The third Monday in September in Japan is a public holiday known as Respect for the Aged Day. It seems that holiday will only become more and more important as the population continues to age at a rapid rate, with the government employing various strategies to account for the worker shortage such as encouraging the older generations to re-enter the work force. Revised legislation that came into effect in April 2021 allows companies to abolish their previous mandatory retirement age (a typical feature of Japanese worker contracts; it’s typically set at or around 60 years old), raise the age of retirement to 70, and/or introduce a subcontracting system for those up to 70 so they can remain working.
In fact, this year’s latest government report reveals that the number of Japanese people aged 65 and up who are working is now at its highest number ever, with 9.27 million people–making up 13.4 percent of the labor force aged 15 and up–employed throughout the country. That percentage is double what it was when the traditional working-age population, considered to be ages 15-64, peaked in 1995.
Despite the drastic government measures to combat the aging society, it seems there are some seniors who embrace their working role long past the typical retirement age. This sentiment is no more apparent than in 90-year-old McDonald’s employee Tamiko Honda, who cheerfully shares that working is the key to her health and her biggest hobby now that she’s a bit hard of hearing and has cataracts that make her longtime hobby of sewing difficult. Many of her friends have already passed away or are battling dementia, which makes work a welcome distraction as well.
Tamiko was born in 1933 in Uki City, Kumamoto Prefecture. Her youth was shadowed by World War II, which ended when she was 12 years old. She was employed as nursing staff at a hospital in Kumamoto City for the majority of her career until she reached the mandatory retirement age of 61 in that role. However, she then began working as cleaning staff at a local university until she was 67, once again meeting the mandatory retirement age for that position. Still bitten by the desire to actively work, in 2000, she applied for a position at McDonald’s after hearing about it from her only daughter, who noted that there were no age restrictions. Sadly, this daughter passed away from cancer 12 years ago at the age of 58. Tamiko always makes sure to say “I’m off” to her daughter in a photo before leaving for work.
▼ Tamiko shares that she’ll aim to keep working until she’s 100 years old.
These days, Tamiko commutes 20 minutes by bus from her home in the city’s Nishi Ward to the McDonald’s location in Kumamoto City’s Shimotori shopping arcade. She works five days per week, excluding Sundays and Wednesdays, beginning her three-hour shift at 7:30 a.m. by sweeping the interior and storefront of the restaurant. Called “Tamiko-san” or “Tami-chan” by her coworkers, she works hard, has an infectious smile beloved by everyone, and enjoys coffee breaks and sharing her homemade pickled Japanese leeks with younger coworkers. She has a strong appreciation for the convenience of food today, noting how people can order anything at the touch of a button–a far cry from the scarcity of food in the postwar years, when sweet potatoes and taro were the staples of her diet. The 51-year-old store manager of the Shimotori branch, who’s of the same generation as Tamiko’s grandchildren, shares, “I can relax when I hear Tamiko’s ‘good morning’ at the start of the day. She gives everyone around her energy and comfort. She’s a stable and indispensable presence in our store.”
According to McDonald’s Japan, while Tamiko is the oldest female worker at one of the country’s approximately 3,000 restaurant locations, she isn’t even the oldest worker. That distinction goes to a 95-year-old man who works at a branch in Toyama Prefecture. However, he hasn’t been employed by the fast food chain for as long as Tamiko’s 23 years. With the highest number of Japanese seniors than ever before continuing to hold a job, we will likely spot more and more workers like Tamiko in the years to come.
Source: Livedoor News
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- The number of elderly people in Japan this year has yet again smashed multiple records
-- Japan’s population of people over 100 surpasses 90,000 for first time
-- Aichi Police: Surrender your driver’s license and get up to $1 off at McDonald’s!
