The government is talking about reforming the ailing pension system and cutting benefits. A retired salaryman with a wife who is a full-time homemaker receives on average 230,000 yen a month as social security. Obviously, it is difficult to live on that amount of money without other forms of income.
That's why many retired couples opt to spend their golden years abroad, where their yen goes farther. On March 29 at 9 p.m., TV Tokyo will present a special program entitled "Happy Retirement: Couples Who Long to Live Overseas."
The most popular retirement destinations for Japanese are Australia and Asia and the program looks at some places that are gaining in popularity. One is Penang Island in Malaysia, where one couple has lived for 12 years in a spacious two-story condominium. Another is Costa del Sol in Spain, a popular retirement center for Europeans, which boasts an infrastructure that caters to older people. Even Nepal is becoming a magnet for Japanese retirees. The program explains visa procedures, medical services, and lifestyles and customs.