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The difficulty of collecting in “End of Life”: How do otaku deal with the handling of collectibles?
In recent years, the concept of “end of life” has gradually emerged in Japan, and many people have begun to make various preparations for themselves before their death, such as arranging funerals, making wills, etc. However, for those otaku who have a large collection, an important challenge in life is how to deal with these precious collectibles after their death?
Recently, discussions among Japanese netizens have revealed that the real concern may not be the issues after death, but rather the troubles that collectibles cause to oneself in old age.
Realistic problem in life: Collectibles become obstacles to life
A senior model player nicknamed “アアイ Model” shared his experience in handling collectibles, reminding everyone that instead of worrying about the whereabouts of collectibles after death, it is better to consider in advance the practical problems that collectibles may bring when entering middle and old age.
Due to his worsening health caused by ulcerative colitis and colon cancer, he had to start disposing of his beloved model collection.
He pointed out that when one’s physical health is poor, collectibles not only cannot accompany them to the hospital or nursing home, but also become the biggest obstacle when pursuing accessible space at home.
For example, if it is necessary to transform a home into an environment suitable for the elderly or those with limited mobility, a mountain of collectibles often affects the layout of the room and even increases the risk of daily life.
Netizens‘ reaction: Processing collectibles in advance
The experience of the “アアイ model” has resonated with Japanese netizens, and many netizens have also shared their own experiences in handling collectibles. Someone started cleaning up collectibles such as dolls and models in the room to ensure there is enough activity space in the home.
Some people regularly convert their collections into electronic versions to alleviate the pressure of physical accumulation.
However, many netizens also admitted that although they are aware of this issue, they still find it difficult to clear their precious collections accumulated over the years due to a lack of time, energy, or motivation. A netizen even joked, “Even if you want to entrust it to a friend, everyone is the same age and no one has the strength to handle these things
Collectibles may pose unexpected risks
Some netizens also shared the unexpected risks caused by collectibles. A netizen mentioned that his wife had difficulty moving due to a cerebral hemorrhage, but there were too many books piled up at home, which hindered the setting of the nursing bed and caused her to fall and get injured at home.
In addition, some netizens mentioned that due to the excessive collection of loved ones before their death, their bodies could not be smoothly placed at home, and additional placement fees would ultimately need to be paid.
The idea of a dedicated nursing home for residential use
Faced with various problems brought by collectibles, some netizens have proposed an interesting idea – setting up a nursing home specifically for elderly residents.
This nursing home not only provides exclusive collection space for each resident, but also has dedicated personnel responsible for cleaning and managing them. Even after the resident passes away, they are specifically assisted in handling or selling these collections.
Although this idea seems ideal, it has also sparked ridicule from netizens: “People may strive to live longer than others in order to inherit others’ collections
As they grow older, otaku need to not only consider the fate of their collectibles after their death, but also plan in advance how these collectibles will affect their elderly life when thinking about “end-of-life”. The pile up of collectibles may not only cause inconvenience in daily life, but also become an unavoidable obstacle when health conditions deteriorate.
Therefore, handling and organizing collectibles in advance is not only a preparation for the future, but also an improvement in the current quality of life. Perhaps by planning ahead for collectibles, one can create a more comfortable elderly living space for themselves while also making arrangements for their later years.