Japan is the second oldest society in the world, and fastest aging.  But many Japanese are now growing old and dying alone.  Despite a culture that heavily emphasizes respect for the elderly, 3.86 million Japanese seniors are now living alone, many of whom are separated from or ignored by their families.

Where Japanese families traditionally lived with three generations under the same roof, that has become less common in the country’s crowded cities, especially as seniors now often live long enough to see their great-grandchildren.  There’s not enough space for families to live together any more.

The government expects that within five years, more than a quarter of its 127 million citizens will be 65 or older.

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