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"Office Fairies"? Rethinking Work in the 100-Year Life Era episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 17, 2025 · 7 MIN

"Office Fairies"? Rethinking Work in the 100-Year Life Era

from The Candy Lounge's Golden Hour! · host The Candy Lounge

"Why are they even here?" Some middle-aged men are sarcastically called "fairies" because they're there, but not really there. In this episode, we unravel the mystery of the "Hatarakanai Ojisan" (the non-working man). Is it just about being lazy? Or is it a problem created by Japan's unique post-war employment system? We'll compare this phenomenon to the situation in the US, where older workers are surprisingly productive yet face "ageism," explore how it differs from "Quiet Quitting," and think about the future of work in the "100-year life" era. It's a deep dive into work culture that might change the way you see your own future career! (Please note: This episode explores a specific social phenomenon. The term doesn't represent all middle-aged workers in Japan, many of whom are highly productive and valued.) Stream The Candy Lounge: https://music.apple.com/jp/artist/the-candy-lounge/1817711613 https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/artist/6kHUJaPZim6GDBRwJwxVjh?si=6JBR3xaWTaWRWkXRNSPxuw Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecandylounge_/

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 17, 2025

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"Office Fairies"? Rethinking Work in the 100-Year Life Era

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