A 45-year-old Japanese man’s two-decade journey of extreme frugality has captured the attention of Chinese internet users. The unnamed individual, who began his savings plan in the early 2000s, aimed to amass 100 million yen (approximately US$640,000) for early retirement.
Working for a company that encouraged long hours and overtime, the man embarked on a rigorous savings regimen while earning an annual salary of about five million yen. He adopted the online alias “The Man Who Will Definitely Resign” to stay motivated throughout his 21-year quest.
His austere lifestyle included residing in a company dormitory, scavenging for appliances, and subsisting on minimal meals often consisting of a sour plum, salted vegetables, and rice. At times, he resorted to energy drinks or cola and biscuits for dinner. The man even used unconventional methods to prepare food, such as cooking sweet potatoes on a car windshield during summer.
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Despite these hardships, he successfully saved 135 million yen (US$870,000) by early this year. His experience inspired him to write a book on money-saving techniques, providing an additional income source.
However, his triumph was short-lived due to the recent depreciation of the yen, which significantly reduced the value of his savings. This setback led him to question the meaning of his 21 years of sacrifice.
The real tragedy may be that all he did was save in those two decades. It’s unclear if he was ever able to invest some of the money that has, in the past year alone, dropped over 9% in value against the US dollar.
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