New Delhi. An elderly person named Tetsu Yamada in Japan decided to live separately from his wife after retirement. But, his planning failed and the gamble backfired. His wife is living a happy life, but he is suffering from loneliness. In Japan, this concept of separating from the wife is called Sotsukon. In this, the couple remains married, but lives separately for independence. This idea, which first came up in 2004, has now become common among elderly couples. 

Yamada retired at the age of 60 after working in the manufacturing sector and received a pension of 50 million yen (about Rs 3 crore) along with savings. He wanted to move to his village with his wife Keiko. Their old family home was still in good condition. Keiko, accustomed to city life in Tokyo, refused. Their two sons also lived and worked in Tokyo. Instead, they suggested Sotsukon, which Yamada accepted, thinking it would be easier than divorce. However, their new life did not turn out as planned.

Yamada renovated the house with his pension and decided to live a quiet life. According to the South China Morning Post, he was having trouble doing household chores without his wife and was surviving on instant noodles and frozen vegetables. Meanwhile, his wife Keiko was working at her handmade workshop in Tokyo. Although they occasionally connect online, he rarely spoke to his sons.

Yamada said, “It seems that even without me, she looks very happy.” Yamada admitted to loneliness and regret. Now he feels that his family no longer needs him. It is not known whether he will return to Tokyo or not. There are various reactions on social media to this. One user said that Yamada thought he was starting a new life, but leaving his family proved to be a disaster for him.