TBV Dan Zoku: Who wants to live forever?

Japan has the second largest economy on earth and is home to some of the greatest and most successful multinationals. It is also home to the largest aging population, with a recent study suggesting that by 2020 one in every 15 people will be over 100. With an extremely low birthrate – 0.13 children per woman – the situation is unlikely to change.

At present most Japanese still retire in their early sixties and as such the workforce is fast dwindling. Does this mean that the sun is setting on the land of the rising sun? Hiroyuki Hatuzuma the Minister for Old People Affairs in Hatoyama’s government says, ‘No!’

At a press conference last week he outlined the government’s Un-Retire Japan (URJ) program. The program will come into full affect in the second quarter of 2011, and will make it mandatory for all retired people under the age of 110 to return to work. ‘Old people are very resilient’ he said. ‘Only last month my 96 year old grandmother was thrown off her horse into an aluminium drum. The next morning she was sweeping the kitchen.’

‘There seems to be this idea that old people can’t do anything. But I see them every day, walking about on the streets, doing their shopping, having nice chit chats with their friends. Meanwhile the economy is in the red! Have they no sense of patriotism?’

Of course his plan has met with strong opposition. Midori Okasaki of the Old People’s Front (OPF) says she is outraged. ‘Many of the elderly in Japan suffer from a variety of ailments. Just look down the street and you will see that half the people are hunched over from the hips!’

But Hatuzuma does not see this as a problem. ‘We can have them straightened out’ he says. ‘We have various mechanical devices. And what’s more, I don’t see why you need to have perfect posture to answer a telephone or send an email.’

To prepare for the complete reintegration of the elderly will take some time and as such the pre-program begins next week. The elderly will be divided into categories based on their age and previous work experience. ‘Of course there are those who say “a 90 year old can’t do a 20-year-old’s job”. I disagree. If the old people do regular exercise, eat a balanced diet, and get enough sleep, they can be as productive as anyone.’

When asked what would happen if they refused to cooperate, he simply said, ‘They won’t.’

Pieter Blanchard, an Oxford based economist has said ‘Of course this plan is controversial. But it is not without merit. Europe also has an aging population and I can assure you that the EU will be watching Japan very closely over the next decade. If the Hatoyama government’s policies are a success, don’t be surprised if grandpa John or Svend or Jean-Pierre get a call from the office. The days of saying, “I’m 60. I’ve done my bit, now let me kick back and live off my grandchildren’s labor” are over. The elderly need to stop taking advantage!’

No doubt this is a frightening thought for many old people who have grown accustomed to taking it easy. But, with the world economy in the red, and with the average life expectancy on the constant rise, it seems there is no time like the present to get back to work!