The Japanese and Chinese Family in an Aging Society: A Sociological Study from the Perspective of the Adult Guardianship System

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13694
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 08010:Sociology-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Saisho Shinya 東京大学, 大学院人文社会系研究科(文学部), 助教 (60785955)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 成年後見制度 / 任意後見制度 / 生活支援 / 居住支援 / 市民後見 / 法人後見 / 生活協同組合 / ワーカーズコレクティブ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There are communities that try to create a society in which citizens support each other's life and livelihood until the end of their lives through the use of voluntary guardianship. As an example, we analyzed the practice of voluntary guardianship by the Workers' Collective, a consumer's cooperative. Support by workers' collectives as voluntary guardians may develop into shadow work. How do the workers themselves perceive the adult guardianship project and determine the boundaries of their support as voluntary guardians? Why is adult guardianship, which is supposed to be limited support, developing into unlimited support for daily life? The background of this question was clarified in relation to the organizational philosophy and goals of the Workers' Collective.

Free Research Field

社会学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本では単身高齢者世帯の増加とともに，地域で暮らす高齢者をどのように最期まで支えていくかが社会的な課題として認識されている．中国でも同様の課題を抱えており，ひとりっ子政策と若い世代が都市部に出稼ぎに出る社会構造をもつ中国では，成年後見制度および介護保険制度は中国社会全体の関心事である．介護の社会化論を延伸する必要がある．日本ではそれを成年後見制度，とりわけ任意後見制度を用いて高齢期の暮らしを生活を支えていこうとする動きがある．中国でも上海など一部で，すでに類似の動きが見られる．また本研究課題は，居住保障・居住支援の領域とも密接な関わりがあり，学術的にも社会的にも重要な意義ともつ研究課題である．