**1.1 Japanese contexts**

Japan's social systems very much focus on a rapidly aging society. The population started and kept declining after the peak of 2008, and the population pyramid is base-shaped [1], suggesting that fewer young generations need to support the retired. Building or rebuilding the community to accommodate the daily lives of the older adult whose kins do not live together or close to them is critical. We have a welldeveloped public system to provide older adults with welfare services for long-term care insurance. The problem is its sustainability because of the shrinking population, especially those who pay taxes. The national government pushes community inclusiveness providing community members with comprehensive care. Comprehensive

care is mutually exchanged among community members. All members can be a provider and benefiter of the care [2].

It is said that the Japanese values ties within close relationships such as family. We tend to have clear boundaries of "Uchi" (meaning insiders) and "Soto" (meaning outsiders). We appreciate family ties, of which the negative side is independence from the outsider [3]. This aspect makes the Japanese think being not independent is a shame and can cause social isolation when individuals in need do not live with or close to other family members. The family is nowadays nuclear, and generations within a family tend to live in separate locations. With this background, the need for public long-term care services is increasing [4], while the market for private eldercare services is also expanding.

On the other hand, Japanese culture is based on farming, in which mutual support was necessary to sustain the business, such as the management of water and land in the community [3]. Many neighborhood communities are used to or still have good supporting systems on such a base in the culture. Community members take care of each other on a daily base. However, such communities are aging and losing their support systems.

Regaining or gaining capacities for managing mutual support systems in the community is needed, considering the financial backgrounds and societal changes.
