Kazuo Yamazaki was in the prime of his career as an engineer at a Japanese music company doing business across borders. His decades-long profession came to an abrupt end six years ago, however, when at age 55 he became his mother's primary caregiver.
He tried to look for a different job that would allow him to still take care of her but gave up after a year.
"You just couldn't work (as a regular employee) and take care of your parent at home at the same time," he says.