An elderly man visits a shrine in the Sugamo district of Tokyo. Japan ages faster than any other developed society, with 23 per cent of its population 65 or older. One such individual is Hirofumi Mishima, below right, who like many of his ilk, is still in the workforce for money, health or seeking new friends. Photos: BloombergAn elderly man visits a shrine in the Sugamo district of Tokyo. Japan ages faster than any other developed society, with 23 per cent of its population 65 or older. One such individual is Hirofumi Mishima, below right, who like many of his ilk, is still in the workforce for money, health or seeking new friends. Photos: Bloomberg
An elderly man visits a shrine in the Sugamo district of Tokyo. Japan ages faster than any other developed society, with 23 per cent of its population 65 or older. One such individual is Hirofumi Mishima, below right, who like many of his ilk, is still in the workforce for money, health or seeking new friends. Photos: Bloomberg
Magazines /  Money

Retirement is for wimps

Japan's willing elderly workers are defusing the country's pension time bomb, writes Kanoko Matsuyama

BLOOM

Updated: 5:06pm, 18 Sep, 2012

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An elderly man visits a shrine in the Sugamo district of Tokyo. Japan ages faster than any other developed society, with 23 per cent of its population 65 or older. One such individual is Hirofumi Mishima, below right, who like many of his ilk, is still in the workforce for money, health or seeking new friends. Photos: BloombergAn elderly man visits a shrine in the Sugamo district of Tokyo. Japan ages faster than any other developed society, with 23 per cent of its population 65 or older. One such individual is Hirofumi Mishima, below right, who like many of his ilk, is still in the workforce for money, health or seeking new friends. Photos: Bloomberg
An elderly man visits a shrine in the Sugamo district of Tokyo. Japan ages faster than any other developed society, with 23 per cent of its population 65 or older. One such individual is Hirofumi Mishima, below right, who like many of his ilk, is still in the workforce for money, health or seeking new friends. Photos: Bloomberg
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