Does Living Small and Cherishing Every Day from Age 58 hold up?

Living Small and Cherishing Every Day from Age 58, by Chocolat (2019)

A blogger in her sixties on downsizing and living alone on a small, fixed monthly budget. Sold over 100,000 copies in two months.

The short answer

Her budget works because she owns her flat. The typical older person living alone in Japan spends more than she does and more than their pension.

The claims, checked

A single woman in her sixties can live comfortably on about ¥120,000 a month.

Holds with conditions In 2025, older single non-working households received ¥120,212 a month in benefits, had ¥118,465 after tax, and spent ¥148,445: a shortfall of ¥29,980 a month.

Evidence: Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2025