Yua's blog

 The elections have begun, and NHK reports that an initiative called “Election Wari” is underway to coincide with the House of Councillors elections. This is a system whereby people can get discounts and services at stores by showing their “Voted Certificate,” etc., which they receive after voting. 2500 stores are participating in this system. With low voter turnout among young people becoming an issue, it is hoped that these efforts will encourage active voting. Election quotas are a very good initiative for increasing youth voter turnout. Even those who have not been very interested in voting in the past will be motivated to go to the polls because of the benefit of the discount. However, please do not cast a half-hearted vote for the sake of a discount. You must carefully consider how much influence your vote will have and vote accordingly. I hope that this “Election Discount” will encourage more people to take an interest in elections in order to improve Japan as a citizen of J...

  Even though Japan’s retirement age is officially being extended to 65, some people still consider retiring at 60. However, early retirement may lead to a decrease in retirement benefits, especially if it’s considered a voluntary resignation. According to government data, the average retirement payment is much lower for voluntary resignations than for official retirement. For those retiring at 60, one of the biggest concerns is how to afford living expenses until they begin receiving pensions at 65. On average, a household with two people in their 60s spends about ¥310,000 per month. Over five years, this adds up to nearly ¥18.7 million. Even if someone receives the full retirement package of around ¥18.9 million, most of it will be used for daily living. After 65, the average monthly pension is about ¥232,000. Since average expenses are around ¥287,000, there is still a monthly shortfall of over ¥50,000. Having savings of ¥20 million may allow a couple to live until about age...

Yayoi Kotsu Co., Ltd., a part of the km Group, has implemented a senior-friendly working environment by setting the retirement age at 65 and removing age limits for reemployment. The company offers flexible start and end times based on individual needs. Salaries are fixed, with performance-based bonuses. Their evaluation system considers multiple factors beyond sales performance, allowing for increases or decreases in bonuses. This same system applies after retirement, and wages are not reduced simply due to aging. However, after age 70, employment contracts become shorter, and health checks are strictly enforced. I think this company is doing a great job helping older people work longer with peace of mind. It’s nice that their salary doesn’t go down just because of age, and they’re evaluated on more than just sales. The regular health checks also make it feel safe. I hope more companies in Japan follow this example, especially as the population gets older.