Community care systems for the mentally ill in Japan: can we switch hospital-based care to community based one?

Many Western countries have tried to reduce the number of psychiatric beds by providing effective rehabilitation and care in the community. Many Far East countries have had many fewer psychiatric beds than they have in Japan. Community care in these countries seems to complement the shortage of beds. Compared with other countries, Japan is unique in that they try to develop community care for the mentally ill without a deinstitutionalization policy.