Quite how the regulations are dealt with I don’t know, but starting work as a Japanese farmer appears to require one to be at the very least a septuagenarian, although ideally it would seem they’d still prefer someone a little more senior.
And yet despite their advanced years, these ageing agriculturalists have the mindboggling ability to bend down for periods of time so prolonged that afterwards someone more than half their age would seriously struggle to stand up — let alone straighten up.
MrSatyre says
To say nothing of their ability to fold themselves up alongside or under those outrageously low tables! I remember how excited I was on my first trip to Japan to eat in an authentic Japanese restaurant, and how quickly I thought I’d died and gone to hell! 😉
I’m 6’3″, by the way.
Lee says
Yeah, I know what you mean. The novelty very quickly wears off doesn’t it?
Linette says
My grandparents were farmers. Their parents were farmers from Japan and both generations have an unbelievable work ethic. I don’t know what they had to sacrifice to be that way, but I am assuming it was a lot. If they can survive the gruel, they will live much longer than their grandchildren and great grandchildren who can’t do half of what they did.
Lee says
Yes, I guess it’s that work ethic that keeps them working way past retirement age. And as they have no doubt done it their whole life, stopping must be almost be unthinkable.
I was in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture, last week and saw an old lady who parked her electric wheelchair by the side of the field and then proceeded to do a days work. Incredible really.
Linette says
My best guess is that the work, while difficult, becomes a communal activity and a social outlet. It’s something to look forward to – to keep them going and connected. For my family at least, any group work is done with a large amount of sweat and joy. Not unique to the Japanese, but as with many Japanese quirks they take it to the extreme.
tornadoes28 says
This is why I see so many older women here in Japan walking around bent over like question marks.
Lee says
Yeah, or quite possibly the double whammy of osteoporosis and a lifetime spent bending down…
Brett says
Yes. Having lived in countryside Japan for a year or so, I can testify that the majority of these old ladies are about 3 foot 2 when they get as close as they can to straightening up.
joey says
yo, i’m a european guy, 6 feet 3 and from what i can tell short people have like higher metabolism. they are simply more efficient. that’s what makes chinese people able to work 15 hours a day in factories. i couldn’t bear it, i just couldn’t. i hope i never will have to.
yo i visited japan once and i’d like to go back. but eating at a floor table is out of the question, my back would kill me you know.
joey says
but yeah i also wanted to point out that due to higher metabolism they can do stuff like that. so don’t be too impressed. it’s not that they are like super motivated and have a higher discipline, well maybe to some extent, but it’s mostly a physical thing. like kenyans being good runners. everyone has their own abilities. to each their own.