Keep Shining: A Valuable Lesson from Erderly Citizen in Japan

The Indonesian version of the article was published on the official page of the Japanese Consulate General in Denpasar in the Japanese Konnichiwa section https://www.denpasar.id.emb-japan.go.jp/indonesia/konnichiwa%2012/konnichiwa12_11.html

When we hear the word elderly, what comes to our mind? May be old people who are unproductive and unable to participate in society. However, this does not apply to the elderly in Japan because so many elderly people remain enthusiastic and do useful things in their old age.

Based on the classification of the population of Japan according to age group, elderly or "koureisha" are people over 65 years old. From year to year, the elderly population in Japan continues to increase. This phenomenon is known as "koureika shakai", which is the condition of a society that has an increasing percentage of the elderly population. This condition of the population can certainly cause various kinds of problems. However, the elderly in Japan do not seem to want to be a burden to anyone. In their old age, many of them are still trying to be useful and beneficial to society.

The spirit of the elderly in Japan to always do positive things is very inspiring. One thing that so impressed me was that so many elderly people in Japan filled their day by volunteering. I began to realize this when I met a volunteer who was willing to become a partner to practice Japanese conversation for prospective caregivers from Indonesia who were studying Japanese at the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai.  When I visited the Edo-Tokyo Museum, the guide who guided us around the museum was also an elderly person who volunteered.

Another lesson that I can learn from the elderly in Japan is that their enthusiasm for learning remains high even though they are no longer young. I am very amazed to see that in their old age they are still eager to attend various courses, such as flower arrangement, even gamelan courses. This is certainly our example that we must study throughout life. Seeing the elderly in Japan I also believe that old age is not an obstacle to keep shining