Recently in Japan, it has become a social concern how older men after retirement construct new relationships in their residential communities. As they have devoted their lives to their formal jobs, male retirees may lose all of their social relationships established at the work place. This paper highlights the involvement process of male retirees in a suburban community and examines the conditions that make it easier for them to access local community activities. The author's field research was conducted in the suburban community of Sakuragaoka, Tama City, Tokyo, which was developed in the 1960s.
According to the results of the author's questionnaire survey, many male retirees over 60 years old engaged in various types of community activities either in their own neighborhoods or within Tama City close to their homes. Many male retirees joined in activities for self-satisfaction such as a chorus group or a sports club. Some retirees more actively engage in nonprofit organization volunteer groups utilizing the skills and experience developed in their formal employment careers. While some discovered these activities on their own initiative, many male retirees were approached for help by their spouses or neighbors, especially women in the neighborhood who have been more deeply involved in community activities. Thus a good relationship with his wife and neighbors is a key for a male retiree to become involved in such activities.
Involvement in community activities should be considered as a bridgehead for male retirees to establish new social relationships in their residential communities. Male retirees' involvement might improve conditions in suburban communities by providing more active human resources as well as contributing to the quality of their own lives.

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