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I worked for a major temporary staffing agency and paid into the employee pension system for over 30 years. However, after deductions for long-term care insurance premiums and residence tax, my current pension is less than 50,000 yen, which is even lower than welfare benefits. Compared to my friends of the same age, those who worked as civil servants receive the most, followed by those from major corporations. Even though I worked for a major staffing agency, there's more than a three-fold difference in pension amounts between them and me.
Many people seem to think that life on a pension is "easy," but if I were living alone, I wouldn't be able to make ends meet. In fact, many of my single acquaintances have taken their own lives. I wrote this poem hoping that the government would understand how miserable people's lives and their old age become under their policies. The government has once again decided to reduce the pension amounts for recipients aged 67 and over. How are we supposed to live?
It's true that I heard about Niconico Douga at Hello Work (Public Employment Security Office), but when I returned home and consulted with you, Gemini, you informed me that Niconico Douga was experiencing significant issues. You then introduced me to several music distribution companies. TuneCore Japan was at the top of that list, and when I emailed them, the person in charge was very kind, so I decided to sign a contract. (Their quick replies to emails are a sign of trustworthiness.) When it comes to "mono-zukuri" (craftsmanship/creation), trust is essential, so I wanted to create with trustworthy people and companies. I trust TuneCore Japan because they distribute music fairly, regardless of one's background or the environment in which their music was created.
I write poetry about my everyday life with my wife, as we're both around 70 years old. Having lived for over 70 years, I've experienced countless moments where I thought, "This is the end." Yet, each time, I've managed to pick myself up and keep living. I've poured that journey into these lyrics. SUNOAI has composed the music and also provides the vocals. However, I also plan to distribute a karaoke version created with Filmora, where I'll sing the songs myself. The TuneCore Japan Support Team encouraged me with words like, "Even grandpas and grandmas can do it!" and gave me hope. Since TuneCore Japan will distribute my music, I'm entrusting it to them.