As Asian societies age, ‘retirement’ just means more work

3 comments

1. An interesting article from the NYT:

   “All Yoshihito Oonami wants to do is retire and give his worn body a rest.
   Instead, every morning at 1:30, Oonami, 73, wakes up and drives an hour to a fresh-produce market on an islet in Tokyo Bay. While loading mushrooms, ginger root, sweet potatoes, radishes and other vegetables into his car, he frequently lifts boxes that weigh more than 15 pounds, straining his back. He then drives across Japan’s capital city, making restaurant deliveries up to 10 times a day.
   “As long as my body lets me, I need to keep working,” Oonami said on a recent morning, checking off orders on a clipboard as he walked briskly through the market.
   With populations across East Asia declining and fewer young people entering the workforce, workers such as Oonami increasingly are toiling well into their 70s and beyond. Companies desperately need them, and the older employees desperately need the work. Early-retirement ages have bloated the pension rolls, making it difficult for governments in Asia to pay retirees enough money each month to live on.”

   https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/07/world/asia/japan-workers-retirement.html

2. This is very a very interesting read, thank you.

   When my fiancé worked in a small town in Japan, he noted that many people (mostly men) kept on working wayyy past their retirement age (sometimes into late 80s) because they were often pressured by their management to do so. They were constantly told that there are no younger workers to replace them and that it is their duty to keep on working.

   In Tokyo recently, I have come across an elderly construction worker (the person that stands in a vest in front of the construction and directs traffic) that was slumped on the ground sleeping. I wanted to call an ambulance but my Japanese friend said that this was completely normal and not to worry. The man looked like he was in his 80s and the whole situation left me quite shaken.

   Where I am from, retirement age is strictly adhered to unless people have a severe financial need. But of course, different culture etc

3. I’m always amazed when I go see my PIL in Yokohama at the number of elderly still working. Especially outside in the cold all day, doing the most menial tasks. And then I think this will probably happen to me too.