Man Leaves Wife, Chooses Solo Life With ₹3 Crore Pension - What Followed Will Shock You

A Japanese man’s retirement story has captured global attention after his bold decision to live apart from his wife went terribly wrong.

Tetsu Yamada, who retired at 60 with a sizeable pension corpus of nearly Rs 3 crore (50 million yen), had imagined a peaceful second innings. His plan was simple: move back to his hometown, renovate the old family house, and live a slower, quieter life. He suggested the same to his wife, Keiko, a homemaker who had spent years raising their two sons in Tokyo. But Keiko had little interest in leaving behind city life, and their sons, tied to their jobs in the capital, weren’t moving either.

The difference in choices soon created tension. That’s when Keiko suggested sotsukon, a relatively new Japanese concept that means “graduation from marriage.” Popularized in 2004, the idea allows couples to remain married but live separately. Yamada accepted, believing it to be an easier and less painful solution than divorce.




At first, the prospect of solitude excited him. He returned to the countryside, invested in renovating the house, and envisioned a peaceful life many men of his age long for. But reality struck hard. Lacking basic household skills, he struggled to cook or maintain his home. His meals were reduced to instant noodles and frozen vegetables, and the loneliness began to weigh on him.




Keiko, meanwhile, embraced her independence. She set up a handmade workshop in Tokyo that quickly gained popularity and flourished. Through social media, Yamada saw glimpses of her new life and admitted with regret: "It seems that even without me, she looks very happy."

Though the couple occasionally keep in touch online, Yamada’s bond with his sons appears broken, and it is unclear if he will ever return to Tokyo. His story, now viral, has ignited a wider debate on sotsukon and changing relationship dynamics in Japan. Some sympathized with his loneliness, while others celebrated Keiko’s freedom.

As one user put it, "Yamada thought he was starting a second life, but without life skills, leaving his family turned out to be a disaster." Another added, "Let's wish Keiko well. She no longer has to care for others and can focus on her own hobbies."