Abstract
The purpose of this study is to derive periodical characteristics of the policy for the elderly in Japan by investigating the changes of social security system. The target period of 1946~2000 in Japan was divided into 3 periods for the understanding of periodical characteristics in the focuses of medical, welfare and pension system for the elderly; establishment of concept for the social security and welfare of Japan(1946,1950), appearance of social security system and the elderly problem(to late 1960's), infra construction for aging society(to late 1980's), development and reappraisal of practical policy for the elderly(to late 1990's). It is expected that this paper could provide basic data for the elderly-related policy making in our country.