Japan Association for Social Policy Studies (JASPS) 148th Conference
Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
18-19 May 2024

DAY 1(18 May 2024)
9:30-11:30 Special Theme and Paper Sessions

9:30-11:30 Special Theme Session 1

Japanʼs Post-war Labor History from a Personal History Perspective
Coordinator: Umezaki Osamu (Hosei University)〈Theme of the Session〉
Japanʼs Post-war Labor History from a Personal History Perspective

This group plans to analyze Japanʼs post-war labor history from the perspective of “persons.”
To understand the process of building employment relations, it is necessary to understand theintentions and actions of those who designed the system, engaged in labor‒management
negotiations, and formulated policies, as well as the mutual actions of individuals. At the sametime, however, there is a danger that such an understanding of history from a personal history
perspective may overestimate the role of individuals. Therefore, personal histories should beanalyzed without making a hero of individuals or overemphasizing their negative aspects. It isalso necessary to understand labor history in the context of the relationship between
individuals and society and take into account the organizational culture and historicalbackground in which they grew up. The field of labor history has in recent years started toincorporate ego-documents or oral histories in addition to traditional personal documents
such as diaries. Using these documents, we would like to extract workersʼ consciousness andways of thinking from their lived experiences and clarify the characteristics of Japanʼs labor
society.
Umezaki Osamu (Hosei University)
The Productivity Movement in Japan: A Group of Staff Members

This report analyzes the work history of the staff members of the Japan Productivity Center,
which had a significant influence on labor‒management relations in Japan. Shimanishi, Mori,and Umezaki (2012) examined in detail the activities of the Labor Department and identified
the following activities: 1) introduction of a labor‒management consultation system, 2)
promotion of communication among trade union leaders through inspection teams andcommittees, and 3) the introduction of broad education from executives to youth. Japaneselabor‒management relations are described as cooperative. Their study also clarified theprocess of building such characteristics. Although Shimanishi, Mori, and Umezaki (2012)
analyzed the actions of the Labor Departmentʼs staff, the scope of their analysis did notinclude the backgrounds of the departmentʼs staff or their ideas. In this report, we will use
ego-documents of the headquartersʼ staff who were active before and after the establishmentof the Japan Productivity Center, to understand the productivity movement in the period 1955
to 1970. The results will reveal characteristics such as perceptions of the national movement,
individualism, and the use of management education.
Nagumo Chiaki (Tokai Gakuen University)
The Organaizers of Great Skill in ZENSEN-Doumei

UA Zensen is Japan's largest industrial labor union and has continued to expand its
organization. Nakamura, Sato, and Kamiya (1988) and Umezaki, Nagumo, and Shimanishi(2023) examine the institutional factors that enabled the organizational expansion of the
Zensen-Doumei(Zensen); supply of human resources and union fees from large-scale unions,centralized personnel affairs, industry-specific subcommittees and prefectural branches, anda central organizer system. In contrast, this report focuses on organizers who have actuallyachieved great results in organizing. Specifically, by using the oral history that has been
accumulated so far, organizersʼ own writings, and the history of Zensen, this report will
examine the reasons why did talented organizers appear in Zensen, and also describe theiractions and personalities. Furthermore, this report will analyze the influence that organizers
had on Zensen as a whole, their relationships with other departments, and the unique behavior
and thinking style of organizers.
Nitta Michio (University of Tokyo, Professor Emeritus)
Constructing Labor Movement in the steel Industry: Looking at Trajectories of some union
leaders in the Post World War II Era

In the history of labor movement in the steel industry, there is aleader such as Yoshiji

Miyata who was actively involved in long period and gave strong influences on the directions
the movement took. On the other hand, there are people who took a leader role in only shortperiod of time. There are people who played important role but are not well known and havenot been focused little in the historical writings. In this paper, the author will discuss about
activities taken by those unknown leaders and search for some insights from the observation.
Particularly, the paper give special attention to the fact that white collar workers played an
important role in the movement.
Discussant: Hisamoto Norio (Kyoto Tachibana University)

9:30-11:30 Special Theme Session 2

Development of Long-Term Care Policies in East Asia ‒ Catching up to the Japanese Model?
Coordinator: KAKU Hou (Doshisha University)〈Theme of the Session〉Development of Long-Term Care Policies in East Asia ‒ Catching up to the Japanese
Model?

As the aging population continues to grow, the establishment of long-term care insurance
systems becomes increasingly crucial. South Korea and Taiwan are facing various challenges
due to the rapid aging process, prompting consideration of whether to simply catch up withJapan's long-term care policies or to embark on new initiatives.
In this symposium, considering the aforementioned awareness of issues, we will focus on
the long-term care systems of Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. We conduct analyses with a
spotlight on the distinctive features of each country's long-term care policies. Thoroughexamination of commonalities and differences in these countries' systems aims to explore thereasons and backgrounds underlying such variations. Each presentation introduces therealities of each country or region through specific case studies. In this context, a comparative
study of systems is pursued from the perspective of visualizing cultural and social structuresunique to each country. Subsequently, discussions with participants and the audience delve
into whether the current situations in South Korea and Taiwan are positioned as Japancatching up or are perceived as new challenges. Through collaborative deliberations, thesymposium aims to deepen the understanding of these critical issues.
KOJIMA Katsuhisa (National Institute of Population and Social Security Research)
Characteristics of Long-term Care Systems in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan: Diversity
with Commonalities

Japan, South Korea and Taiwan with rapidly ageing populations, have developed their own
long-term care systems. South Korea and Taiwan refer to the Japanese experience to develop
their own systems. Some examples include the social insurance system (only in South Korea)
and the community-based long-term care system. On the other hand, differences with Japan
include the use of health insurance for long-term care insurance in South Korea and theemphasis on family carer support policies and a large number of foreign care workers in
Taiwan. Thus, the long-term care systems of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan may becharacterized by 'diversity with commonalities'.
The circumstances behind the characteristics may be that (i) aspects where policy options
are limited, such as financial systems, tend to lead to commonalities, and (ii) aspects wherethese are like details of care service provision tend to reflect the socio-economic conditions inSouth Korea and Taiwan. The mixture of these circumstances is thought to have led to thedevelopment of long-term care systems in South Korea and Taiwan that are not simply Japancatch-up type systems. This presentation addresses the overall features of the long-term caresystems in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
Wonkyung Kim (MEIJIGAKUIN UNIVERSITY)Is South Korea's Long-Term Care Policy Catching Up with the Japanese Model? A New
Challenge?

In South Korea, long-term care insurance was launched in 2008, when the aging rate was
10.3%. Although initially modeled on Japan's long-term care insurance, the actual systemdesign differs from that of Japan in many respects, and unique developments can be seen in
Korea's unique social context.
In this report, we will examine (1) the problems brought about by the privatization of thelong-term care market due to rapid infrastructure development, (2) the actual situation of
cash transfers to family caregivers promoted as a response to the shortage of caregivers tocompensate for the high poverty rate among the elderly and low income security system, which
are unique circumstances in Korea, (3) the two-track system of public insurance and private
insurance the use of long-term care services, which are a two-track system of public andprivate insurance, and other specific events surrounding long-term care policy in South Korea.
Through these reports, we would like to consider whether Korea's long-term care policy istrying to catch up with the Japanese model, or whether it is trying to take on a new challenge.

Ming-Fang Hsu (Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology)
Comparative Analysis of Long-Term Care Policies in Taiwan and Japan: Catching Up with
the Japanese Model or Confronting New Challenges?

Anticipating the transition into a super-aged society by 2025, Taiwan has recently affirmed
a decade-long commitment to a tax-based funding structure for its long-term care policy.
While the financial mechanisms differ between Taiwan and Japan, various aspects of Taiwan's
long-term care policy, including service types, the conceptual framework of community-based
integrated care systems, and the benefit mechanisms, based on references from Japan's
implementation experience. Nevertheless, due to disparities in Taiwan's social welfare policy
foundations, cultural differences, and societal perspectives on caregiving, the long-term carepolicy crafted in emulation of Japan exhibits unique characteristics in the Taiwaneseenvironment.
The report comprises three main sections: 1) an overview of the current status anddistinctive features of Taiwan's long-term care policy, considering its diversity culture
background; 2) an analysis of the effectiveness and challenges of integrating foreign labor into
the caregiving workforce and the four-track salary system for caregivers; and 3) an
examination of the outcomes and challenges associated with the privatization of long-termcare services. Confronting a more rapid transition into a super-aged society than Japan,
Taiwan is faced with the imperative of securing financial resources and skilled personnel for
long-term care. Furthermore, the study investigates the establishment of a long-term careservice system grounded in caregiving ethics. The presentation aims to stimulate in-depth
discussions with participants regarding these critical issues.
Discussant 1: KIM Sung-won (University of Tokyo)
Discussant 2: Koichi SUGIMURA (Tokoha University)
9:30-11:30 Paper Session 【A】
GenderChair: Mayuko KITAI (Matsuyama University)
Nobuko YOKOTA（Kwansei-Gakuin University, Professor）
A Gender Analysis of Changes in Labor Policy and the Informal Employment Structure in
Korea from the 1998 Economic Crisis to 2022: Focusing on the Increase of Ultra-ShortTime Workers

