This paper discusses demographic changes in Japan, the sources of pleasure of the retired Japanese senior citizen, and lifelong learning. It also describes a study that examined learning preferences of Japanese senior citizens. Data for 1983 show that life expectancy has increased in Japan to 74.20 years for males and 79.78 for females. The level of education of the total population is rising. Surveys have found that retired Japanese find pleasure in their families, friends, and work. However, it has also been found that as people become older, they want to learn and study for enrichment. With people living longer and needing lifelong education, education should not only include formal education but also the informal transmission of values, knowledge, and skills. When asked what they would like to learn most, senior citizens in one Japanese town expressed interest in religion and different kinds of arts. They showed little interest in practical kinds of topics; they were, however, interested in courses dealing with problems. In part because of their generally low level of formal education, the present generation of the aged are passive and prefer collective learning methods. They are also most likely to take subjects when they are influenced by others. This, however, can be expected to change with the predicted dramatic rise in the population's educational standard. (RM)