Ältere Menschen und das Vormundschafts-recht für Volljährige in Japan

Abstract

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image sizeAbstractJapan is one of the most rapidly ageing societies in the world. Furthermore, with an ageing ratio of 22.1 per cent (2008), every fifth citizen is aged 65 years or older. According to estimates from the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research (2008), the ratio will reach 33.7 per cent in 2035 and 40.5 per cent in 2055. While the elderly population keeps on growing, the increase in the number of nuclear families as well as one- and two-person elderly households, alongside the high rates of female labour force participation and low fertility rates are primary factors responsible for the decline of family caregiving for persons with disabilities or dementia. Currently, approximately 1.7 million seniors are said to be suffering from dementia in Japan. including persons with mental handicaps or psychological disorders, the population of those incapable of managing their own affairs will reach an estimated 3.5 million people in 2015. Foreseeing this development, a new adult guardianship system has been introduced, replacing the old adult guardianship systems based on incompetency and quasi-incompetency which had been in effect since 1898 without major changes thereafter. After a comparative overview of the old and new systems, this study analyses the utilization of the new adult guardianship system with a particular focus on elderly people. Two further topics to be discussed in this context will be the recruiting of citizens as volunteer guardians and the possibility of the guardians giving their consent to medical treatment needed by people who can no longer decide for themselves.Keywords: Vormundschaft für VolljährigeEntmündigungSeniorenBürgervormundEinwilligung in medizinische Eingriffe Additional informationNotes on contributorsJunko AndoJunko Ando Studium der Geschichte und der Philosophie an der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf. 1987–2001 wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am Ostasien-Institut/Lehrstuhl Modernes Japan der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf. Seit Mai 2001 wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am Deutschen Institut für Japanstudien in Tokyo. Arbeitsschwerpunkte: Vormundschaft für Volljährige in Japan, Diskussion um die Änderung des Artikels 9 der Japanischen Verfassung, Thronfolgeregelung in Japan.