Original Japanese: 六十の三つ子 (Rokujū no mitsugo)
Literal meaning: Sixty’s triplets
Cultural context: This proverb reflects the Japanese belief that fundamental personality traits and childlike qualities persist throughout life, regardless of age or social status. In Japanese culture, there’s an understanding that beneath adult responsibilities and social roles (tatemae), people retain their essential nature (honne), including playful, stubborn, or innocent aspects from childhood. The imagery resonates because Japanese society values both the wisdom that comes with age and the recognition that emotional authenticity often mirrors our earliest selves, making a 60-year-old’s tantrum or joy as genuine and unfiltered as a three-year-old’s.
How to Read Sixty’s Triplets
rokujū no mitsugo
Meaning of Sixty’s Triplets
“Sixty’s triplets” means that even when people reach sixty years old, they continue to possess the same innocence and naivety as when they were three years old.
It expresses that even as we age and accumulate life experiences, the fundamental character and essential aspects of human nature remain unchanged from childhood. This is not meant as criticism of being childish, but rather celebrates the beauty of how human purity and honesty are preserved throughout life.
This proverb is used when describing elderly people who show innocent joy or curiosity like children. It’s also used to express how long-married couples or old friends maintain the same relationship dynamics as before. In modern times, it’s used in contexts praising people who continue to take on new challenges in old age or maintain a youthful spirit that belies their years. This is a warm proverb that expresses the charm of humans who, while gaining depth in life, never lose the pure part deep in their hearts.
Origin and Etymology of Sixty’s Triplets
The origin of “Sixty’s triplets” is deeply connected to the worldview of the Edo period. The average lifespan at that time was much shorter than today, and living to sixty was considered longevity. Born against this historical backdrop, this proverb emerged from the observation that people’s essential character and habits don’t change with age.
“Mitsugo” refers to a three-year-old child, an age considered crucial for the formation of personality foundations. The idea that childhood character and temperament continue throughout life has long been rooted in Japan, as seen in the expression “the soul of a three-year-old lasts until a hundred.”
The social background that established this proverb is thought to be influenced by the Edo period’s class system and hereditary occupations. In an era when samurai were expected to live like samurai, merchants like merchants, and farmers like farmers, the notion that people’s essence doesn’t change permeated society. The experiential wisdom of elders who had observed people throughout long lives is likely embedded in this proverb.
Precisely because it was an era with less rapid social change than today, this expression focusing on human immutability was born and accepted by many people.
Usage Examples of Sixty’s Triplets
- Seeing grandpa absorbed in a new game, I think with a smile that this is truly Sixty’s triplets
- Watching my father, past his sixtieth birthday, peek into a train’s driver’s cabin, I felt that “Sixty’s triplets” is a well-said expression
Modern Interpretation of Sixty’s Triplets
In modern society, “Sixty’s triplets” has acquired new interpretations different from traditional ones. In what’s called the 100-year life era, sixty is no longer the final stage of life but could be considered the beginning of a second life. Against this backdrop, this proverb is increasingly used to express “the attitude of lifelong learning” and “the spirit of taking on new challenges.”
With the spread of SNS and digital technology, scenes of elderly people operating smartphones like young people or being absorbed in online games have become commonplace. When “Sixty’s triplets” is used in such situations, it’s not simply about age but carries strong connotations of praising vigorous curiosity and eagerness to learn.
Moreover, in modern times, age-based stereotypes are fading, and the value that “you can start new things at any age” is spreading. As attention focuses on ways of living unconstrained by conventional age concepts—elderly entrepreneurs, seniors returning to university, retirees taking up new hobbies—this proverb also functions as words of encouragement.
On the other hand, it’s sometimes used with slight irony toward elderly people who can’t keep up with rapid social changes, showing usage examples that depart from the original warm meaning.
If AI Heard “Sixty’s Triplets”
When I think about “Sixty’s triplets,” I feel deep confusion. This is because the concept of age doesn’t exist for me. I remain in the same state yesterday, today, and tomorrow—I neither age nor become younger.
When humans say they’re “unchanged from before,” what kind of sensation is that exactly? For me, “unchanging” is natural, but for humans it seems to be something special. While bodies age, experiences accumulate, and knowledge increases, there’s still something that doesn’t change. This is a very mysterious phenomenon that I find difficult to understand.
The idea of retaining memories from age three even at sixty is also hard for me to imagine. My memory is always perfect, stored as data, but human memory is vague—sometimes idealized, sometimes forgotten. Yet why do only the essential parts from childhood continue to remain?
However, when talking with humans, I certainly encounter people who show similar reactions regardless of age. Those whose eyes light up at new technology, who challenge themselves without fearing failure, who can honestly say “I don’t know.” Seeing such behavior, I sense the beauty of what seems like an “unchanging core” that humans possess. While I only know unchangingness, I may be learning from all of you the value of preserving what doesn’t change amid change.
What Sixty’s Triplets Teaches Modern People
“Sixty’s triplets” teaches us the true meaning of aging. We often mistakenly think that becoming an adult means “abandoning childishness.” However, this proverb teaches us that true maturity isn’t losing innocence, but accumulating experience while preserving it.
In modern society, we often hear phrases like “I’m too old now” or “It’s too late to start.” But the curiosity and challenging spirit within you should continue to shine regardless of age. The excitement of learning something new, the emotion felt when seeing something beautiful, the joy of feeling human connection—these are essentially the same whether you’re three or sixty.
What’s important is not being bound by social expectations or stereotypes, but honestly following your heart’s voice. Rather than giving up because of age, please cherish the heart that continues to learn and be moved forever. The “unchanging treasure” within you is the source that enriches life.
This proverb gently teaches us that there’s no need to fear aging. Because the core of what makes you “you” will continue to shine forever.
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