A former teammate dropped by to say hi and mentioned that it was his last day as a regular employee because he had reached the official retirement age in Japan, which is sixty. However, he isn’t retiring yet—he will remain with the company under a different employment status through the reemployment programs designed for people like him who wish to continue working. Essentially, they receive a salary reduction with fewer benefits but have the option to stay in their current role or move to a different position, sometimes with fewer responsibilities.

That got me thinking—sixty isn’t that far away, and this is something we might need to start considering soon. When the time comes, what will my options be?

Continue Working

The most obvious option is to continue working. If we’re still healthy and have the willpower, this will likely be our choice. Many people, including my mama, have said that it’s actually better to keep working as long as you can. It provides a sense of purpose, keeps both the body and mind active, and, of course, ensures a steady income.

As for the current practice in Japan, there’s typically a 30–50% decrease in salary, depending on the company and position. That could certainly reduce motivation to perform at the same level, so we’d either have to accept it or opt for a position with fewer responsibilities. Benefits would also decrease, but hopefully, by then, we wouldn’t need as much. We’ll still be paying off our mortgage, so we hope we can at least cover that, along with basic necessities such as food, utilities, and occasional travel.

Another option is to work for a different company in a completely new role. At the local McDonald’s, we often see retirees working there. We could also join a different organization or even contribute to our local community. In our neighborhood, we see retirees sweeping the side streets and managing the government bicycle parking area near the station. They still have a purpose, interact with many people, and likely earn a bit in addition to their government pension.

Move to a Cheaper Place in Japan

Another option is to relocate to a more affordable area in Japan. Tokyo is expensive, and if we were to rely on our pension or savings, we could stretch our money further by moving elsewhere. Selling our place in Tokyo could provide funds to buy or rent a more affordable home. Staying in Japan is appealing since we enjoy the lifestyle, convenience, and security here.

We’d prefer to avoid cold places with heavy snowfall, like Hokkaido, Nagano, or the Tohoku region. While they’re great for visiting, shoveling snow from the roof or driveway as retirees doesn’t sound ideal.

Kyushu and Okinawa are strong candidates. I’ve lived in Kagoshima before, so I’m familiar with life in Kyushu, and I believe it’s a great place to live or even retire. Okinawa is even warmer and likely more laid-back, with the added bonus of living near the beach.

Move Back to the Philippines

Returning to the Philippines is always an option, especially since both of us are Filipinos. We’d enjoy warm weather—maybe warmer than we’d prefer—but we’d also be close to family and old friends, which is a major advantage. We could either find a new place or stay at our ancestral homes, assuming we’re still welcome.

Having spent most of our adult lives in Japan, though, the transition would require some adjustment. We met here, got married here, and have lived our entire married life in Tokyo. Moving back would mean rediscovering how we adjust to being near our relatives, especially as retirees.

We would still receive our Japanese pension, but its value in the Philippines would depend on factors like the exchange rate and cost of living. Inflation in the Philippines is significantly higher than in Japan, so by the time we retire, the cost of living might be comparable—or even higher. If that happens, it may make more sense to spend our savings and pension in Japan instead.

Conclusion

We still have more than ten years before retirement, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned in life, it’s that nothing is permanent. A lot can change between now and the day we turn sixty. The good thing is that we have options. Hopefully, when the time comes, we’ll simply choose one and trust that it’s the right decision.

What about you? Have you thought about what life after sixty might look like?