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2023/09/28/meet-the-the-90-year-old-japanese-woman-who-is-mcdonalds-japans-oldest-female-employee/
26 Comments
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SDCA
This is both inspiring and depressing at the same time. Inspiring because you're never too old to do something, and you have places that will employ you if you want to work and keep yourself in shape. But the depressing part is that I don't see many places like McDonald's or other businesses employing seniors by the time I need to retire due to those jobs being easily replaceable by automation. If for some reason I have failed to save enough money for retirement without relying on my garbage pension, what would be available to me? Do I have to continue working to survive? Could I continue to work as a hobby to help keep myself occupied and in shape? Do I have the option to not work and still manage to survive? Would I be able to travel the world with the money I have? Many uncertainties about the future... I want to stay optimistic but it is getting harder year after year.
Chabbawanga
I dont think 'embrace' is the right word. For many elderly on a fixed income, they either continue to work, or they will die from starvation. Get used to it, because it is only going to get worse.
Harry_Gatto
The third Monday in September in Japan is a public holiday......
Moderator: Thanks for spotting that. It has been corrected.
Redemption
This is the future folks! Inflation reduces pension costs for the government which keeps raising taxes. At least she is healthy enough to work.
Three goals
Nothing wrong working to an old age if you enjoy it, but working to a late age to make ends a meet is no good. A lot of pensioners in Japan do extra work so to help make ends meet I noticed. By the looks of things a lot of people throughout the workd will have to keep working to a late age with the ever increasing cost of living. My advice is to get some investments going. Fortunately for me I invested in real estate in the 90s.
Aly Rustom
It's not just the pension system either. The justice system, divorce laws, gender and racial discrimination...
take your pick. There's ALOT that needs fixing here.
yipyip
McDonald's has pizza?
Redemption
And she probably gets a free or discounted meal when she finishes her shift. I see her reaching 100.
opheliajadefeldt
What a lovely story, but sad in other ways. This lovely lady should be relaxing and enjoying retirement after a long working life. She has made her contribution to society, and but for a dismal pension she has to carry on.
kintsugi
It's probably what keeps her alive and gives some purpose.
Rakuraku
Indeed, I would advise young people to think twice before deciding to stay in Japan for the long term unless they can have very well-paid jobs and save massively because otherwise spending your retirement years with a 150,000 to 200,000 monthly pension is not going to be much fun.
Daniel Neagari
I do not appreciate you "....civilized countries...". Tell me what cotries are "uncivilized"??
gcFd1
Why is there a KFC bucket in the picture?
purple_depressed_bacon
Is this really something to brag about? The poor woman is 90. I get wanting to keep your mind sharp and your body active but this is not the way to go. She should be enjoying her life, indulging in hobbies and interests, and spending time with family and friends.
CuteUsagi
I wonder why no cataract operation. Fast, painless and inexpensive here.
By the way, is the picture filled with other junk food items besides McD's?
CuteUsagi
Kentucky fried chicken bucket, pizza, and a red bull. Has McD's gone global?
wallace
The photo with the KFC bucket is not related to the article and is from Feb. 2023 and includes cans of beer which McDonald's does not sell.
Elvis is here
Looks like a juice pack to me.
Elvis is here
Indeed. The Japanese term is 生き甲斐. Google search reveals:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai
Shigeo Shichijo
I guess for the western people she looks as a poor old women that needs to keep on working forever for her living. Can't simply see her as a person who we should respect. We Japanese tend to work not only for money but rather to feel the joy of being the part of the society, contributing to the world through our jobs. I think that 99% of Japanese who read this article will think this 90 year old women is having a happy, wonderful life. As most 90 year old will just stay at home having nothing to do. And in Japan working in McDonald's isn't thought to be as a shame like in the US. There is no word like McJob. Anykind of job is thought to be equal. Anyway I was surprised to see so many negative posts here and thought the idea of working of Japanese maybe very unique from the rest of the world.
Three goals
We have no information on her financial situation. I see a lot of Japanese pensioners smiling, happy seemingly but they are struggling to make ends meet. Nothing wrong with working to a late age if you enjoy it, but if it is to help live that is no good. People should be living comfortably if they've worked long years. They've paid their taxes.
Not unique. There are people in western countries who like working and want to keep working to a late age.
Three goals
Your're stereotyping here. There are a number of active, living live to the fullest 90 year olds. My late grandfather was very active til his late age. Music, oil painting, involved with various social clubs.