ISBN：9786263617117
不知道是否因為被日本殖民近半世紀的緣故，台灣和日本在社會政經體制與社會發展模式上，總讓我覺得十分雷同。打個比方，就像把一群講中文的華人丟到日本裡成立一個自治區，應該就會慢慢長得像現在的台灣一樣。也因此，許多社會、人文的議題與課題，日本總是超前台灣幾年先表演給我們看。說得咬文嚼字一點，就是它山之石。而不論早年的繭居族、單身寄生族，到近年的格差社會、下流老人，都是已在台灣重現的社會現象。
少子化和高齡化社會是一體兩面。日本早在多年前就已邁入高齡社會，加上衛生、醫療體制尚稱周全，八、九十歲人口的比例應該位居全球前列。我們常把長命百歲當成祝福語，不過在看過這本《錢先花光，還是命先沒了？》之後，或許會略微改變我們原本淺薄的想法。作者小梶沙羅是一位年近耳順的單身女子。由於雙親都已高齡九十，日常起居無法自主，因此她搬回老家，開始了一段看不到盡頭的照護修行。而命運似乎也在和她開玩笑，又把膝下無子的阿姨與姨丈交到她手中，成為必須照顧的對象。偉哉「以一打四」，帶的不是小孩，而是年近百歲的老番顛。
究竟是年紀增長造成生理性的退化，還是活得太久導致心因性的異變，小梶沙羅所面對的老人們，逐漸出現冥頑不靈、容易動怒等言行舉止。更慘的是，囤積過期食品、堆滿數不清的無用物品，最後讓住家變成垃圾屋。看著書中的描述，也讓我省思，應該從現在開始培養好相處的個性，以及良好的衛生習慣，免得老了退化之後，變成一個讓家人或非血親照顧者感到困擾的老人。在台灣政界流於報喜不報憂的氛圍下，高齡化社會的困境與改善之道，早已是典型的灰犀牛問題。再加上社會對安樂死抱持排斥卻又帶有某種偽善色彩的態度，可以想見，台灣未來勢必會被高齡化課題打得鼻青臉腫。
I'm not sure if it is because Taiwan was ruled by Japan for nearly 50 years, but I have always felt that Taiwan and Japan are very similar in their social systems, political and economic structures, and ways of development. To give an example, if you put a group of Chinese-speaking people in Japan and let them form an autonomous region, it might slowly grow into something like today's Taiwan. Because of this, many social and cultural issues seem to appear in Japan a few years before they reach Taiwan. In a way, Japan often gives us a preview of what may happen in our own society.
From hikikomori (people who shut themselves away from society) and parasitic singles in the past, to the widening wealth gap and poor elderly people in recent years, many of these social problems have already appeared in Taiwan. A low birth rate and an aging society are two sides of the same coin. Japan became an aging society many years ago. Thanks to its good public health and medical systems, it probably has one of the highest numbers of people in their 80s and 90s in the world. We often wish others a long life, but after reading *Will Your Money Run Out First, or Will Your Life?*, we may start to think differently about that blessing. The author, Sara Kokaji, is a single woman close to sixty years old. Since both of her parents are already in their nineties and can no longer take care of themselves, she moved back home and began what seemed like an endless journey of caregiving. As if that were not enough, fate also placed her childless aunt and uncle in her care. Suddenly, she found herself taking care of four elderly family members at the same time. It was a "one against four" challenge—not with children, but with relatives who were nearly one hundred years old.
As people grow older, they may experience physical decline or even changes in their personality. The elderly people Sara Kokaji cared for became stubborn, unreasonable, and easily angered. Even worse, they collected expired food and piled up countless useless items until their homes became filled with clutter and trash. Reading these stories made me think about my own future. I should start developing a pleasant personality and good hygiene habits now. Otherwise, when I become old and my abilities decline, I may become a burden to my family or to those who take care of me. In Taiwan, politicians often focus on good news and avoid talking about problems. The challenges of an aging society and the need to solve them have already become a classic "gray rhino" issue—something everyone can see coming but few are willing to deal with. At the same time, many people still reject the idea of euthanasia. Because of this attitude, it is easy to imagine that Taiwan will face serious difficulties as its population continues to age.
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