A historical study of the role and responsibility of the state in welfare services

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This comparative research project examines the history of welfare services in Japan and England from the perspective of public-private relationships. It reveals significant differences in the role of the voluntary sector between the two societies. While in Japan the voluntary sector plays a role in supplementing the dearth of public service provision, the voluntary and public sectors have developed mutually exclusively in England. Such significances have continued to be an issue in the contemporary community-based welfare services. In Japan, in particular, considering its historical legacy, the voluntary sector tends to play a role as the 'agency' of the state. The research thus highlights the importance of developing policies that recognize the distinctive responsibilities of the public and voluntary sectors as well as maintaining the independence and equality of the two sectors.