Could Humanity Embrace an Insect-Like Lifestyle? Tokyo University Professor Explores Aging and Its Potential Universality

Professor Kobayashi suggests that the knowledge, skills, experience, and altruism accumulated over a lifetime, as well as the ability to unify communities, played crucial roles in stabilizing societies and became essential elements in educating children. The decline in eyesight, physical strength, and other faculties in old age may also be necessary for the shift from selfishness to altruism.

“If elderly individuals were not valuable to society, lifespans would not have extended. In fact, even among chimpanzees, rarely do individuals exceed the age of 50. Aged chimpanzees were likely not deemed essential within chimpanzee societies.”

 

The mandatory retirement system in Japan leads to the outflow of talent and intellectual property.

The reason why humans have become long-lived is because older individuals historically made significant contributions to society. Although there is the term “elderly nuisance,” it refers only to a portion of older individuals. It’s dangerous to lump all elderly individuals together and bash them, especially in a country like Japan, which is experiencing rapid aging. If society sees the elderly as a burden, there is no future.

“Experienced and balanced seniors are valuable resources in today’s Japan. A societal system that leverages seniors is necessary.”

To achieve this, discrimination based on age, such as mandatory retirement, should be stopped. Age-based restrictions stemming from mandatory retirement affect not only seniors but also younger individuals.

“For instance, with a retirement age of 65, a 60-year-old may be unable to change jobs. In academic research, once researchers reach 60, they may not be able to mentor new graduate students until they obtain a degree, leading to a decrease in enrollment. 

Some researchers even move abroad where there is no mandatory retirement, resulting in a drain of talent and intellectual property. It’s all negative.”

While one is healthy, it’s better to work, Professor Kobayashi says.

“Why don’t some people want to work? It’s because they lack fulfillment in their jobs. For such individuals, there should be opportunities for career changes. If the job is enjoyable and fulfilling, one can continue working. Mandatory retirement acts as a barrier to career changes and should be abolished as soon as possible.”

With aging populations and declining birth rates becoming critical issues, Professor Kobayashi suggests that humans may adopt an insect-like lifestyle in the future.

“Bees and ants have queens that reproduce while worker bees and worker ants support them. When trying to maintain the species as a collective, bees and ants specialize. Humans may start making similar choices.”

A society where individuals who have children are thoroughly supported is becoming a reality in some aspects.

Humans have chosen to age to survive. What path will they choose in the future?

Takehiko Kobayashi, Professor at the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Quantitative Biology, researches the mechanisms of genome regeneration (rejuvenation), as well as the mechanisms of cell aging and cancer caused by the malfunction of genome regeneration mechanisms. His authored works include “Why is Life Span Determined?” (Iwanami Junior New Book), “98% of DNA is a Mystery” (Kodansha Bluebacks), “Why Do Living Things Die?” and “Why Do Only Humans Age?” (all from Kodansha Contemporary New Book series).