Frontmatter -- CONTENTS -- Introduction -- The Bitter Fruits of Success -- Elderly Housing in Contemporary Japan: Exploring Alternative Forms of Housing -- The Housing System and Generational Divides: Housing Pathways and Life-courses in Japan -- Older Japanese Spouse Care in Relation to Household Structure, Gender Relation, and Political Economy -- “Silver Robots” and “Robotic Nurses”? Japans Robot Culture and Elderly Care -- The Effectiveness of New Job Security Measure for the Older Employees in Japan -- Comparing Social Policies: The Long-term Care Insurance as a Case -- Contributing Authors -- Programme of the annual VSJF Meeting 2008