My grandmother used to say that people of her generation never expected much out of life. In her prime, her mantra was "Ikiteiru dakede arigatai (I'm thankful just to be alive)" and in her final years, that changed to "Pokkuri ikitai (I want to die suddenly and quietly)."

The term pokkuri, at once comical and resigned, is one indication of how the Japanese view death -- it's not something to be struggled against or mourned over very much, but a natural and slightly ridiculous phenomenon.

Grandma's attitude was: it's going to happen anyway so why take it too seriously? "Itsu omukaega kitemo iiyo (The messenger can come get me anytime)" was another of her favorite phrases. When she came out with it, we kids would tease her: "Obachan [Grandma], the messenger sent a message saying he's stuck in traffic and can't come by for another couple of decades!" When people came to visit Grandma and told her how well she was looking, she would smile sweetly and reply, "Ojogiwa ga warukute komarimasu (I can't seem to keel over in one go, and this worries me)."