While it is true that parenting is lifelong work, in Japan, some elderly mothers are struggling as they try to help their grownup sons and daughters make ends meet despite their own financial difficulties.
There are increasing cases where elderly women living alone squeeze out their pension benefits — their only source of income in most cases — to financially support offspring who have seen their incomes fall or lost their jobs due to the tough economic situation.
"I just can't help but do something as a mother," said a 78-year-old woman in Tokyo who gives ¥20,000 out of her ¥110,000 in pension benefits every month to her married son.