South Korea is one of the most socially polarized societies in the world. This polarization,
which entrenched during the rapid economic growth known as the "Miracle on the Han River,"has gained further momentum with the rapid de-regularization of labor since the " Asian
Financial Crisis " of 1998, and has now become one of the most serious problems facing
Korean society. The de-regularization of labor has led to a rapid increase in the number of
precarious workers with insecure employment, low wages, long working hours, and other poor
working conditions, and at the same time, a rapid expansion of informal employment, whichis excluded from the protection of the labor law, the social system, and the labor unions. This
study examines, comparing the labor policies of the Progressive administration for irregular
workers from 2000 to 2022 with those of the Conservative administration from a gender
perspective, how drastic changes in the structure of irregular employment have been brought
about by the changes of Korea's labor policies from 2000 to 2022 with a focus on the ultrashort-time worker, the most precarious and informal type of employment in which womenmake up 70 percent of the workers.
Siming ZHANG (Faculty of Education, Hokkaido University, Academic Researcher)Study on public pension coverage in the life course of elderly single mothers

The purpose of this study is to determine how older single mothers joined public pension
system over the life course of their lives. Older single mothers are considered to be more likely
to fall into poverty because of the factors that increase the risk of poverty: single parents,
women and older people. Furthermore, using a life-course perspective, it can be determinedthat the vulnerabilities faced by women and single parents accumulate over the years. They
also overlap with problems faced by older single women, which increases their vulnerability
and emerges as a cause of poverty for older single mothers.
This study focuses on how low public pensions serves as a cause of poverty among older single
mothers. Through interviews, this study determines whether older single mothers have joineda public pension scheme. This study interviews 16 elderly widows who are part of the motherand child welfare organization Y in X city. The interviewees are over 65 years old at the timeand receive pension and not in need of care. The study examines their life experiences bycentering on four life stages: pre-marriage, marriage, childrearing and middle-age.
MING QUAN (Graduate School of International Social Sciences, Yokohama National
University, Graduate student)
The Impact of Experiencing Double Care on the Mental Health of Middle-Aged Womenin China

In China, the phenomenon of middle-aged women providing grandchild care is widespread.
However, they also face the responsibility of caring for their aging parents. As middle-aged
women enter a life cycle where self-care becomes necessary due to aging, how they cope withthe burden of excessive caregiving responsibilities is a significant question.
This report utilizes mental health indicators such as the GHQ-12 and conducts empiricalanalysis using data from CHARLS. The results indicate that the experience of double
caregiving has a positive impact on mental health. However, as the time spent on caregiving
increases, this positive impact transitions into negative outcomes, particularly with an increasein grandchild care time. Additionally, among middle-aged women without retirement
experience and those facing poor economic conditions, the experience of double caregiving
does not positively affect mental health. In China, where familial responsibility is emphasized,
the contributions of middle-aged women are recognized. However, there is also a need forsupport strategies addressing their mental well-being and the challenges posed by double
caregiving situations.
9:30-11:30 Paper Session 【B】
Long-term Care
Chair: Yoshiyuki CHIKAMA (Kagoshima Prefectural College)
WANG YU (Graduate School of Economics, Ritsumeikan University, Doctoral)
The Current Situation and Future Challenges of Community Elderly Care Services in
China form the Perspective of Dual Structure-Case Study of Changchun City in Jilin
Province-

The Chinese government has responded to the increasing care needs of the elderly bylaunching the "Community Elderly Care Service System Construction Plan" in 2011, initiating
the construction of a social elderly care service system based on "home as the foundation,community as the support, and institutions as the supplement". Furthermore, a pilot longterm care insurance system was started in 2016, with new trial areas added in 2020 and thetrial period extended to 2025. The future public elderly care system in urban areas is expected
to have a dual structure composed of the traditional community elderly care services and the
new long-term care insurance system. The trial of the long-term care insurance system will
significantly impact the urban elderly care system, which has been centered aroundcommunity elderly care services. Moreover, the standards and contents of the community

elderly care services until now are believed to significantly influence the design of the longterm care insurance system which will be fully implemented after 2025. This report reveals
the reality of the dual structure of the public elderly care system in urban areas, based oninterviews conducted in Changchun, Jilin Province, in September 2023, and examines the
future direction of community elderly care services under this dual structure.
Yuko Suda (Toyo University, Professor), Jin Huang (St. Louis University), Baorong Guo(Missouri State University St.Louis)
Financialization of social policies in aging Japan: New risks for middle classSocial policies related to privatized systems of public human services are taking a different
course of development from the New Public Management (NPM). This study examines thechanges drawing on the concept of financialization. Based on the previous studies, this study
identifies three viewpoints to examine financialization: the development of the post-NPM
government and private relationship, the persistence of the NPM context, and the impacts offinancial products and techniques. This study investigates recent changes in Japanʼs long-termcare insurance (LTCI) and pension systems by applying these viewpoints. The data werecollected by a panel survey of the LTCI service organizations conducted from 2005 through2021. Governmental data available to the public were also used in the examination. The results
indicate that a new risk is emerging for the middle class as a combined effect of the post-NPM
context and the persisting NPM-based context, while the process is complicated by financial
products and techniques that are introduced in both of the contexts.
11:30-12:45

Lunch Break12:50-17:00 SPECIAL THEME SESSION

The Trajectory of Youth Issues: Their Past, Present, and Future
Chair: Kazuo MATSUMARU (Chuo University)〈Themeof the Session〉
Coordinator

The issue of youth transition has been debated in Japanese society for about 25 years.
Japan Association for Social Policy Studies held conducted a conference in 2004 on “Youth
Issues - Prolonged Transition and Social Policy.” Some argued that their issue was one of youth
unemployment, while others insisted that it was a problem of young people's motivation towork.
25 years have passed since then, and those who were once young people are no longer young
people. However, their problems have not been solved. Even today, Japanese society faces the
problems of the working poor among people in their 50s and the so-called "80/50" problem,in which parents in their 80s support the lives of their children in their 50s.
At this conference in 2024, we would like to discuss their issues from their past, present andfuture perspectives. From the past perspective, we review previous studies. The current
perspective deals with the problems facing Japanese society. This perspective consists of twophases: the problems of the employment ice age generation and the problems surrounding
young people in their 20s. From the future perspective, this conference will discuss policy
implications for Japanese society in the next 25 years.
Yukie HORI (The Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training)
Reflecting on the Difficulties of the Lost Generation: Insights from Interviews with 20
Individuals.

The summary highlights the decline in research on the "Lost Generation," also known as
the generation affected by the deteriorating youth employment situation from the late 1990s
to the early 2000s. Despite this decline, the author has continued research on this topic andaims to revisit previous studies on the Lost Generation by discussing insights gathered from20 online interviews conducted in 2023.
The key findings of the interviews are twofold. First, the career difficulties faced by the Lost
Generation did not solely manifest as a continuous pattern of non-regular employment.
Instead, many experienced careers characterized by unstable employment conditions, such as
starting with undesirable regular employment or transitioning between regular and nonregular positions multiple times, often referred to as a "yo-yo" career. Second, among theinterviewees, only five out of twenty had experience with marriage, suggesting a light familyburden and minimal housing expenses, which were crucial for sustaining themselves despite
their yo-yo careers. However, the potential for these factors to become burdensome in the
future is high, especially with the aging of the Lost Generation and potential shifts in family
dynamics.
The current support for the Lost Generation primarily focuses on redistributing resources
to facilitate regular employment or re-employment. However, there is a need for ongoing
discussion regarding social recognition of the existential struggles faced by this generation infinding their place in society. Additionally, rather than treating this issue as a uniquegenerational problem, it should be addressed as part of a continuum of challenges faced byyounger generations, necessitating ongoing discussions on strategies for addressing theseissues.
Takashi NAKAZAWA (Meiji University)
The Transition of Interplay between Youth, Regions, and Social Issues in Japan: Objective,
Measure and Agency in the Realm of Social Policy

