The introduction to this book outlines the research background, the key concerns that motivated the study, as well as the theoretical hypotheses that guided the research. Since the 1990s, Japanese young people have experienced radical social and economic change in relation to their transition from school to work, housing and domestic transitions. This has led to an increase in the number of young people facing risks associated with the transition to adulthood. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of comparative studies on youth transitions that elucidate Japan’s distinctive characteristics and the challenges it faces in the international context. This comparative study examines the situation in Japan alongside four European countries: Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Norway. It focuses on three key transitions: school-to-work, housing and domestic transitions. Although there are some similarities in the recent changes to youth transitions in advanced countries, the specific national context affects the way in which young people experience transitions, with some facing greater risks than others. We suggest that institutions such as the youth labour market, the strength of societal norms such as the male-breadwinner norm, and the welfare regime play an important role in the distribution of risks across countries.