Multigenerational living trends

Some commemorative days in Japan highlight how families live and support one another, and Two‑Generation Housing Day 二世帯住宅の日 on February 10th is one of those quietly meaningful anniversaries. The date comes from the wordplay “二（2）世帯住（10）宅.” 

The anniversary was established in 2015 by Asahi Kasei Homes, the company behind the well‑known Hebel Haus brand. They coined the term “二世帯住宅” "nisetai jutaku" meaning a two or multi-generational home, back in 1975. They launched the term in conjuction with their first two‑generation home. The idea became increasingly popular. It allowed families to live under one roof, but while still being able to have privacy and autonomy.

A well‑designed two‑generation home isn’t just about sharing a roof — it’s about balancing independence and togetherness. The key is creating clear zones for each household while still making it easy to cooperate on childcare, housework, or daily routines. When I first came to Japan it was very uncommon for two generations of the same family to live together in my home country. Ironically, as much as Japan has seen a slow, long downward trend of multi-generational living, my home country now is now seeing a slow but steady rising trend.