Home Economics is not limited to the study of life skills in the home. It also deals with lifestyles in general as well as their cultural significance. To be more exact, the following are the areas covered by Home Economics; their multiple, integrated aspects are studied.

A.Human Development
Man's life and its development as well as health issues are studied in stages and as a whole.
B.Family and Family Life
A family is the basal unit of human life. Family relationships as well as family management and administration are studied.
C. Livelihood and Culture
Human life is studied mainly from the cultural viewpoint centering on design and aesthetic factors.
D. Welfare
From a welfare standpoint, family and its members are studied in its relation to society.
E. Information
How information is input to and output from families is studied. Sorting and use of information are also studied.
F. Environment and Resources
Attempts are made to clarify various aspects and varied levels of environments that affect our lifestyle. How to create and maintain good environments is also an important item taken up in this area.
G. Life Science and Skills
A variety of household items and our dependence on them are studied from a scientific and sociological viewpoint.
H. Life and Industry
The industrial systems of production and distribution are studied with a view to clarifying how households are involved in terms of production and consumption.

Japan has continued to grow economically, and the high level of economic stability our country has maintained in recent years has contributed a great deal to improving our living conditions and raising our health standards. On the other hand, a number of social problems have cropped up. The divorce rate has gone up; the birth rate has continued to decline; juvenile delinquency has been on an increase; death from overwork has been taken up by mass media; and the aging society with its problems have long been discussed in all quarters, just to name a few. In the shadows of our consumer-oriented affluence are emerging a variety of environmental problems.

Family life is directly or indirectly connected with the performance of local community, national and international economy, and regional environmental problems. All of the strains and contradictions produced by society closely affect our family life. For example, many of the world-scale environmental problems often stem from the quality and quantity of garbage produced by households. Therefore, these problems should be viewed and studied from the family and individual point. In other words, we must assess our lifestyles, our society and our mother Earth in terms of life principles. This is how home economists have been working for the betterment of our life in the 2lst century.

The Japan Society of Home Economics was established in 1949 to help develop this field of study in this country by disseminating its members's research findings. The society steadily grew, and the Ministry of Education officially autho rized it as an incorporated association in 1982. In 1985 the society became a member of the Science Council of Japan. Apart from its representation in the Science Council of Japan, the society has been actively exchanging information with the other members of the council. The society has been taking part in various international activities, too, as a member of the Asian Regional Associations for Home Economics and the International Federation for Home Economics.

The society has its headquarters in Tokyo, and a total of 3,000 members are registered with its six chapters located nationwide. It is to be noted that each chapter is respectively conducting its independent researches.

Annual Meeting
The general assembly takes place once a year where research papers are presented, speeches are made by the annual award winners, special lectures are given, and symposia are held.

Lectures and Seminars
Scientific Lectures: are provided respectively for home economic researchers, researchers in the related fields, students and the general public.
Home Economics Courses: are offered for those interested in this field of study.

Awards
3 types of awards are presented at the general assembly to those researchers who have contributed to the progress and development of Home Economics.

Committees
Standing Committees: International Exchange Committee, Planning and PR Committee, Information Management Committee and Certification Committee.
Ad Hoc Committees: Research Committee for the Study Work of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
* Besides the above, there are 15 sub-committees on specific purposes.

Publications
Journal of Home Economics of Japan: 12 issues in a year. This publication contains research papers, general comments and reports on committee meetings.

The books and journals shown below are published for the development of Home Economics in Japan.

Application Procedure
Fill out the application form and send it to the Secretariat.

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Membership Fees
Regular Member:　\ 10,000
Student Member:　\ 4,000
Overseas Member: \ 12,000
Associate Member: 1 or more shares.　(\ 20,000 per share)

The Japan Society of Home Economics
2-1-15-502 Otsuka, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 112-0012, Japan
Tel: +81-3-3947-2627
Fax: +81-3-3947-5397
E-mail ： kasei-info@tokyo.email.ne.jp