noun
problems caused by old people; harm from gerontocracy
A critical term for social, organizational, or political harm attributed to elderly people in power or to an aging population. Often used in discussions of workplace stagnation, politics, or generational conflict.
会社の老害で若手が育たない。
Young employees can't grow because of the old guard's harmful influence in the company.
政治の老害が改革を遅らせている。
The gerontocracy in politics is delaying reform.
Compound of 老 (rou, 'old age') and 害 (gai, 'harm'). The term emerged in modern Japanese to describe societal problems attributed to the elderly, especially in contexts of gerontocracy.