Around the year 2000, young people were identified as socially vulnerable individuals. In
response, youth policies emerged with the aim of providing support to young adults facing
challenges during their transition to adulthood and ensuring their inclusion in the labormarket. However, as we entered the 2010s, the employment situation for young people
improved, yet issues related to population decline and the low economic growth of the nation
became more prominent.
In policies addressing depopulation and regional revitalization, young people are positioned
as agents with the potential to contribute to population regeneration and economic growth,
while also rectifying the concentration of population and the economy in Tokyo. In the past,
the government pursued policies with the goal of achieving a better life for young people.
However, today, they find themselves compelled to mobilize these policies not only for the
betterment of youth but also for the maintenance and continuity of society and the economy.
The first part of this report examines the interplay between youth, regions, and social issues
within the context of social policies, emphasizing the relationship between objectives andmeans.
At the macro level, the inability to curb depopulation and the dominance of Tokyo highlights
young peopleʼs resistance to the state-led mobilization. On the other hand, individual young
people hold diverse perspectives regarding decisions related to childbearing and where theylive. The convergence of micro-level decision-making, influenced by situational constraints

and agency, manifests as the macro-level challenges of depopulation and Tokyo-centric
regional structure.
In the latter part of this report, I analyze the life histories of young people living in rural
areas, focusing on constraints and agency at the micro level, based on data from two research
projects in which I participated.
Many of todayʼs social problems, including those related to youth, stem from the contraction
and stagnation of social and economic structures. The solutions that emerged and evolved
from the expansion and growth of social and economic systems driven by capitalist
development do not necessarily address the current issues.
Finally, I would like to discuss how social policies should confront this reality.
Koh IGAMI (Kobe International University)
Issues for social policy during the transition period from youth to adulthood ‒ Focusing on“non-elite youth”

When discussing social policy issues during the transition period from youth to adulthood(from school to society, or from adolescence to adulthood), it is important to consider whether
these issues are occurring in the cyclical phase (economic fluctuations) of capitalist society, or
whether they are occurring in the structural situation (social stratification, social change,
population decline, resource/environmental limitations, etc.).
I focus on social strata, especially "non-elite" young people who have little prospect of
becoming managers or professionals, and discuss the various problems they face in the processof transitioning to adulthood. I would like to discuss whether this issue will be recognized asa policy issue and whether a path to a solution will be formed.
Specifically, I will first recognize the current situation of university students who have great
difficulty in finding employment. Then I will develop local government projects (Osaka
Prefecture's "Industry-Government-Academia Platform Concept" and "Diversity Promotion
Project") that promote matching with local small and medium-sized enterprises. Next, I will
introduce an initiative at the local government level (''Project to Enhance Career Guarantee
Functions at Prefectural High Schools'') regarding support for the retention of high school
graduates after employment, which has a high turnover rate.
Through analysis of these projects, I will explore the functions of "labor market (labor force)intermediary institutions" that work to resolve mismatches between young people who are job
seekers (new employees) and companies that recruit (accept) them in the local labor market.
I would like to discuss this issue.

Furthermore, what should we do with regard to "non-elite" or "socially disadvantaged young
people", not only from the standpoint of social policy researchers, but also as teachers of theschool systems that send such young people out into society? I would also like to have a deeper
discussion on whether this approach is possible.
Discussant: Kimiko KIMOTO (Hitotsubashi University, Professor Emeritus)

DAY 2(19 May 2024)
9:30-11:30 Special Theme and Paper Sessions

9:30-11:30 Special Theme Session 3

Transitions and Issues of the Elderly Welfare System: Questioning the Ongoing Ballooningof the Long-Term Care Insurance System
Coordinator: Utae MORI (Osaka University of Economics)〈Theme of the Session〉
Transitions and Issues of the Elderly Welfare System: Questioning the Ongoing Ballooningof the Long-Term Care Insurance System

While welfare and support for the elderly in Japan had long been provided under the Act on Social
Welfare for the Elderly (hereinafter, “Elderly Act”) enacted in 1963, enactment of the Long-Term Care
Insurance Act (LTCIA) in 2000 marked a significant turning point. The Long-Term Care Insurance
System, which was designed primarily for providing support care of the elderly, changed the elderly
care system that had conventionally been a safeguard system to a contract-based system, in whichusers select services to receive, including nursing-case, care prevention, and life support services. The
financial sourcing was also transformed from a tax utilization system to a social insurance one, inwhich users bear costs based on the benefit principle. However, despite the institution of the LongTerm Care Insurance System, The Elderly Act aiming to promote welfare for the elderly is still in
effect, and services for special elderly nursing homes and general elderly nursing homes are provided
under the act. Since its adoption, the Long-Term Care Insurance System has expanded its scope ofservices and eligible groups at the time of each amendment. Resultingly, the expansion has promoted
a ballooning of the Long-Term Care Insurance System from the standpoint of elderly care andcommunity-based integrated care, and consequently blurred the roles of the Elderly Act. Thus, thisspecial-interest group aims to review the transitions and changes of the Elderly Act and LTCIA in thecontext of Japanese elderly welfare systems, reveal the present relationship between the two acts, andpresent issues in the elderly welfare system caused by continuous bloating of the Long-Term Care
Insurance System through the institutional transitions
Masako MUROZUMI (Tezukayama Gakuin University, Professor Emeritus)
Relation between Act on Social Welfare for the Elderly and Long-Term Care Insurance Act:

Transition of Act on Social Welfare for the Elderly

The report considers the relation between the Act on Social Welfare for the Elderly (hereinafter,“Elderly Act”) and Long-Term Care Insurance Act while tracing the transitions of the Elderly Act. The
Elderly Act was enacted in 1963 and amended 43 times in 60 years until 2023 due to enactment andamendment of other laws. As the major transitions in the Elderly Act, eligible recipients of nursing
care services were expanded from those receiving public assistance (those requiring public assistance)
through those with low-income to taxpayers; the Elderly Act based on nursing homes for elderly
individuals shifted its focus to in-home welfare services and defined in-home welfare services as Type
2 social welfare services to allow private entities to provide the welfare services. Reform was promoted
until the 1990s by establishing the Gold Plan and the New Gold Plan to specifically create target goals
relating to nursing care services and facilities while amending the Elderly Act. After many years ofefforts, nursing care services specified by the Elderly Act, excluding a few services, shifted to longterm care insurance services specified by the Long-Term Care Insurance Act in 2000. However, oneof the foundations of the Long-Term Care Insurance Act is the Elderly Act. Although the Long-term
Care Insurance System is one of the social insurance systems, not a few welfare measures for elderly
individuals were taken under the Long-term Care Insurance System when it was established. This
report clarifies the relation between the Elderly Act and the Long-Term Care Insurance Act andincorporates the learning from previous studies by other researchers.
Riko UTSUNOMIYA (Designated In-Home Long-Term Care Support Providers
DAINIGONGENSOU)
The Multifaceted Nature of and Issues in Supporting Special Elderly Nursing Homes

While enforcement of the Long-Term Care Insurance Act (LTCIA) in 2000 designated special
elderly nursing homes as welfare institutions for elderly care under LTCIA, the elderly in need ofsafeguards due to compelling circumstances such as abuse and dementia have continued to besupported under the Act on Social Welfare for the Elderly (hereinafter, “Elderly Act”). However, the2005 amendment of LTCIA rearranged the benefits to facilities and the 2014 amendment formally
positioned long-term care insurance facilities as facilities to support the elderly in need of medium tointensive nursing care by setting the nursing care level of 3 or above as a basic eligibility criterion for
new admission to long-term care insurance facilities. Furthermore, additional nursing-care fees for
end-of-life nursing care and the addition of sputum suction to care staff duties under certain conditions
were instituted without any alteration of fundamental staffing standards, which requires the facilities
to support users highly dependent on medical treatment. In terms of deepening and promoting thiscommunity-based integrated care system, social welfare corporations are expected to engage in actions
for public benefits and contributions to local communities. This report describes the realities ofmultifaceted support provided by special elderly nursing homes (welfare institutions for elderly care)positioned under both the Elderly Act and LTCIA from case examples and discuss issues relating to
the future of support.
Masako MUROZUMI (Tezukayama Gakuin University, Professor Emeritus)
Transition of Policy and Current Situation of Nursing Home for Elderly Individuals:
Relation with Long-Term Care Insurance System

Post-war social welfare in Japan was developed through, as a fundamental framework, the sochiseido (the system that municipal governments judge the status of each recipient and decide the content
of service to be provided), which was established after Three Welfare Acts including the Public
Assistance Act (old act), Child Welfare Act, and Physically Disabled Persons Welfare Act were enacted
after the war. In principle, the public assistance system provides public assistance to a recipient at
home. However, welfare service at a facility was positioned as a core framework of welfare in the postwar era. Welfare service at a facility was a system for relocating elderly individuals or persons withdisabilities who could not receive support from their families into welfare facilities and providing
welfare services to them under the public responsibility. As described in the report (1) above, in-homewelfare services were expanded in the 1980s and in 1990 incorporated into the Elderly Act by the Act
for Partial Revision of the Act on Social Welfare for the Elderly, Etc. However, it has been noted that
expansion of in-home welfare services did not reduce the significance of welfare facilities, but rather
increased their role as agencies providing welfare services at home. Especially, the special nursing
home for elderly individuals has played a role as a welfare facility providing long-term care to thoseindividuals since 2000 when the Long-Term Care Insurance System began, and is also attracting the
keen interest of the general population. Meanwhile, details of the nursing home for elderly individuals
specified in the Elderly Act, specifically a shift in policy and the current situation of nursing homes
for elderly individuals, are not well known. This report aims to examine the shift in policy and thecurrent situation of nursing homes for elderly individuals and incorporates the learning from previous
studies by other researchers.
Utae MORI (Osaka University of Economics)
The Ballooning of the Long-Term Care Insurance System from a Standpoint of System
Reforms, and Related Issues

