In postwar Japan, many people have led conventional life-courses in terms of leaving parental homes and establishing their own independent households. Within the context of continued economic stagnation, however, young people have been increasingly confronted with a decline in housing opportunities. There has been a notable increase in young, unmarried adults who continue to live in their parents' homes indefinitely while increasing numbers of single-person households living in private rented housing have suffered from heavy burdens imposed by rent payments. This paper explores housing circumstances surrounding young, unmarried people on low incomes, placing particular emphasis on an increase in individuals who lead unconventional life-courses.
