Respect for the Aged Day

On the third Monday of September, Japan observes Respect for the Aged Day. Deep respect for older generations connects different cultures. On October 1, Ukraine will join the international community in observing the International Day of Older Persons; Ukraine also marks Veterans’ Day on that date.

In Japanese tradition, ikigai is a sense of purpose and a reason to live and act each day. Older people in Japan remain active participants in society: they teach, practice crafts, tend gardens, and take part in volunteer initiatives.

Today, the idea of ikigai also resonates with life in Ukraine. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, older people have become a steadfast source of support on the home front. Across the country, grandparents weave hundreds of square metres of camouflage nets and camouflage suits for Ukraine’s Armed Forces each day. They knit warm clothes, prepare home-cooked meals for those defending Ukraine on the front line, and organize volunteer efforts from their own homes.

Working each day to help others gives older people a sense of being needed, supports their mental well-being, and brings a shared victory closer. As October 1 approaches, let us remember the importance of care and the value of the experience, resilience, and wisdom that older generations share with younger ones.