, it contrasts Japan’s experiences in identifying the causes and policy approaches to this issue with China’s current elderly care service system, policies, and initiatives within the context of population aging.