Over the two decades since the institution of the Long-Term Care Insurance System with the aim ofsupport nursing care for the elderly, the insurance system has undergone reforms, and it hascontinuously expanded in its scope to support the entirety of elderly lives while focusing on nursing
care. In the 2005 amendment, the concept of community-based integrated care was introduced alongwith a community support project launched to provide nursing prevention, advocacy, and general
consulting services in addition to nursing-care services. Then, the 2014 amendment split home careand day care services for users in need of these services from the Long-Term Care Insurance System
and incorporated them into a comprehensive project for nursing prevention and daily livelihood
support as part of the community support project. Thus, the Long-Term Care Insurance Systemsignificantly changed its shape and became bloated through each reform; its present roles are
increasingly greater than those at the time of initial institution. This report describes how theframework and contents of the Long-Term Care Insurance System changed and was bloated by eachreform in consideration of its relation to the Act on Social Welfare for the Elderly, and discusses the
future of the elderly welfare system of Japan.
9:30-11:30 Paper Session 【C】
Residential Welfare
Chair: Hiromi TANAKA (Osaka Metropolitan University)
Mami Takahashi (Ochanomizu University, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences,
Doctoral student)
Housing Difficulties and Support Issues Emerging at the Intersection of Identities: Case
Studies of Housing Support

Since the launch of the Housing Safety Net Program in 2017, housing support has been
widely discussed and measures for providing this support have been included in housing andwelfare policies. A joint meeting was held in 2023 by the Ministry of Health, Labor andWelfare, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and the Ministry ofJustice; moreover, this issue was considered in the amendments to the Self-Reliance Support
Program for Needy Persons. These developments are based on the assumption that the target
population is differentiated by their identities related to factors such as age, disability, andreceiving public assistance. However, the people who receive housing support often possess a
combination of these identities.
This study assumes that the target population receiving housing support has intersectional
identities. It assesses the challenges they experience in obtaining housing and their prospects
for support considering this intersectionality, which is influenced by the power relations ofage, gender, and class. Specifically, this study examines actual cases handled by welfareorganizations and real estate companies involved in housing support to demonstrate how
compounded difficulties appear at the intersection of identities and how different policies andsystems for different characteristics enable or obstruct support. Finally, this study discusses
the need to include housing support in social security.
Nao Kasai (National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, Researcher)Possibilities and limitations of rent subsidies implemented by local governments

In Japan, most rent subsidies (including low-rent social housing) are provided within the
housing policy framework that has promoted devolution and emphasised local autonomy since
2000s. In this context, studies have pointed out that local governments would not proactively
implement rent subsidies because such policies may attract low-income households and cause
a financial burden on local governments. Taking this view into account, the current paper
looks at the fact that some local governments, although not many, still implement rent subsidy
programs for low-income households, and explores the possibility of expanding rent subsidies
under the current devolved conditions. After providing an overview of local governmentsʼ rent
subsidy programs through an analysis of their application documents for a national
government funding, I summarise the reasons why some local governments actively provide
rent subsidies and the conditions that have enabled them to do so, based on the interview
survey results. Finally, I discuss possible measures to promote rent subsidies in the devolved
housing policy framework as well as its limitations.
9:30-11:30 Paper Session 【D】
Labor Union
Chair: Koichi MATSUO (Aoyama Gakuin University)
Kyoko Suzuki (The Japan Institute of Labour Policy and Training, Researcher)
Labour unions and the politics of difference in the labor market

The importance of various heterogeneities and divisions in the labor market varies from one
society to another. Labor movements often play an important role in these decisions, shaping
the structure of the labor market. For example, behind today's dichotomy between regular andnon-regular employment lies "membership-based employment," formed through labormanagement relationships. This paper focuses on one of Japanʼs post-war labor movements,
the “abolition of discrimination,” which aimed to integrate blue- and white-collar workers intoa single category of “employees.” Drawing on existing research, it explores the backgroundand rationale behind this movement. Additionally, it examines how Japan's company-basedlabor unions relate to the movement, exploring the potential of such unions in addressing
disparities in today's labor market.
FUJII Hiroaki (Daido University, Professor), NISHIO Isao (Nippon Steel Coated Sheet
Workersʼ Union)

Regulatory Influence of Collective Bargaining on Workforce Allocation：A Case Study on
Workplace Decision-Making Consultations at Steel Company A

Steel Company A is a subsidiary of a large-scale iron and steel enterprise. In this company,changes to workforce allocation are made through consultations between the company andthe Unionʼs executive board. Subsequently, managers and workers engage in consultations at
the workplace to determine workforce allocation. The Unionʼs consistent focus on workersʼ
voices has developed and maintained workplace decision-making consultations. This study
aims to clarify the regulatory influence of this consultation process on workforce reductions.
We hypothesize that workforce allocation is affected by the participation of workers in
consultations and decision-making involvement. To this end, we interview current and former
Union officers, and analyze Union documents. Accordingly, this study examines the regulatory
influence of consultation on workforce reductions from various perspectives. First, we
compare the proposed workforce allocation by the company in two medium-term plans
spanning from 1996 to 2002 with the actual workforce allocation. Second, we assess the extent
to which measures were changed due to the Unionʼs and workersʼ voices. Finally, we compare
workforce reductions at Company A with those at other firms in the same industry during thesame period.
Nobuko YOKOTA (Kwansei-Gakuin University, Professor)
Solidarity and Labor Movement across the Casual and Regular Workers by the National
Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) in Australia - A Case Study of the 2023 Strike of theStaff Union of Australian National University (ANU)

This presentation examines how trade unions, even with low organization rates, could havea significant impact on university management, improvement of working conditions forworkers, and work styles, through the case study of the strike by the National Tertiary
Education Union (NTEU) ANU branch, which took place on July 27, 2023. In particular, I
show that the NTEUʼs philosophy and practice, which aimed to organize staff with diverse
attributes, including casual and regular staff, on an equal basis, was the driving force behindthat. Namely, since the 1990s, casual workers have rapidly increased in the higher educationindustry. By improving the employment and working conditions of casual workers who are at
the bottom of the universityʼs employment organization, the ANU staff union improved theworking conditions of all staff, and furthermore, it achieved a ʻwork style reformʼ that allows
workers to decide their own way of working. Here, I will examine in detail what the ANU staff
union actually won during the half-day strike by analyzing the collective bargaining report.

9:30-11:30 Paper Session 【E】
Social Welfare
Chair: Huimin YANG (Prefectural University of Hiroshima)
Jun Kinoshita
Relief Work, Reformatory Work, Charity Organizations ‒ Welfare Administration without
Special Administrative Agencies, 1897-1908

In Europe and the United States, the 19th and 20th century transition period is known as atime of widespread recognition of social problems. In order to deal with them, national
governments established special administrative agencies.
In Japan, social problems were recognized at about the same time. However, as for special
administrative agency, Japanese people had to wait for the establishment of the Relief Division(救護課) in 1917.
Then, how was welfare administration conducted prior to 1917? Researchers haveaccumulated papers on the Poor People's Study Groups (貧⺠研究会), the Reformatory Law(感化法), the National Charity Convention (全国慈善⼤会), the Reformatory and Relief
Works (感化救済事業), the Central Charity Association(中央慈善協会), and so on. However,a framework for synthesizing them has yet to be proposed.
This report begins with an abortive "Relief and Assistance Bureau (救恤事務局)" plan in
1897, and ends with the Reformatory and Relief Works in 1908.
I will draw the outlines by following the movements of three high officials of the Home
Department, who worked together to promote "relief work (救済事業)," "reformatory work
(感化事業)," and "charity organizations (慈善団体)."
Tomoko Odamaki (Ritsumeikan University, Associate Professor)
The Significance of Parental Participation in Childcare: An Interview Survey of Parents

