The establishment of businesses providing properties with care services was encouraged by national policies in Southeast Asian countries starting around 2007, anticipating a positive economic impact. This national strategy was expanded between Japan and Southeast Asia, targeting Japanese pensioners seeking affordable social care and an alternative retirement lifestyle, acknowledged as an emerging ‘retirement industry’ (Toyota & Xiang, 2012).

However, the reality appears to deviate from the government’s expectations. According to the author’s recent previous research in Thailand, it is suggested that Japanese pensioners residing in Thailand face marginalization concerning social care, including the retirement care industry.

In relation to the purpose, this project set up the following main research question, ‘Can retirement industry of care be the preferred social care for transnational retirement migrants?’ to analyze such a purpose in this project.