Nursing around the world: Japan - preparing for the century of the elderly

Japanese society, highly modern, yet traditional, is undergoing change due to economic and demographic pressures. The aging of the population has placed tremendous strains on its universal health and social service systems. The nursing profession is responding to these societal changes by its involvement in policy decisions and service enhancements for the elderly, and by increasing the educational level of nurses. In this article, nursing education, practice, and research as well as demographic trends in Japan are described.