"It's Not Just for the Elderly"… Mixed with Young People in Japan's Kankanmori [Senior House]

[16] Students, Middle-aged Men, and Elderly Living Together in 'Kankanmori'

From Newborns to 81-Year-Old Grandmothers, Living Together with Shared Childcare
Not Real Families but Caring for Each Other and Sharing Weekend Meals
Middle-Class Residency Possible, 7 Locations in Central Tokyo

Residents of the multigenerational rental housing "Kankanmori" located in Arakawa Ward, Tokyo, gathering together for a meal. Photo by Kankanmori official website

On the 20th of last month, more than 20 members of a large extended family gathered in a white building’s second-floor restaurant across from Tokyo’s Daisan Nippori Elementary School. Around the table sat a 70-something elderly couple with white hair, a baby wearing a bib, young parents helping the child eat, and a young man in his twenties who had just started working. Amid the lively atmosphere, the grandfather teaching the children how to use chopsticks and the grandmother advising, "You need to eat plenty of fish and vegetables to grow tall," showed warm expressions. When one child suggested, "Let’s play board games after dinner," everyone happily responded, "Great idea."

At first glance, it looks like a large family dinner. However, these people are not related by blood. They are residents of ‘Kankanmori,’ a collective house where various types of households live under one roof. While each person uses their private living space independently, they share common areas such as the kitchen, laundry room, and garden with other residents.

Shared Childcare with Young People in Senior Housing

The 12-story building where Kankanmori is located was originally senior housing. The residents on the 2nd and 3rd floors formed a cooperative to live together. There are 28 households with a total of 40 people, of whom 32 are adults and 8 are children. Six residents are seniors aged 65 or older. The oldest resident, aged 81, has been living here for 20 years and is a long-time fixture. Because they know each other’s circumstances well, ‘shared childcare’ is possible here.

A grandfather in his seventies living here said, "When the dual-income couple next door comes home late, elementary school children come to our house after school to have snacks and do homework while waiting for their parents." He added, "Not only my wife and I but also seniors over 80 help take care of the children. Living with young people makes us feel much younger."

Residents cooking for the communal meal time at 'Kankanmori.' Photo by Kankanmori website

A couple in their thirties who moved here two years ago after a friend’s recommendation said, "In an apartment, it always felt like we were living alone, but here the seniors encourage us a lot and even watch the children, so we live a much more relaxed life." They also said, "We are planning a hot spring trip with the seniors next door for Mother’s Day."

An 11-year-old child said, "After my mother got sick and went to the hospital with my grandmother, I stayed with my father alone, but the neighbor’s grandmother and aunt took care of me in my mother’s absence." The child added, "This would have been impossible without Kankanmori."

A schedule listing the cooking duty for communal meals at Kankanmori. Meals are mainly held on weekends when everyone is off. Photo by Park Yujin

Kankanmori Is Also a Place for the Middle Class

In terms of monthly living expenses, Kankanmori can be considered a middle-class residence. Each household pays between 73,000 and 153,000 yen per month (approximately 640,000 to 1,340,000 KRW), depending on room size. This amount includes management fees. Seniors can afford the rent even if they choose the largest room because it is within the range of their monthly pension.

Kankanmori was established in Tokyo in 2003. A nonprofit organization planned this type of senior housing and gathered prospective residents to design the space together. It attracts seniors who want to enjoy life by living with younger people rather than only peers, dual-income couples seeking a safe place to entrust their children, and young people who want to save on living costs through communal living. Currently, there are four more collective houses like Kankanmori in Tokyo and two in the suburbs.

Emiko Ura (71, pseudonym), a resident, said, "During COVID-19, everyone was isolated in their rooms, so we couldn’t live communally, but we kept in touch by phone to ease depression and check on each other’s health. This place has a strong sense of community." She added, "This is a living arrangement that gives meaning to old age and allows coexistence with young people."

[16] Students, Middle-aged Men, and Seniors Living Together in ‘Kankanmori’