Social inclusion represents one of the fundamental challenges faced by ageing societies like Japan and Germany. Social inclusion can improve the health conditions of the elderly and also offers seniors the opportunity to actively contribute to society through taking up work or through civic engagement. In many cases neighbourhoods and local communities offer opportunities for social interaction and civic engagement, and they often organize voluntary support schemes for elderly citizens in need of care. The Japanese-German conference Inclusion of elderly citizens in German and Japanese Communities: civic engagement and the COVID pandemic discusses how German and Japanese communities achieve the social inclusion of elderly citizens and the role of civic engagement by and for elderly citizens. It will also address the impact of the pandemic on the living conditions of elderly citizens in Germany and Japan. The conference takes place on Chuo University’s Korakuen Campus on November 10, 2022.