Developed countries facing common challenges such as declining birthrates and labor force
shortages are encouraging parents to participate in childcare (Ikemoto, 2015). This is because
they view parents as a valuable resource for improving the quality and quantity of childcare.
Similarly, the OECD (2012) has identified “family and community participation” as animportant policy issue to improve the quality of childcare. However, discussions on improving
the quality of childcare in Japan have focused on improving the working conditions ofchildcare workers and strengthening their expertise. Therefore, the role of parents has been

downplayed. In this study, I examined the significance of parental participation by clarifying
the actual conditions of parental participation and the associated changes. The researchmethod used was an interview survey of parents who had attended meetings of the daycare
center steering committee. From the survey results, a variety of methods of parental
participation were observed. In addition to the steering committee meetings, informal
conversations were frequently used as a means of reflecting parental opinions. The survey
results did not indicate that parental participation led to any perceived changes in children.
However, it was clear that parental participation builds positive relationships with otherparents and staff.
Yoko NOBE (Japan Women's University, Associate Professor)
Toward a Comparative Historical Sociology of Alternative Care for Children: From a
Family Sociological Perspective

This study discussed a framework used to analyze alternative care for children from acomparative historical-sociological perspective, by adopting a family sociological perspective.
Recently, Japan has been promoting so-called deinstitutionalization in alternative care forchildren, partially owing to the concluding remarks of the United Nations Committee on the
Rights of the Child. Although the United Nations adopted the “Guidelines for the Alternative
Care of Children” in 2009, and countries that have signed the Convention are required tofollow the global standards on alternative care, the actual situation, as well as the policies foralternative care for children, have not followed this trend. In international comparative studies
on alternative care for children, the “institutional care/foster care” framework, and the foster
care consignment rate are often used, but this study critically examined these frameworks andindicators by (1) comparing them with other policy frameworks and indicators related tochildren and (2) adopting discussions in family sociology. In addition, (3) we discuss
frameworks and indicators that consider the historical development of each society and thepath-dependent institution development.
9:30-11:30 Paper Session 【F】
Medical Care
Chair: Yumiko TANAKA (Fukui Prefectural University)
Takashi Koseki (Meiji University, School of Business Administration, Professor), Yohei
Kadosaki (Nihon Fukushi University, Faculty of Social Welfare, Associate Professor)

Inclusion of health insurance for foreign residents

Although foreign residents in Japan had unlikely joined public health insurance, due to thelaw amendment, foreign residents who stay more than three months got oblidged to join to
the insurance. However, there is still burden of medical bills among foreigners even after theenhancement of health insurance coverage. Private health insurance have more of a presence
due to boosting medial costs these days, and several group insurances for foreign workers andstudents have been made. Moreover, it is crucial to make sure the effectiveness of healthinsurance and embody medical security by notifying foreigners of complex health insurance
system and by promoting multi-lingualization at hospitals. The authors conductedquestionnaire and interview surveys with foreign workers and students in February 2024 toclarify how foreigners join public/private health insuraces how hospitals implement
multilingualization, and problems to be addressed.
Norisuke Kashima (Saitama University Graduate School, Graduate Student)
For-profit corporations' participation in and departure from the management of private
non-profit hospitals

In recent years, for-profit corporations have been participating in the management ofprivate not-for-profit hospitals, and have gained greater control over the hospitals, mainly
through financial contributions. For example, the high acceptance rate of covid-19 patientsfor treatment in comparison with other private hospitals suggests their strong control over thehospital.
In this report, through an interview with the administrative manager of a local hospital thatwas involved in the civil rehabilitation of a for-profit corporation, we examine the process ofthe for-profit corporation's withdrawal from the private nonprofit hospital, from the start ofits participation in the management of the hospital to its response to covid-19, and its sale toanother medical corporation due to the stalemate in its management restructuring.
The findings of the study are as follows. The characteristics and behavioral patterns of
medical organizations, which have been uniformly captured in previous studies, differ
depending on the management entity and the size of the hospital, and it is necessary to deepen
research that sheds light on this typology. The series of events, such as the change of thechairman of the board of directors, who is a physician, the change of the administrative
director, who is in charge of management, and the significant opposition from the medical
profession in response to covid-19, suggest that there are two normative axes that are added
to the dual authority structure of the medical organization. In addition, although it is pointed

out that "separation of medical and business" is necessary for the continuation of medical
operations, it is clear that it is not enough to simply divide professional and administrative
authority, but that "coordination through dialogue" is necessary after translating the authority
into the respective languages.
Hitomi HAMANA (Keio University, Graduate Student)
Setbacks of the Medical Corporation System Reform over Inheritance Tax: A Study on
Behavioral Models of Healthcare Providers

In the Japanese medical care delivery system, supply is mainly provided by private medical
corporations, while demand is socialized under universal health insurance. This makes it
difficult for the government to take the lead in reforming the medical care delivery system,
and means to promote changes in line with policy goals of public interest have been sought.
Thus, it is important to assume the behavioral model of service providers when examining
healthcare policies. Medical corporations, which cannot be explained by ordinary models suchas the profit maximization model, may have various behavioral models depending on size andthe degree of family ownership.
The paper focuses on the reforms of the medical corporation system with respect to theinheritance tax. From the perspective of ensuring the continuity of medical business, reducing
the burden of inheritance tax has been a major issue since the establishment of the medical
corporation system. However, there has been disagreement within the medical profession foryears, and the issue has not been fully resolved. This study reviews existing policy
developments based on publicly available sources, including meeting minutes and proceedings,
and discusses the behavioral model of medical corporations.
11：30−12：45

Lunch break and Education Session

Things to learn before using qualitative research methods
Chair: Yoshiyuki CHIKAMA（Kagoshima Prefectural College）
Presenters: Hiroyuki AOKI（Kagawa University）

Satoko TANAKA（Prefectural University of Hiroshima）

12:45-14:45 Special Theme Session 4

Trade Union Involvement in Vocational Skill Formation
Coordinator: Koichi MATSUO (Aoyama Gakuin University)

〈Theme of the Session〉
Trade Union Involvement in Vocational Skill Formation

Since the 1990s, interest in public vocational training has been growing in Japan due to theincrease in non-regular or unstable employment. However, whether it is on-the-job training
under long-term employment or public vocational training, there has been little awareness inJapan of the involvement of labor unions in such training.
On the other hand, in Western countries, trade unions have had a history of playing a rolein vocational training due to the craft union tradition, however, it seems that there has notbeen sufficient analysis of how workplace unions have been involved in the formation of
vocational skills in the internal labor market within companies.
In this session, the first reporter will report activities of a Japanese labor union (Koyo-Ro)
to form the skills of vocational training instructors as a case study of Japanese unions' efforts
to develop human resources. The second reporter will analyze how trade unions provide
support for skill formation through a survey of union learning representatives' activities in theUK, and summarize the implications for Japan.
Tomohiro Shimonaga (Doshisha University)
Labor Union Involvement in Human Resource Development of Vocational Training
Instructors

Vocational training instructors are workers who provide public vocational training for job
seekers, small and medium-sized enterprises workers, and school graduates at polytechnic
centers (colleges) nationwide. In recent years, it has become important for instructors to form
skills to cope with DX. However, with the aging of instructors and the shortage of manpower
due to retirement, each facility faces the challenge of passing on skills to instructors. A key
actor in overcoming this challenge is the Koyo-Ro, which was founded in 1959 and has held anational vocational technical education research meeting since 1966, and since 2001 has
conducted technical training at regional councils in a face-to-face network. Why has Koyo-Ro
continued to be involved in human resource development for instructors? This is the questionof this study. To answer this question, we first review the history of human resource
development for instructors at Koyo-Ro. Next, we will describe the implementation andprocess of research meetings and technical training by Koyo-Ro. Then, we will examine what
the involvement of instructors in human resource development means for the Koyo-Ro.

Akie Nakamura (RENGO-RIALS（JTUC Research Institute for Advancement of Living
Standards）)
Union Learning Representatives in the UK: Upskilling supported by labor unions
As technology advances, the importance of reskilling and upskilling has been increasing. However,compared to European countries, Japanese labor unions have limited involvement in the skills developmentof workers. Therefore, I investigated what kind of skill development support the UK trade unions provide
since the UK has combined characteristics of ILM (Internal Labor Market) and OLM (Occupational Labor
Market). The research method was a literature survey and an interview with the National Center TUC.
In the UK, trade union members called "Union Learning Representatives (ULRs)" who provide learning
support to workers are legally recognized. ULRs develop training programs, establish training centers in
the workplace, provide consultation services to workers, and conclude learning agreements with employers.
The effectiveness of ULRs has been proven from various perspectives. Meanwhile, the fund that
supported ULRs was abolished in 2021 by the Conservative government. Although ULRs have been highly
praised, there is some skepticism about their expansion.
In Japan, labor unions can also proactively design education and training programs and conclude
collective agreements regarding workers' training. On the other hand, it is necessary to create a system that
ensures such efforts do not become tools for political disputes.

