The paper compares the American culture in the 21st century with Japanese culture in terms of responding to the elderly and aging process. It highlights the differences in cultural beliefs towards aging, with Americans viewing it as a problem to be solved and Japanese people considering it a relax time. The paper also discusses the demographic data showing that Japan is aging faster than America, but with a different perception of aging. Additionally, it touches on the importance of social interaction in Japanese culture compared to American independence.