The goal of the project is to promote an inter-disciplinary exchange of scientists and practitioners working in the field of social welfare, in particular the care industry. For this reason two symposia shall be organized in Japan to which German scientists and practitioners working in the field of care services are invited to attend. The law on care insurance was amended in Japan last year. The new law came into effect in 2006. In Japan the system of care insurance is undergoing great changes; the following topics on these areas include: “preventing care”, “rehabilitation,” “active care,” “standardization of care services,” “external evaluations,” “the care industry,” and “training in care services.” Two of a total four events are planned to take place in Tôkyô and the Kansai region and shall be held with a large number of participants. These include representatives from government/administrative services, companies specializing in care, care service providers and academics. The other two events shall be held as round table discussions for specialists in the field.