12:45-14:45 Special Theme Session 5

Developments in Planning and Governance: Evaluation of Social Welfare and Long-TermCare Policy
Coordinator: Koichi Hiraoka (Tokyo Online University)〈Theme of the Session〉Developments in Planning and Governance: Evaluation of Social Welfare and Long-TermCare Policy

Distinctive features of Japanʼs social welfare and long-term care policies since the 2000s
include the systematization of local government social welfare plans, the move toward
establishing a comprehensive care system, and the search for new public governance in thelocal administration. Against this background, social welfare and long-term care policies inJapan have witnessed a growing emphasis on managerialism-based performance evaluation ofsocial welfare plans and a growing interest in evidence-based policy making (EBPM).
Considering these circumstances, this session examines the recent developments in theplanning and evaluation of social welfare and long-term care policies and their significance inJapan and Britain. The first presentation evaluates welfare policies in relation to the local
governmentʼs Long-Term Care Insurance Plan. The second presentation investigates thepolicy significance of the Municipal Community Welfare Plan in connection with constructing
a comprehensive care system and the evaluation of these plans. The third presentation
analyzes the recent developments in the evaluation system of local social administration andcomprehensive care systems in Britain.
Hatamoto Yusuke (Doshisha University)
Implications of evaluation in welfare policy: Based on the results of Long-Term Care
Insurance Service (Support) Plan Survey

In recent years, evaluation provisions have been added to various social welfare-related laws.
Regarding the long-term care insurance system, such provisions have been included in theLong-Term Care Insurance Service (Support) Plan (revised Long-term Care Insurance Act of2017). However, the evaluation itself has been conducted for a long time, and its meaning
differs depending on the period. The purpose of this report is to attempt to categorize these
meanings. In the report given at the 143rd Annual Conference of the Social Policy Society, we
analyzed the minutes of the Social Security Council (Long-Term Care Insurance
Subcommittee) and traced changes in its meaning. This report includes an analysis ofsubsequent minutes to confirm new developments since the previous meeting. In addition,
based on past questionnaire surveys conducted in prefectures and municipalities regarding
Long-Term Care Insurance Service (Support) Plan, we will present this as one basis for its
meaning. Finally, using the analysis of Long-Term Care Insurance Service (Support) Plan as
an example, we will summarize and organize the evaluation methods in welfare policy into thefollowing types: needs-prescribing type, business management type, and legitimacy-ensuring
type.
Shinichi Murota (Tokyo Metropolitan University)
Whatʼs the Policy Signification of Community Welfare Plans

With the revision of the Social Welfare Act in 2000, local governments were legally required
to develop Community Welfare Plans. Initially, it was intended that each local government
would develop plans with the participation of local residents and with an emphasis on local
characteristics, partly due to the trend towards decentralization. However, amendments to theSocial Welfare Act in 2017 and 2020 made it an obligation for all municipalities to develop
Community Welfare Plans,

and added that the plans should specify matters related to thedevelopment of comprehensive support systems. As this provision refers to specific support
systems in local governments, there is concern that the development of such plans will lead touniformity in local welfare practices.
Therefore, this study compares the Community Welfare Plans of local governments thathave initiated projects to develop multi-tiered support systems, and examines the following
three points 1) the impact of the 2017 and 2020 legislative amendments on the content ofCommunity Welfare Plans, 2) methods for evaluating Community Welfare Plans, and 3)
factors contributing to differences between local governments regarding 1) and 2).
Through these considerations, we will discuss the policy implications of local governments
developing Community Welfare Plans.
Kimiko Nagasawa (University of Kochi)
Introducing the evaluation of adult social care by local authorities and "Integrated Care
Systems" under the Health and Care Act 2022 in England; Focused on quality statement
and governance of evidences.

With the recent launch of the Multi-Layered Support System Project in municipalities forthe realization of a Community-Based Inclusive Society, there is a need for an evaluation
method related to varied practices involving diverse actors across systems. At that time, there
are concerns about whether the conventional evaluation of KPI (Key Performance Indicators)
for each administrative plan will be sufficient to verify the multifaceted effects of the project.
Therefore, this report focuses on the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) evaluation of the"Integrated Care Systems" (ICS) and municipal adult social care. I would like to summarize
the evaluation framework for assessing the quality of performance of a multilayered system
based on comprehensive care and support, including health and social care, as well as
partnerships among various institutions and community organizations, and offer suggestions
for the evaluation of local comprehensive support systems in Japan. In particular, I would liketo discuss the significance of this framework, focusing on quality statement (defining
outcomes to be achieved), accumulation of data as evidence, and governance of evidence.
12:45-14:45 Paper Session 【Ｇ】
Social Security
Chair: Takafumi MURATA (Kyoto Prefectural University)
Yusuke Takahashi (Ehime University, Senior Assistant Professor)

Changes in Japanʼs Fiscal Policies and Employment Insurance System Design Following
Amendments to Employment Insurance Act

This study aims to review and summarize the evolution of fiscal policies and institutional
design following the amendments to the Employment Insurance Act. In terms of fiscal
management, the national treasury's contribution to employment insurance has been
relatively insignificant. Moreover, despite amendments to the Employment Insurance Act, thecontribution has tended to decrease alongside the employment insurance premium rate. The
focus of fiscal consolidation efforts has been on curbing expenditures by imposing stricter
benefit eligibility criteria rather than increasing the national treasuryʼs contribution. In theearly 2000s, various measures were implemented, such as extending benefit restrictions for
those who voluntarily left their jobs, reducing the designated period for benefit payment, andlowering the overall benefit rate.
Employment insurance serves as a passive labor market policy and is essential for thedevelopment of active labor market policies. It encompasses elements of active labor market
policies, such as education and training benefits, and there has been a growing trend toward
benefit expansion since 2014. While the Employment Adjustment Subsidy was fundedthrough the general account in 2020, funding for childcare leave benefits remains limited. As
the safety net continues to expand, there is a need to advance the systems related to active
labor market policies and ensure stable fiscal management.
Kuriko WATANABE (Kanagawa University, Assistant Professor)
Administration of the Livelihood Assistance - Discretion or Variation in the Welfare
Office?

This study aims to examine the extent to which there is variation in the administration of
public assistance by each welfare office, using micro-data of "Survey of the National Survey
on Public Assistance Recipients" which was conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare's in 2018.
Although the administration of public assistance is regulated by the Public Assistance Act
and other laws and regulations, it has been pointed out that, in practice, welfare offices havea certain degree of discretion. For example, Oyama (2019) analyzed local manuals compiled
by prefectures and designated cities, which revealed that the standards for the decisionmaking implementation differ among local governments. However, no quantitative study has
been conducted to determine the extent to which the provision varied due to differences indiscretion.

Therefore, this study conducted a welfare office-based analysis using "Survey of the
National Survey on Public Assistance Recipients”. As a result, it was found that the percentage
of disabled persons and the percentage of injured and sick persons varied greatly among
welfare offices, and that there were also extreme cases in terms of receipt of pensions,determination of assistance.
Yui Ohtsu (Saitama University, Associate professor), Atsuhiro Yamada (Keio University,
Professor)
A New Understanding of National Pension Contributors Based on "Anonymized Pension
Administration Data"

Non-payment of National Pension contributions is one of the problem in Japanʼs Public
Pensio0n system. The payment of National Pension contributions is compulsory for those
insured in Category 1, but a non-negligible number of people have not paid them. The
payment rate is calculated on the basis of number of months for which contributions havebeen paid, excluding periods during which payments have been postponed or exempted.
Therefore, a decreasing payment rate does not necessarily indicate an increase in the numberof non-payers. In addition, the official statistics on the number of "non-payers" at the end ofeach fiscal year only includes those individuals who have not paid all of their contributions forthe last two years.
In order to find out the real situation of non-payment, in this study, we used the"Anonymized Pension Administration Data" provided by the Pension Bureau of the Ministryof Health, Labor and Welfare to compile the payment records of the Category 1 insured
persons over the past two years. This enabled us to gain insight into non-payers, including
those who had not paid contributions for only part of the past two years. Additionally, weconstructed panel data on payments over the past 11 years, analyzed changes in monthly
payment records, and conducted regression analyses to assess the impact of policy reforms,
such as the relaxation of eligibility conditions for payment postponement and the reductionof the required contribution periods for old-age pension eligibility.
12:45-14:45 Paper Session 【H】
Labor ①Chair: Akiko MATSUE (International University of Health and Welfare)
Mamiko Takeuchi (Aichigakuin University, Professor)

