Abstract
This is the first time that Journal of Health Care and Society gave a trial to publicly call for papers in a specific theme. As a result, this volume is completed with seven outstanding papers featuring“Geriatric Medicine and Long-term Care for Elderly in Japan”. Authors of the these papers are excellent health care talents actively participating in this area, as well as trained researchers capable of generalizing and writing through their experience and observation of the field.
In my introductory paper about long-term nursing care in th i s country, I explain the significance of creating the new social insurance system for long-term care. There are three arguing points:
1. What is the essential val ue of social insurance for long-term nursing care?
2. What are the differences between the current plan in Japan and ideal insurance system described in Part 1?
3. Why should we still implement th e insurance system even though which is not-so-ideal?
