I'm 50 years old Japanese man and am really worried about my future. What should I do?

Askjapan

2 May 202415:47

Summary

TLDRA 50-year-old Japanese office worker shares his concerns about the future, burdened with a 28-year home loan that will last until he is 78, and the responsibility of caring for his young children and elderly parents. Despite being in good health, he feels stuck in his current job with no prospects for promotion and limited career change options. He seeks advice on how to navigate the next decade, expressing worries about his financial situation and the well-being of his family.

Takeaways

🙍‍♂️ The speaker is a 50-year-old Japanese office worker who feels worried about his future.
🏡 He has a 28-year home loan that will be paid off when he is 78, which is a significant concern for him.
👨‍👧‍👦 The speaker has a young family; his oldest son is in elementary school and his youngest daughter is only four years old.
👴 He also has an 81-year-old mother who lives in a care center due to mental health issues.
👪 The speaker and his brother are responsible for their mother's care, and he also has in-laws to consider for future care.
💼 He has been working at his current company for 10 years and does not see any prospects for promotion.
🔄 Despite being content with his job, he feels stuck and lacks hope for career advancement.
👨‍💼 He does not aspire to be a top leader in his company and is comfortable with his current position.
📉 The speaker feels that at 50, job opportunities are limited, especially for someone not in a high managerial position.
💼 He has experience in sales and marketing and is not interested in returning to sales.
🚫 He does not see any good opportunities for career change or advancement at his age with his current experience.

Q & A

How old is the speaker and what is their current occupation?
-The speaker is 50 years old and is a typical Japanese office worker.
What is the speaker's primary concern regarding their future?
-The speaker's primary concern is the financial burden of their home loan, which will not be finished until they are 78 years old.
How many years do they have left to pay on their home loan?
-They have 28 years left to pay on their home loan.
What is the age of the speaker's oldest and youngest children?
-The speaker's oldest child is 8 years old, and their youngest child is 4 years old.
How does the speaker feel about their age compared to other parents at their children's school events?
-The speaker feels significantly older than most other parents, as they are 50 years old and do not see any fathers of a similar age at their children's school events.
What is the speaker's current health status?
-The speaker is in good health, both physically and mentally, with no mention of suffering from mental illness or depression.
What is the age and situation of the speaker's mother?
-The speaker's mother is 81 years old and has been living in a Care Center for about five years due to mental health issues.
What is the speaker's relationship with their in-laws?
-The speaker's in-laws, including their father-in-law who recently retired, live about 3 hours away by car and are in good health, but the speaker and their wife will need to take care of them in the future.
How long has the speaker been working at their current company?
-The speaker has been working at their current company for 10 years.
What are the speaker's thoughts on their career progression at their current company?
-The speaker does not see any hope for promotion at their current company due to their position and the company's environment.
What is the speaker's view on changing their job or career?
-The speaker does not have any other companies they wish to work for at the moment and feels that they do not have good opportunities for a better position than their current one.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Concerns of a 50-Year-Old Japanese Office Worker

The speaker, a 50-year-old Japanese office worker, expresses his worries about the future. He mentions being a typical middle-aged man in Japan, facing a 28-year home loan that will conclude when he is 78. He also has young children, with his oldest son being only 8 years old and his daughter just 4, which adds to his concerns. The speaker feels out of place as an older father at his daughter's kindergarten entrance ceremony, where most fathers appear to be in their 30s or early 40s.

05:00

👨‍👧‍👦 Responsibility Towards Family and Aging Parents

The speaker discusses his responsibilities towards his young children and his elderly mother. He explains that he and his brother decided to place their 81-year-old mother in a care home due to her mental health issues, which have improved since. He also mentions his in-laws, who live in the countryside and are still healthy but may require care in the future. The speaker acknowledges the importance of monitoring their health and being prepared for any changes in their condition.

10:03

🔄 Stagnation in Career and Limited Job Prospects

The speaker reflects on his career at his current company, where he has worked for 10 years without the prospect of promotion. He does not aspire to top leadership positions but acknowledges the lack of hope for career advancement. Despite being content with his job, he sees no future in his current role and feels that changing jobs at his age with his experience in marketing and sales may not yield better opportunities. He expresses a sense of being stuck without any promising career options.

