ㆍCEO Ahn Deok-young (far right) who brought a 102-year-old Japanese grandmother with her.

Is it the power of the Korean Wave? A Japanese woman over 100 years old visited Korea for a trip. It turned out that he was born in Daejeon in 1922. There is a special history of living there until the age of 5 and then going to be the adopted daughter of a Japanese family. My ancestors are Japanese, but I was born in Korea.

Living past 100 is not easy. Moreover, traveling abroad is even more surprising. Japanese woman Sueko Ikoma's family moved from Shimonoseki to Daejeon in the early 20th century. He was born to parents who ran a general store in a market in Daejeon. I also have happy memories of having many siblings when I was young.

She doesn't remember much about Daejeon, but she misses it and has always wanted to go there someday. I went there once 9 years ago, but the reason I wanted to go there again was because it was my hometown. This is her third visit to Korea. It might be my last overseas trip. That may be why I have more affection for my grandmother or my daughter born in 1958.

She has lived for over 100 years and has never been to any other country except Korea. The past years have not been leisurely enough for not only my grandmother but also people born in that era to travel the world. Life wasn't easy. If my grandmother had to choose a country she would like to visit at least once, it would definitely be England. The UK is similar to Japan in many ways, but it is also so different that I am drawn to many things.

It is said that the war she went through a long time ago was really difficult. “I hope no more wars happen,” he said, recalling the difficult past. She was once married, but broke up with her ex-husband, who was not family friendly. It's admirable that she went through life relying only on her daughter and didn't wear anything. It is said that he lived his life thinking only about the minimum amount of possessions.

EAlthough she lived with care, she tried to provide many opportunities for her only daughter's education. Many things have happened in her life, but looking back now, she says that life seems short. She is a grandmother who believes that it is good to be kind to people and help them if something happens. She has a nature-friendly and quiet personality.

“Everyone will have their own destiny,” she says. She says that the most important thing is to be satisfied with everything and live like a human being. She says that no matter how hard you work, life is like the wind and the best time in your life was when she gave birth to her daughter. The daughter said she is grateful that she has been taking care of her mother for 30 years.

If she were to go back to her teens or 20s, she would like to study more or do things she likes. She would like to dress up like young people these days, try on makeup, or go on a trip with friends. She always wants to be free and have fun being herself. Although I have never worn makeup in over a century, my skin is beautiful. She is still pretty, but she must have had a very pretty face when she was young.

She says that if she is reborn, she will not get married. Just like now, she walks with a cane, rides a wheelchair, or is always in trouble. He said there is something he would like to tell his juniors: "Life is like carrying a heavy burden and going a long way. Don't be in a hurry, and if you take lack of freedom for granted, you will find nothing lacking. If you hope for something and become greedy, you will end up in poverty. Think about the time when you die. and she says.

She also gives advice. “Patience is the way to live safely and for a long time. If you know how to win, you will achieve harm. Do not compare yourself to others. Excess is not as good as lack. Life is a big thing. It is important to live normally without having too many greeds.”

TV is more beneficial in old age because it allows you to get information. Although her eyes and ears are now poor, she watches TV every day. In the past, I sometimes went for walks with my daughter, but because her eyesight is poor and her walking is slow, she often stays at home. Sometimes she looks at the house alone. She mainly enjoys NHK conversation, news, and Korean dramas. I like refreshing cafe au lait, but I mostly drink barley tea.

She has moved around here and there for over 100 years, so she has few old friends. Now, the ‘Day Service Center’ visits her twice a week to take care of her. She doesn't get along particularly well with anyone. Although she has never thought much about longevity, she says that anyone can live a long life if they live a life of gratitude every day. He says that when he was young, he was grateful just to be alive.

She is grateful to have been born into this world and cherishes the present as she is. It's easy for anyone to say, but difficult to put into practice. She now lives with gratitude every day. He says it is important to have positive thinking and a relaxed personality. Because longevity is the marathon of life.

Even when she was not very wealthy, she did her best for her daughter. Thanks to her mother's difficult years of patience, her daughter was able to do anything. Due to my mother's advanced age, I was looking for someone to help, and I was introduced to CEO Ahn Deok-young by an acquaintance, and I met Mr. Haruno.

Is age really just a number? A Japanese mother and daughter happily traveled to Korea. “My mother was able to travel to Korea thanks to these two wonderful people.” The moment we parted ways, the Japanese traveler's daughter kept saying thank you. “I am especially grateful to CEO Ahn Deok-young and all Koreans,” he said with tears in his eyes.

When anyone travels, their horizons broaden and deepen. Travel opens people's hearts and makes them look back. They come to Earth as one life and leave when their time comes. Isn’t it a picnic around the world, a trip around the globe, that makes you more vital and healthier the longer you go? After traveling for over 100 years, I hope you stay healthy.

ㆍHaruno-san provided Korean interpretation for Japanese tourists. (Seoul National University language trainee)

I've moved around here and there for over 100 years, so I barely have any old friends. Now, they come to the ‘Day Service Center’ twice a week. I don't get along particularly well with anyone. I have never thought much about longevity, but it is said that anyone can live a long life if they live a life of gratitude every day. When I was young, I was grateful just to be alive. 

I am grateful to have been born into this world and cherish the present as I am. It's easy for anyone to say, but difficult to put into practice. Now I live with gratitude every day. It is important to have positive thinking and an easy-going personality. Because longevity is the marathon of life.

Even when he wasn't very wealthy, he did his best for his daughter. Thanks to her mother's difficult years of patience, her daughter was able to do anything. Due to my mother's advanced age, I was looking for someone to help, and I was introduced to CEO Ahn Deok-young by an acquaintance, and I met Mr. Haruno.

Is age really just a number? A Japanese mother and daughter happily traveled to Korea. “My mother was able to travel to Korea thanks to these two wonderful people.” The moment we parted ways, the Japanese traveler's daughter kept saying thank you. “I am especially grateful to CEO Ahn Deok-young and all Koreans,” he said with tears in his eyes.

When anyone travels, their horizons broaden and deepen. Travel opens people's hearts and makes them look back. They come to Earth as one life and leave when their time comes. Isn’t it a picnic around the world, a trip around the globe, that makes you more vital and healthier the longer you go? Traveling for over 100 years, I hope you stay healthy.

ㆍPosed with an old black and white photo in Seoul.

 

ㆍA Japanese grandmother who enjoys Korean food (her daughter is her best friend).