Humans and Their Environments
Humans are creatures that sustain life while being influenced by numerous environments. Even single cells seem to function within the context of alliances with surrounding cells. Genes, being blueprints for cellular roles, are inherently diverse, and signal transduction on cell surfaces is likely even more complex. As the saying goes, “The soul of a three-year-old lasts until a hundred.” Much of a person’s foundation is shaped by the environment they are exposed to during their first three years of life through maternal contact. This foundation evolves as children encounter friends, places, and experiences in their early childhood and adolescence. By the time they reach middle and high school, these encounters form the building blocks for adulthood. Even as adults, the environments encountered every decade significantly influence one’s sense of identity and happiness.
The Baby Boomer Generation and Its Spirit
The phrase “The baby boomer generation is energetic” is often heard. Why is that? Born in the post-war era when there was little to nothing, they grew up in an age where everything introduced from the United States was new and exciting. Moreover, the sheer number of children created intense competition for survival, which they individually overcame. The baby boomer generation is now creating a vibrant population of active retirees in Japan. They excel at enjoying life post-retirement. In contrast, those born after the baby boom, particularly during the second baby boom, often lack even the basic knowledge of how to enjoy leisure. Opinions on this are divided, but perhaps it’s due to differences in the challenges, environments, and cultures each generation faced. Observing today’s youth and those in their twenties, it’s evident that they are shaped by yet another set of unique influences. However, time marches on, and the energetic baby boomer generation will inevitably decline in numbers. Their successors will soon face retirement. Will they be able to find fulfilling hobbies and leisure activities after retirement? It’s a concerning thought.
From KidZania to “ProZania”
Have you heard of “KidZania”? It’s a project designed to advance children’s social education by creating a kid-centric city where they can take on various jobs, play realistically, and gain social experiences. It’s an outstanding initiative and one I wholeheartedly endorse. This project is about experiencing environments, enriching sensitivity, and arguably essential for human survival. If so, wouldn’t it make sense to create a similar initiative for middle-aged adults nearing retirement who don’t know how to enjoy leisure? I propose calling it ProZania. It would be a project aimed at teaching adults how to enjoy themselves and develop a sense of play, setting the stage for a joyful retirement. A fulfilling retirement isn’t about retreating into obscurity but embracing an active and exciting lifestyle. Just imagining it makes life more enjoyable. The activities could be anything—how about guitar lessons or rock music workshops led by cool older adults? Imagine someone who’s never touched an instrument learning to play a song on the guitar—it could feel like their life has turned to gold. Other ideas include cooking, illustration, soba-making, fashion design, storytelling, sports, beer brewing, outdoor exploration, movie reviews, or even reminiscing about old times. Bringing back the culture of their youth could work wonders. Silly and ridiculous themes that spark laughter might be the best fit. Such a community of like-minded individuals could naturally lead to work discussions, potentially inspiring new ventures. Staying forward-thinking is key for humans. Once people realize how they want to be, they can live happy retirements and make the most of their lives.
What Do You Think?
What do you think of such a proposal?
Hisashi Iwase
Life Science Innovation Advisor at the Japan Analytical Instruments Manufacturers’ Association (JAIMA), and President & CEO of BioDiscovery, Inc.
Born in Tokyo in 1951. Graduated from the Department of Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Nihon University. Mr. Iwase has led management and marketing in analytical and bioscience instrumentation at Merck Japan, Nihon Waters, Nihon Millipore, Nihon PerSeptive, Applied Biosystems, Varian Technologies, and Agilent Technologies. He founded BioDiscovery Inc. in 2001 and has served as JAIMA’s Life Science Innovation Advisor since 2013.
