At the end of September, I resigned from the company where I worked for 34 years and 10 days.
I hadn't been to work since the beginning of August, but on the last day, I went to work for the first time in a long time to say hello to my new employer and return my health insurance card.
I had already finished tidying up my desk and my surroundings by the end of July, so there was nothing to do except to sort out the emails on my computer that had arrived while I was absent.
Since I had decided to work only in the morning, I went to the office of the president and executives at 11:00 a.m. to give my retirement speech. I also went around to each department and greeted all the people who were still at the office before leaving.
Thirty-four years may sound like a long time, but once it was over, it all happened so fast.
As soon as I joined the company, Japan entered the bubble economy. I can only remember how busy I was during that time. Unfortunately, I did not benefit much from the bubble economy.
After the bubble economy, the company went through a period of economic stagnation known as the "lost decade" or "lost 20 years" and was hit by the Lehman Shock.
The company's mainstay temporary staffing business was hit hard by the sudden economic downturn, and with the company's survival in jeopardy, it was decided to call for voluntary retirement.
At this time, I was on secondment to the labor union and was busy negotiating the schedule and conditions for voluntary retirement.
If I had not been an officer of the labor union at that time, I might have agreed to voluntary retirement.
Even after more than half of the employees had left, the company's business situation remained severe, and wage and bonus cuts continued for some time.
It is only in the last few years that the company's business situation has stabilized.
When I think about it, I am deeply moved once again by the fact that it has been a period of peaks and valleys.
I don't think I was ever a good employee. I have made countless mistakes, including some major ones.
Even so, I am grateful for the help of many people who helped me reach the end of my term as a temporary employee after my retirement.
At any rate, I've had a break.
I'm going to start receiving my pension and unemployment benefits, so I'm going to take a break and think about my future.
