2. Respect for Old Age in Japan: Patterns, Origins, Fissures Monday, September 25, 2000

3. Papers due today §Please place your paper in the pile identified by your TA’s name (we will announce which pile is which) §Wednesday: topics distributed for the next paper (on Japan), due Oct 16 §Next week: guides to the “Deepen the Paper” topic

4. Yukio’s Story §77-year old man §retired 16 years ago §still working in toy store §widower §Enjoys: l high status l full integration into family l continuing to work

5. Today’s questions §What are some of the cultural roots of the strong respect for the elderly in Japan? §What specific patterns in the experience of elderly Japanese does Yukio’s story reveal? l receiving symbols of social honor and respect l living with adult children l working after retirement §What are some cracks in the picture?

6. Brief overview of Japan §Populous and dense l 126 million people §Prosperous l GNP of $6 trillion §Homogeneous l 99% Japanese §Aging l decline in birth and death rates since WWII l explosion of elderly population: 20% of current population

7. Origins: Where did the patterns come from? §ancestor worship l rooted in agrarian society §age hierarchy l also rooted in agrarian society §Confucianism l conservative philosophy to maintain social order l (if you’re interested, see Taki Lebra’s books)

8. Pattern 1: Symbols of respect §Governmental language of love and respect l 1963 National Law for the Welfare of Elders: “The elders shall be loved and respected as those who have for many years contributed toward the development of society” l Respect for Elder Day §Daily symbolic customs of privilege l gesture l home space l eating l celebrations

9. Pattern 2: Family integration §My experience with my mother §1980: 70% of elderly in Japan live with adult children §2000: 50% do; only 4% do so in the US §The benefits to the families

10. Pattern 3: The Elderly and Employment in Japan §Ages 65-69: 55% of Japanese continue to work; compared to 26% of Americans §Ages 70-74: 40% of Japanese continue to work; compared to 18% of Americans §Decline of labor force participation slower in Japan §Kinds of work §The importance of health as motive for Japanese to keep working (30% vs. 14% for Americans)

11. Fissures: Where are the Patterns Going? §Decline in elderly living with their adult children §Toshi’s complaint §The abandonment of the elderly §The modernization argument §More next time...