15:03

💭 Seeking Advice for an Uncertain Future

In the final paragraph, the speaker summarizes his concerns about the future, which include his long-term financial commitments, the well-being of his family, and his stagnant career. He admits that he does not see a bright future in the next 10 years and is seeking advice or ideas on how to navigate these challenges. The speaker is open to suggestions that could help him improve his situation or find a new direction in life.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Future

Future in this context refers to the narrator's concerns and uncertainty about what lies ahead in his life. It's a central theme of the video as the speaker expresses his worries about his career, financial situation, and family responsibilities. For instance, he mentions not seeing a 'bright future in the next 10 years' and seeks advice on what he should do next.

💡Japanese Office Worker

The term 'Japanese Office Worker' is used to describe the narrator's identity and occupation. It sets the stage for understanding his societal role and the cultural context in which he operates. The video mentions that he is a 'typical Japanese office worker,' implying a common lifestyle and possibly shared challenges within Japanese corporate culture.

💡Home Loan

Home Loan is a significant financial commitment that the narrator discusses. It's directly related to his concerns about the future as he has '28 years more' to pay off his mortgage, which will continue until he is 78 years old. This financial burden is a key aspect of his worries and the decisions he has to make.

💡Aging Society

Aging Society refers to the demographic trend where the elderly population is increasing. The narrator mentions that in Japan, the average median age is around 50, indicating an aging society. This is relevant as it affects the narrator's perspective on his age, career progression, and societal expectations.

💡Children

Children are a central concern for the narrator, as he has a young son and daughter. His son is in elementary school, and his daughter is just starting her school life. The age gap between the narrator and his children, as well as the responsibility of raising and supporting them, adds to his worries about the future.

💡Care Home

Care Home is mentioned in the context of the narrator's mother, who is living in a care facility due to her mental health issues. This term is important as it highlights another responsibility and concern for the narrator, who, along with his brother, has to ensure his mother's well-being.

💡Career

Career is a recurring theme in the video, with the narrator reflecting on his professional life and the lack of advancement opportunities. He has been working at his current company for 10 years and feels there is no hope for promotion, which contributes to his overall sense of uncertainty and lack of fulfillment.

💡Marketing

Marketing is the specific field within the narrator's career. He has experience in both sales and marketing, with a total of 13 years in marketing. His professional background in marketing is significant as it influences his job prospects and the potential for career change.

💡Mental Health

Mental Health is discussed in relation to the narrator's mother, who suffered from depression. The term is important as it underscores the emotional and psychological challenges faced by the family, adding another layer to the narrator's concerns.

💡Responsibility

Responsibility is a key concept that permeates the video. The narrator feels responsible for his children, his mother in the care home, and potentially his in-laws. These responsibilities weigh on him and are a significant factor in his contemplation of the future.

💡Job Opportunities

Job Opportunities are a concern for the narrator as he considers his career prospects at the age of 50. He feels that there are limited opportunities for him to advance or change his career path, which contributes to his overall sense of being stuck and uncertain about his future.

Highlights

The speaker is a 50-year-old Japanese office worker expressing concerns about his future.

Japanese society is described as an aging society with an average middle age of 50.

The speaker has 28 years remaining on his home loan, which will finish when he is 78.

His children are very young, with his oldest son being in elementary school and his youngest daughter just starting nursery school.

The speaker feels out of place being much older than other parents at his daughter's kindergarten.

His wife is 8 years younger, and he mentions that she is okay.

The speaker's mother is 81 and living in a care center due to mental health issues.

His brother is primarily responsible for their mother's care.

The speaker's in-laws are in their late 60s and early 70s and may soon require care.

The speaker has been working at his current company for 10 years with no hope for promotion.

He does not aspire to become a top leader in his company.

The speaker is content with his current job but sees no future or opportunities for advancement.

He has experience in sales and marketing but does not see good job opportunities at his age.

The speaker is open to advice and ideas for his future.

He emphasizes that he is not complaining about his job but is concerned about his future prospects.

The speaker's concerns revolve around his family's future, his career, and the health of his parents.