“Trans-Age” Man Born in 1984 Identifies as 28-Year-Old Due to Unique Reason

Ageism can be a pervasive issue in society, that affects different aspects of a person’s life. As a way to combat the negative effects age-related issues can have, a man from Japan chose an unusual solution. He decided to stay forever 28 years old, despite being close to his 40s in reality.

Jackie is a man from Japan who chose to identify as an 28-year-old.

A Kyoto resident, who goes by the name Jackie, gained widespread attention in May when he discussed his adopted ’trans-age’ identity during an episode of the popular reality program Abema Prime, which led to his viral moment. Despite being born Jan. 5, 1984, Jackie believes he’s actually 28 years old.

“I felt a strong desire to stay young and relevant, and I found that being 28 was the age where I felt the most comfortable,” the man from Japan explained. “It’s an age where I can balance maturity with youthfulness.”

His decision was influenced by some negative experiences he had at work.

It appears that a workplace incident from seven years ago served as the catalyst for this transformation. Jackie experienced significant stress when his former employer supposedly criticized him with the question, “How can you not know how to do this at your age?”

Although he identifies as ’trans-age’, Jackie still has to write his actual age on official documents. “I think if we can come to a place of acceptance and allow people to make their own choices, we would be a more accepting society,” he explained during the show.

A psychologist chimes in.

Dr. Takashi Sugiyama, a psychologist and professor at Kanagawa University, offered his insights into this phenomenon. He shared with viewers that individuals like Jackie are quite common in today’s society.

In a modern society that places considerable emphasis on one’s age, it’s not uncommon for people to sense a disconnect between societal expectations for their age and their genuine internal feelings. Dr. Sugiyama pointed out that Jackie’s experience serves as a poignant example of this disconnect.

Ageism can affect everyone, including our favorite stars. Find out how the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Jane Fonda stood up against society’s stereotypes.