On the Water Shed of Becoming Old

Talking about aging among a group of elderly Japanese retirees

Abstract

Abstract

This paper is about the relations between work, rhythm and life course among a group of elderly members of a rice paddy collective in Kyoto, Japan. Through the stories of people’s professional work, personal lives and recreational activities, I portray and discuss their understanding of aging and elderhood. Also, by illustrating the rhythms of two elderly people on their retirement and in their post-work activities, I argue that underlying the particular changes of their rhythms is their reminiscences of their working lives.

Key words: rhythm, aging, life course, professional work