Yasuko Tamaki: Meet the 95-year-old Japanese woman who has worked for over 65 years at the same job: “I was born to be useful to others” |
Imagine clocking into the same office for 65 years straight—not switching jobs, not chasing promotions, just showing up with quiet dedication while the world around you spins through recessions, tech revolutions, and generations. That’s Yasuko Tamaki, a 95-year-old from Osaka, Japan, whose story feels like a warm hug for anyone who’s ever wondered, “What’s my purpose in life after all these years of work?” In November 2020, the Guinness World Records crowned her the world’s oldest office manager, but reports rom 2024-2025 suggest she’s still going strong at Sunco Industries. At 95? That’s not a career; that’s a love letter to life and work itself!
Meet Yasuko Tamaki, who is still working in her 90s
Born May 15, 1930, Yasuko joined Sunco Industries, a tiny company back then, in 1956 at age 26—a fresh-faced dreamer amid just 20 coworkers. Roughly seven decades later, Sunco now has over 430 employees– including Yasuko. As per reports, over the years, she has evolved from basic admin to general affairs powerhouse: crunching numbers, streamlining communications, even mastering computers in her late 60s when most people of her age were learning solitaire. She was promoted to section chief at 40, and she never stopped growing. Yasuko even aced the Japan Kanji Aptitude Test at 86 to keep her mind razor-sharp. Who says age is a limit?Her daily ritual includes waking up at 5:30 a.m., doing 30 minutes of yoga, reciting Buddhist sutras for wisdom, and then commuting to work by foot, bus, or metro. In her free time she enjoys reading books, mahjong marathons, card games, and dishing gentle advice to her coworkers.
Yasuko’s secret to hard work
Yasuko Tamaki
“I’ve only been doing what I was supposed to do,” she said humbly upon receiving her Guinness certificate at 90 years and 174 days. But then the real gem, “Everything adds up little by little. I was born to be useful to others—making the chairman, managers, and coworkers happy has been my goal.” In a world obsessed with hustle culture and burnout, Yasuko’s secret is simple joy in service.In an era of job-hopping and AI changing the way we work, Yasuko’s a beacon: Loyalty isn’t blind; it’s built on small, daily wins. And so, if you are feeling stuck at your work, remember Yasuko: Wake up early, learn something new, and lift others up. The world needs more Yasukos—who teach us that true fulfilment at work isn’t in years served, but hearts touched.What’s your longest commitment? Share in comments below.