Impact of Three Major Diseases and Lifestyle-related Diseases on Employment of Men
and WomenThis study analyzes the effects of three major diseases (cancer, stroke, and myocardial
infarction) and lifestyle-related diseases, such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, on
employment by gender. The analyses show that stroke has the highest probability of reducing
employment for men, followed by cancer, and myocardial infarction; among lifestyle-relateddiseases, diabetes has the highest probability, followed by dyslipidemia and hypertension. For
women, stroke, cancer, and diabetes reduce the probability of employment. Individuals may
also work reduced hours because of these diseases; this trend is visible with stroke and diabetes
in men, and cancer and dyslipidemia in women. This study also confirms that men are affected
more by myocardial infarction, while women are more affected by cancer. We also examinedthe effect a disease in a married person has on their partnerʼs probability of employment. We
found that menʼs employment is not affected by their spouseʼs disease, while womenʼs
employment probability tends to decrease if their husband experiences cancer or dyslipidemia.
Some of the above analyses are robust with matching methods.
Yoko Tanaka (University of Tsukuba, Professor), Fan Dan (Southwestern University of
Finance and Economics, Professor), Wu Tong (University of Tsukuba, Graduate Student)
Analysis of employment hierarchy in China's irregularized economy. Focusing on women's
working conditions after childbirth

In communist China, it was common for both men and women to work full-time under theemployment and welfare guarantee known as the "iron rice bowl." However, after the 1993
constitutional amendment aimed at the "socialist market economy," the state-owned
enterprise reform introduced a labor contract system in place of the fixed labor system, andthe privatization and layoffs of companies continued. The number of temporary and seasonal
workers with low wages and low security has increased, including an influx of workers into
cities.
Since the Labor Contract Act of 2008, the number of temporary "flexible workers" such asdispatched workers has increased, and relatively stable regular employment has decreased toless than 20%, meaning that the economy has been irregularized. As a result, the working
conditions of women, who used to work on equal terms with men, have worsened, and theemployment rate is declining.
This report summarizes the debate regarding regular and non-regular employment, which
has not been defined even within China, and then examines the actual employment andworking conditions from stable and guaranteed employment to unstable and non-guaranteed
work in China. We will clarify what kind of hierarchy there is through interviews with women
after giving birth.
SETO Kentaro (Rikkyo University, Assistant Professor)
Stability and Changes in the Modern Japanese Labor Market from the Perspective of
Promotion. -Employing Aggregated SSM Surveys

The aim of this report is to examine the stability and changes in promotion in the Japaneselabor market through secondary analysis of quantitative surveys.
While postwar Japan has undergone significant changes such as the "white-collarization" ofblue-collar jobs, there also exists a stable structure known as the credentialism. It is necessary
to promotion from both perspectives of these changes and stability. Therefore, I matches
multi-year data from the Social Stratification and Social Mobility (SSM) survey, to empiricallyexamine this issue.
The results of the descriptive analysis reveal no significant differences in trends between
educational levels and initial job positions across birth cohorts, indicating a highly stablestructure in promotion.

15:00-17:00 Special Theme Session 6

Roles and Challenges of Community Welfare Plans/Community Welfare Support Plans
Coordinator: KURODA, Ashiya (National Institute of Population and Social Security
Research)
Chair: SHIRASE, Yumika (Hitotsubashi University)〈Theme of the Session〉Roles and Challenges of Community Welfare Plans/Community Welfare Support Plans

Planning is of utmost importance, not only in the realm of social welfare but also for theefficient execution of government administrative tasks. Within the social welfare sector,
numerous plans are being developed. Following the directive to promote community welfare
within the Social Welfare Act, recent trends show an increase in systems aimed at supporting
daily life that significantly delegate discretion to the local and regional level, thus expanding
the roles of prefectures and municipalities as key actors in community welfare.
Against this backdrop, community welfare plans created by municipalities and community
welfare support plans created by prefectures can serve as crucial guidelines for promotingcommunity welfare in a unified effort among prefectures, local governments, relatedorganizations, local residents, and so on toward realizing a community-based society.
However, the development of these plans currently requires a duty of effort and theirsignificance and functionality have not been fully elucidated.
Hence, in order to gather insights for the development and implementation of community
welfare policies, this session conducts a comprehensive analysis of community welfare plans
and community welfare support plans. This analysis covers various aspects, including their
institutional framework, practical implementation, and theoretical foundations, aiming toclarify their roles and the challenges they face.
KURODA, Ashiya (National Institute of Population and Social Security Research)
Positioning and Function of Community Welfare Plans/Community Welfare Support
Plans in Social Welfare

Generally, plans created by government bodies (administrative plans) encompass a wide
range of areas, and this holds true for administrative planning in the field of social welfare,
where numerous interconnected plans exist. This is also true for community welfare plans
created by municipalities and community welfare support plans created by prefectures. For
instance, municipalities must ensure their multilayered support system development project
implementation plans harmonize with community welfare plans, insured long-term careservice plans, disability welfare plans, child and child care support project plans, and so on.
On the other hand, community welfare plans and community welfare support plans are
abstract in terms of the specific content they should include according to the law, and theircreation requires a duty of effort. Consequently, the exact normative relationship between
these plans and plans in individual social welfare sectors is not always clear.
Therefore, this report aims to clarify the legal positioning of community welfare plans andcommunity welfare support plans, as well as their relationship with plans in individual social
welfare sectors, and to clarify the functions of community welfare plans and community
welfare support plans.
IZUMIDA, Nobuyuki (National Institute of Population and Social Security Research)
Involvement of Prefectures in Municipalities (Welfare Policies) through Community
Welfare Support Plans

Community welfare support plans aim to contribute to the achievement of municipal
community welfare plans. Within the basic local government framework, there are designatedcities and core cities to which some authority has been delegated by prefectures, as well as
towns and villages that do not have their own welfare offices. It is believed that whether
prefectural support plans have “realism” within the diversity of prefecture-municipality
relationships affects the effectiveness guarantee of community welfare plans.
This report aims to clarify the involvement of prefectures in municipalities through thecontent and formulation process of community welfare support plans. Prefectures wereselected based on the rate of development of community welfare plans, and an analysis was
conducted on the process and content of formulating support plans.
Analysis of the content of the support plans showed that public comments were generally
well implemented. However, there were instances where it was unclear whether there wasinformation gathering from municipalities, or whether there were exchanges of opinions ondraft support plans with municipalities.
On the day of the presentation, the report will include incidental information beyond the
support plans and examine the relationship between the content of the support plans andcommunity welfare plans.
HATAMOTO, Yusuke (Doshisha University)
The Dual Aspects of Community Welfare Plans

In 2000, community welfare plans were incorporated into the Social Welfare Act as a
strategy aimed at horizontally integrating various welfare domains within local communities.
However, the delivery systems for welfare services in specific areas such as elderly care,disability support, child welfare (later expanded to encompass assistance for those facing
financial hardship) were explicitly defined by individual laws, leading to initial ambiguity
regarding the nature of this integration. As a result, in practice, community welfare plans were
often understood as “plans for community welfare,” integrated with social welfare council
community welfare activity plans, primarily aimed at promoting resident participation.
However, the philosophy of becoming a comprehensive welfare plan that crosses various
domains of welfare as “regional (cross-domain) welfare plans” has remained intact. Thisphilosophy has developed, leading to the formalization of plans (such as PDCA) and the
additional legal provisions for the establishment of multilayered support system development
plans. This report analyzes how both aspects have diverged and evolved.
Discussant: NAKANO, Koki (Nihon University)

15:00-17:00 Paper Session 【Ｉ】
Management/Employment
Chair: Taichi ITO (Osaka University of Economics)
SUZUKI Chikara (Gifu University, Assistant professor)
Development of Compensation Activities of Local Port Employersʼ Associations for
Logistics Innovation: Focusing on the Independence of Local Organizations against theCentral Organization of Employersʼ Associations

This study examines the process by which the Japan Harbor Transportation Association（JHTA）, an employersʼ organization of the port transport industry, and its member
organizations established a government framework for business compensation through theirdemand activities in response to the restructuring of the existing logistics system following
the construction of the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge in the Chugoku-Shikoku region during the1970s and 1980s. The study clarifies that the development of activities by the Shikoku Port
Transport Association ahead of the central organization of the Japan Port Transport
Association, has led to compensation for port transport operators in their business areas..
In response to the restructuring of the logistics system associated with the construction of
the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge, labor unions in the port industry began taking action andpresenting demands to the government, and drew up a compensation agreement. The effortsof employersʼ organizations developed separately from those of labor unions, but in 1981, a
supplementary resolution to the “Act on Special Measures Concerning General Passenger
Liner Service Business, etc. in Connection with the Construction of the Honshu-Shikoku
Bridge” stipulated “management and employment stability, etc. for operators in port
transport-related businesses,” and the demand for compensation by the operators was realized.
Yurie Momose (University of Tokyo, Project Assistant Professor), Hiroki Sato (Universityof Tokyo, Emeritus Professor)
Diversity Management to make the most of employees with treatments, illnesses, anddisabilities

