Shirakawa Shizuka (born 1910) is famous in Japan as an authority on kanji ideograms (Chinese characters). After the age of 70, he published three books on the kanji used in Japanese writing. The books are: Jito, a dictionary that explains how kanji developed; Jikun, a dictionary of old Japanese showing how ideograms from a different culture helped mold the Japanese language; and Jitsu, a Japanese dictionary explaining kanji meanings. "I had to work while studying at university, so I didn't graduate until I was 33. I was late getting into research, so I have to live longer than other scholars. I try to eat simple foods, and follow the rules of nature. There's a lot I still want to do, like read books I haven't had time for yet, and study the many things in my field that I'm interested in. I'm hoping the gods will let me stick around for quite a while longer."

Yamaguchi Itaro (born 1901) began working at a woven goods shop after graduating from elementary school when he was 12. At the age of 18, he established his own weaving business. When he was 70, he decided to weave high-quality, Nishijin silk reproductions of the illustrated Tale of Genji handscrolls (the original paper scrolls date from the 12th century). He is now working on the fourth scroll. He says that he works all day, even on weekends, and that his work is always absorbing.
"Four Tale of Genji handscrolls have survived to the present time. It will take 10 years to finish reproducing the fourth and last scroll, so I have to live that long. Secrets to a long life? I have two: never stop loving women, and chew well before you swallow." His brother, Yasujiro (born 1904), trained as a Nishijin weaver after graduating from elementary school. He now recreates Noh costumes that were made 300 years ago.