The rapid aging of the Japanese and United States populations represents a major challenge in
terms of health care and the quality of life. This article provides a cross-cultural analysis of the
status of the elderly in these two countries. Japan currently has almost 13 million people over
the age of 65. This number will more than double in the next two decades, making Japan one of
the oldest countries in the world. This change offers an opportunity to view the approaches,
solutions, and dimensions associated with current and proposed directions for the elderly in the
United States, who now number 32 million and will increase to 35 million by the year 2000.
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