Abstract

Even at the age of 87, Michiko continues to live alone in the old housing complex where she has lived for over 50 years. ``I want to spend my last days in a room that I have spent many years making comfortable.'' To that end, she pay close attention to my health and do radio exercises every morning from 6am. Breakfast is a nutritious smoothie containing protein, okara, and flaxseed oil. Even if the food is simple, enjoy it by serving it in your favorite bowl. Decorate your window with flowers you picked while walking. Reading, sewing, watching movies...she have many hobbies that she can do on my own. It can't be helped that as we get older, there are more things we can't do. Let's do our best and have fun. Such a positive attitude has been a big hit on her grandson's YouTube video, "Earth Grandma Channel." The number of registered users quickly reached 60,000. Michiko, who says, ``I'm the happiest right now,'' reveals the secret to her way of life. A hopeful guide to "retirement alone."

Author’s Information

Michiko Tara
Born in 1934 in Nagasaki Prefecture. She experienced war when she was in elementary school, and attended a mission school after the war ended. Because she had a large family, she dreamed of living alone, and after graduating from high school, she found a job in Osaka. When she was 27 years old married a man 9 years older than her, with whom she had a 10-year-old daughter. 55 years ago, they moved to their current housing complex in Kanagawa Prefecture. She left her husband seven years ago and has been living alone ever since. Obtained a chef's license at the age of 65 and enjoys making simple and delicious dishes. In 2020, her grandson, who was in junior high school at the time, took a video of this daily life and uploaded it to YouTube as "Earth Grandma's Call." It quickly became a popular channel, with over 60,000 subscribers.