November 3, 2025
Grindset vs grand-set
Working Past 100? In Japan, Some People Never Quit
Grandpa’s still clocking in: wholesome passion or grindset gone wild
TLDR: Japan profiled five centenarians who never retired, crediting diet, health care, family, and meaningful work for their longevity. Commenters split: passion-driven crafts got love, while corporate “work forever” culture got roasted as greed and burnout bait—underscoring real questions about aging, identity, and dignity at work.
Japan has around 100,000 people over 100, and a handful say the secret isn’t just fish, steps, and family—it’s work. The profile of five centenarians who never retired sparked a comment-section cage match. One camp swooned over purpose-filled crafts and self-paced gigs, calling lifelong work a joy that keeps the mind and body moving. The other camp? They went full anti-hustle, dragging corporate culture for turning “longevity” into a marketing pitch. Cue the line that lit the thread on fire: “Working for others in a corporate environment is hell and will kill you,” snapped one commenter.
An outrageous anecdote poured gasoline on the debate: a tireless 84-year-old ex-executive who “never got sick,” barely vacationed, and cashed out for millions—then got labeled “the greediest man” by an observer. Is working at 100 noble purpose or just capitalism in cosplay? The mood swung between admiration for elders with identity-defining crafts and side-eye at bosses who never log off. Some cheered Japan’s affordable health care and strong family ties; others noted those safety nets—and the country’s aging crisis—make this story more complicated than “just work forever.” A drive-by link drop fueled the “source or it didn’t happen” crowd. Meme of the day: “Live to 100? Simple—never retire, never die.”
Key Points
- •Japan has about 100,000 centenarians, the highest number globally and per capita.
- •Japan faces demographic challenges from a record-low birthrate and an aging population.
- •The article profiles five centenarians in Japan who have never retired.
- •These individuals credit longevity to diet, affordable health care, exercise, family support, and continued work.
- •Photography for the feature is by Chang W. Lee of The New York Times, based in Seoul.