Share Houses in Japan Draw Attention as a New Model for Senior Living
Elderly Residents Live Independently in Private Rooms, Sharing Facilities and Building Community
Young Residents Pay Half Rent by Living with Seniors
Focus on Independence Rath
In Japan, which faces the challenge of a super-aged society alongside South Korea, share houses for the elderly are gaining popularity. Unlike traditional care facilities, these share houses focus on independence, attracting attention as a new way for seniors to live, either together with other seniors or in intergenerational settings where they can communicate with younger people.
According to the December 16 (local time) broadcast of "Hatori Shinichi Morning Show" on TV Asahi, a care service company in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, operates a share house for the elderly occupying the entire top floor of a five-story building. The facility, which opened in May this year, features a total of 13 rooms designed for senior residents. Currently, six men and women in their 70s to 90s live together. The shared living room is furnished with a large sofa and a TV. The kitchen is available for use at any time, allowing residents to cook whenever they wish, and the spacious, clean communal bath can also be used freely 24 hours a day. Each private room is a studio of about 18 square meters, equipped with air conditioning. The monthly rent, including management and common area fees, is 55,000 yen (520,000 won).
Resident A, a 79-year-old who moved in this August, ran a printing and dispatch business before retiring at age 61. After his divorce, he lived with his parents, and following their passing, spent 20 years living alone. As maintaining his home became increasingly difficult, he moved into the share house upon the recommendation of the local government. He said, "This is about independence, not care. I can do what I enjoy, and I have fun talking with the other grandmothers." Residents sometimes cook together. Unlike typical senior facilities, which provide support from nurses or care staff and usually have fixed daily schedules, this share house allows residents to live at their own pace and selectively participate in activities such as exercise classes.
The multi-generational coexistence apartment introduced on TV Asahi consists of a total of seven studio units, currently housing residents ranging from their 20s to their 90s. Photo by TV Asahi
In Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, there is also a multi-generational coexistence apartment where seniors and young people live together. The building consists of seven studio units, currently housing residents ranging from their 20s to their 90s. The rooms for seniors are barrier-free and equipped with motion-detecting monitoring sensors, and the building also houses a visiting nurse office and a clinic. The most notable feature is the structure that encourages everyday communication across generations. Young residents regularly check in on the seniors, and a monthly tea gathering is held in the caf?. Resident B, age 26, said, "I visit each room to greet the seniors at least once a week, and more often if possible." By participating in care activities, young residents have their rent reduced from 70,000 yen (670,000 won) to 35,000 yen (330,000 won). The apartment is currently fully occupied, with a waiting list of prospective residents.
The share house operator commented, "Although we are not related, we can form family-like relationships. Our goal is to preserve the good aspects of the past while also fostering modern single living and appropriate relationships."
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