The first person I meet on my way to work is an old person - "old" in Japan means he/she must be around 80. She is a sprightly woman who greets me with a smile that would make one's day. My Nihonggo level is of a 4 year-old (minus the drooling), and I try to keep up with her, in addition to having to speak louder if she's not wearing her hearing aid. We usually meet in the elevator on our way down, so any neighbor who might have missed the car must have seen us through the window, as me shouting down a poor old lady. Kyou wa ii tenki desu ne?... EH?!...KYOU WA, II TENKI DESU NE?! ... SOOO DESU NE!
By next month, the number of centenarians in Japan will be at around 30,000. In 50 years, the total population will be at 90 million, a 30% drop from the current population! Japanese might be listed on the endangered species list in 100 years unless the birthrate improves to a sustainable level; or the government may open the floodgates to thousands of Pinays and Pinoys who are expert at breeding.
BRING 'EM ON!
I saw a TV program about old people and how are they coping here as services and institutions here are in dire need of an overhaul. It has been reported that the current national health insurance and pension systems were developed to meet post-war issues. That is why all the worms are coming out of the woodwork and giving a lot of people a hard time, especially retirees.
Anyway, back to the TV program, there's this couple living by themselves, the husband is 91 and the wife 84 and bedridden. It is amazing to see them live their life together, the stronger caring for the weak. Perhaps a caregiver drops by periodically but most of the time they are by themselves. Factor in the harsh weather conditions like wintertime and one can imagine how challenging life is for them.
There are so many stories about old people here, some are truly amazing like 90 year olds skiing down some mountain in the Swiss alps or a grandma still hangliding at an age where you'd think more of hot water bottles and creaking bones.
This morning, I missed "obaachan" but I saw a big group of old people in shining white uniform, getting ready for their game of gateball. What a great way to enjoy life, with your peers!
Living here in Japan is changing my way of perceiving life at an old age.
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