Japanese companies face a socioeconomic environment in which it is essential to establish
diversity management, which prepares opportunities for diverse human resources to play anactive role and links this to management results. However, previous studies on diversity
management have focused mainly on discussions limited to women, caregivers, multinationals,
and seniors. The definition of diverse human resources can be considered broad, given the

Japanese government's recent promotion of support for people to continue working while
receiving appropriate medical treatment. This study clarified the impact of corporate
initiatives and workplace conditions corresponding to diversity management on the level ofdiverse human resources playing an active role, which is the objective of diversity management.
For this study, we used data from one of our "Diversity Management in the Workplace Survey"
conducted among large Japanese companies that actively promote work-life balance anddiversity.
Yoshinori Yanaka (Saitama University, Graduate student)
Changes in the role of joint vocational training implemented by small and medium-sizedenterprises - Focused on the Electroplating industry in Tokyo

This presentation examines the changes in vocational training provided by small andmedium-sized enterprises from the prewar period to the period of high economic growth, andsheds light on the changes in the role and function of joint vocational training.
Small and medium-sized enterprises with weak financial and human resources infrastructureoften conduct vocational training jointly through cooperatives and other organizations. Here,we will focus on the joint vocational training carried out by the Tokyo electroplating industry,
which established the Tokyo Plating Industrial School in 1953 and currently operates theTokyo Electroplating Industrial Association Higher Vocational Training School. In particular,
we consider ① why competitive SMEs come to jointly provide vocational training, and ② what
was the role and function of joint vocational training during its founding period, period ofhigh economic growth, and after its demise? We will pay attention to whether there has been
any transformation.
This presentation shows three important historical fact of the electroplating industry. First,
there were benefits to companies coming together under cooperatives to deal with various
issues including human resource development. Second, it expanded from lectures on
managers and successors before the war to vocational training for the employees, who are thecore of the future, by establishing schools after the war. Third, after the end of high economic
growth, they tried to maintain their role as core human resources development, but theirfunctions were limited due to a significant decrease in trainees.
15:00-17:00 Paper Session 【Ｊ】
Employment support
Chair: Sachiko HAYAKAWA (Meiji University)

TERADA Gaku (School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University,
Masterʼs Student)
Case study on the mechanism for selecting support recipients at Employment
and Livelihood Support Centers for Persons with Disabilities - Focusing on the activities
of front-line staff ‒The Employment and Livelihood Support Center for Persons with Disabilities was establishedin 2002 to support persons with disabilities in maintaining regular employment in the fields ofwelfare and education. Eligibility for support under laws and regulations has not changed since
the system’s inception. In other words, eligible recipients are those who need assistance in termsof daily life and in securing stable employment, including people who left their jobs due toworkplaceincompatibility. Employment

and Livelihood Support Centers

for Persons

with Disabilities are required to cooperate with relevant local organizations to provide support
to individuals who qualify.
However, in reality, the functions and roles of these support centers vary greatly dependingon the region. This research examines why the situation has diverged from the assumptions of
the laws and regulations.
In this study, I conducted an interview survey with the Employment and Livelihood Support
Center for Persons with Disabilities in City X and its partner organizations, investigating (1) how
the community defines the functions and roles of the Employment and Livelihood Support
Center for Persons with Disabilities and (2) how recipients of support are selected. The findings
indicate that recipients are selected based on communication between front-line staff in a multiinstitutional collaborative network, which deviates considerably from the support criteria
expressed in laws and regulations.
NAKAMURA, Shoji (Graduate School of Economics, The University of Tokyo, Graduate
student)
Developing the Veteransʼ Information Service in the postwar United States: Based on theanalysis of cooperative relationship between the Retraining and Reemployment
Administration and the National Social Welfare AssemblyThis paper focuses on the development of information assistance for veterans and theirfamilies in the United States following World War II. The National Social Welfare Assembly
and the Retraining and Reemployment Administration collaborated to design a nationwide
program for postwar veterans' information and counseling. The involvement of many groupsinterested in supporting veterans in the program's development phase was crucial. The goal
was to establish a democratic administration that would prevent program duplication andany one organization from dominating the overall management of the veterans' support
program. Through the above discussion, this article aims to reconsider the postwar veteransʼ
welfare from the perspective of a public-private partnership.
This study draws on the main sources of the National Committee on Service to Veterans,
which was established inside the National Social Welfare Assembly, as well as official papers
from the Retraining and Reemployment Administration. Previous studies did not include allof the records on the National Committee on Service to Veterans, in addition to somehistorical documents from the Retraining and Reemployment Administration.
Yukiko ODAKA (Graduate School of Economics, Chuo University, Doctoral course
student)
Difficulty in working of persons with disabilities: Focusing on the production system in a
Japanese manufacturing medium-sized enterpriseJapanʼs employment policy for persons with disabilities (PwDs) has promoted the inclusionof PWDs in the labor market. Specifically, it calls employers for social responsibility andobligates legally them to hire the certain number of PwDs and prohibit discrimination andprovide reasonable accommodation. In this situation, employment inclusion of PwDs has
expanded in the form of part-time and non-regular work. For the reason why PWDs choose
this form of employment, recent studies focus on the perspectives such as life, family andincome security. This study on the other hand explores the system of workplace where thedifficulty for PwDs is generated. For this purpose, I apply an approach by semi-structured indepth interviews within the qualitative research. The target are an employer and several PwDs
of a Japanese manufacturing medium-sized enterprise, and also public support providers.
15:00-17:00 Paper Session 【K】
Labor ②Chair: Miki SUZUKI (Rissho University)
Joonhee Park (Rikkyo University College of Economics, Assistant Professor)
The Effects of Regular Employment for Non-Regular Workers: A Case Study of Cleaning
Workers in the Busan Metro, South Korea.

The South Korean government has implemented a policy to convert non-regular workers

into regular employees in the public sector since 2018. The target institutions for thistransition include not only central government administrative and educational institutions but
also local government administrative agencies, public institutions, as well as subsidiaries andsubcontractors of local public enterprises. Workers eligible for regular employment spanvarious fields, including fixed-term workers, dispatched workers, and non-regular workers
affiliated with subcontracting companies.
This research explores the effects of transitioning to regular employment for non-regular
workers based on the case of cleaning workers in the Busan Metro in South Korea. Since 1987,
the Busan Metro had subcontracted its cleaning sector to multiple companies, employing
1,000 non-regular workers. However, the working conditions of these 1,000 workers were
substandard, with various issues.
In 2020, due to the aforementioned South Korean government policy on regular
employment, the Busan Metro cleaning workers also became regular employees employed bya subsidiary of Busan Metro. This research uses interview surveys with Busan Metro cleaning
workers to elucidate the changes in terms of employment, wages, working hours, andoccupational accidents when non-regular workers transitioned to regular employment.
Haruki KONNO (POSSE, President), Shintaro MATSUNAGA (Nagano University,
Associate Professor)
The relationship between the Japanese-style employment system and platform work inJapan: Through the lens of the labor process and labor control systems

This paper examines how platform work, which has been rapidly pervasive not only in the
global economy but also in Japan, is related to the Japanese-style employment systems.
Drawing on the qualitative research on labor unions that organize couriers in delivery platform
companies, including Amazon, we unpack what methods such companies utilize to deploy adelivery workforce. Platform companies in Japan take some options to control workers. For
instance, while algorithmic management was often used, some companies applied moreordinary methods with human managers. The technique of worker control also varies in termsof directness. While some workers had a direct contract with the platform company, others
contracted with third-party companies that subcontracted to the platform company. Thesefindings indicate that the platform companies in Japan apply the existing methods of labor
control for non-regular workers, which differs from much literature that has pointed out thedistinctiveness of platform work compared to general employment work. These results suggestthat we need a broader investigation of the existing employment systems and platform work

as a continuum, as well as the distinctiveness of platform work.
Rie Iwanaga (Japan Womenʼs University, Professor), Kawaguchi Shinsuke (Japan Agency
for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Senior Researcher)
Research Activities, Research Time, and Academic Journals; From an Experience in
Editing “Social Policy”

The time researchers spend on their respective research has decreased over the years.
Comparing the results of the “Survey on Full-Time Equivalent Data at Universities,” 2002 and2018, the time spent on research activities has decreased to approximately 78%, excluding thehealth field, where research activities have decreased significantly. The reasons may becomplex, but this report focuses on academic societiesʼ activities, considered “social service
activities (research-related)” in the same survey. This is because researchers can voluntarily
reduce their time on these activities. However, the percentage of our total work time has notdecreased compared to the decrease in research time mentioned above. This report focuseson activities related to academic societies and journals. Academic societies and othercommunities establish research, and the results are published in related academic journals.
Based on previous research on academic journalsʼ history and a survey of the literature
discussing the editing and peer review of academic journals, we examine the current issues of“Social Policy,” the journal of the Japan Association for Social Policy Studies and summarize
the problems and indicate directions for solutions.