Support for Older People Living Alone in Japan: The Basics of Personal Guarantors, Voluntary Guardianship and Posthumous Affairs Contracts
With more people never marrying, marrying late or divorcing, and more people living alone, a growing number of older people in Japan have no one to turn to for the things families used to provide: keeping an eye on them, acting as a personal guarantor, managing their finances, and handling the formalities after death. The number of single-person households aged 65 and over is projected to reach 10.84 million by 2050. Here is an overview of the systems that support ohitorisama (people on their own) in later life, which are worth knowing about while you are still healthy.
Situations where having no family causes difficulty
Being asked for a personal guarantor or a person who will take responsibility for you when you are admitted to hospital or move into a care facility
Being unable to manage savings or handle contracts once your decision-making capacity declines
Having no one to arrange the funeral and interment, deal with administrative procedures or clear out your home after you die
Note that long-term care insurance facilities are not permitted to refuse admission solely because a person has no guarantor.
Voluntary guardianship: preparing while you still have capacity
Voluntary guardianship (nin’i kōken) is a system in which, while you still have full decision-making capacity, you decide for yourself who will support you in the future and what they will do, and sign a contract to that effect as a notarized deed. It takes effect once your capacity has declined and the family court has appointed a supervisor for the voluntary guardian. If you consider it together with a monitoring contract and a contract delegating financial management, you can receive seamless support that starts even before your capacity declines.
Statutory guardianship: after capacity has declined
If decision-making capacity is already insufficient, statutory guardianship (hōtei kōken) is used, in which the family court chooses the supporter. It can take several months from petition to appointment, so if a move into a care facility or similar is planned, seek advice early. Under the amended Civil Code enacted in 2026, statutory guardianship is set to be unified into a single type, “assistance” (hojo), and redesigned so that it can be used only to the extent and for the period needed.
Posthumous affairs contracts: preparing for what happens after death
As a rule, a guardian’s role ends when the person dies. A posthumous affairs contract (shigo jimu inin keiyaku) is an agreement made during your lifetime that entrusts someone with the tasks that follow death, such as the funeral and interment, notifications to government offices, cancelling utility contracts and sorting out belongings. The basic approach is to divide the roles: a will for how your assets are distributed, and a posthumous affairs contract for the tasks after death.
The growth of lifelong support services for older people
Private services that provide personal guarantees, everyday living support and posthumous affairs as a package are also increasing. In 2024 the Japanese government issued guidelines for providers of lifelong support services for older people, and in 2025 an industry association was established, so the sector is becoming more formalized. If you are considering such a service, be sure to check the contract terms and fees, how deposited funds are managed, and what happens if you cancel.
Talk and prepare while you are still well
Every system includes options that can only be chosen while you still have decision-making capacity. It is precisely when it feels “too early” that you should consult your local Community General Support Center, the Council of Social Welfare, the core agency for adult guardianship in your area, or professionals, and begin preparing in a way that suits you.
This article is a general explanation based on the systems in place as of October 2026. For details of each system and individual procedures, please check with professionals and the relevant organizations.
This is an English translation of a column originally published in Japanese by Next Co., Ltd.
About Next Co., Ltd. We support companies in Japan’s senior care and end-of-life planning (shukatsu) market through research, business development and training. Our English textbook, Senior End-of-Life Planning Textbook, explains the market from the big picture down to day-to-day practice. See the English edition | Buy on Gumroad | Contact us
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