Monday September 17
Today’s TV shows are full of stories about genki oldies, as
we celebrate “Keiro no Hi” or “Respect for the aged day”, with a public
holiday. This week is also known as “silver week” –
since we have 2 public holidays, so it’s like a mini Golden Week
(unfortunately, the other holiday, Shuubun no Hi or Autumnal Equinox, is on
Saturday). Silver is also the nice way to refer to seniors here, so we have the "silver" seats on trains and buses.
On Saturday, we had various local do-gooders come to the
house with gifts, and even cash for my MIL, who turned 75 this year. We had no
idea, but apparently, you get special presents at 75! Actually the traditional
auspicious birthdays are 60, “kanreki”, when you’ve completed the full cycle of
the Chinese zodiac system. You wear red for good luck (babies also wear red, so
it’s like you’re born again). If you visit Sugamo, the “Harajuku for oldies” in
Northern Tokyo, you’ll find shops selling big, bright red pants and vests. 70
“koki”, has the kanji for rare, as it used to be rare to live that long; 77
“kiju” means joy, 88 “beiju” is like rice, or wealth. My MIL’s older sister is
very genki, which she attributes to lots of green tea, swimming once a week,
and playing mahjong (and she never turns down a drink).
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| Get your red pants here! |
Old guys, or “ojisan” are looked at kind of fondly. Any man
over 40 can be considered an ojisan, though the stylish ones are called “kakkoi
oyaji”, or cool old dude. They read magazines like Oceans and Leon, and often
mimic Italian style, with big, flicky hair, sun tans and loafers without socks.
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| For cool "old" guys |
My favourite ojisan are the camera enthusiasts who turn up to every festival
dressed for a 3 – day hike or a tour of a war zone: backpacks, multi-pocket
vests with webbing, canvas sunhats, packed lunch, green tea in an insulated
pouch, etc. Illustrator Rumi Nakamura spent the last 5 years observing and
interviewing “old guys” and has produced “Ojisan Zukan”, an illustrated
encyclopaedia of old blokes. It’s got all the archetypes, from sad ones who
sleep on the train, guys who drink canned whisky highball in front of the
station, arty guys with colourful shirts, and so on. Give it to your Dad next
Father’s Day!
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| Arty old guys |
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| Slightly rough, 'run down'? old guys |
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| There's also a cool sticker set! |
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