Weird jobs in Japan

[Kustom]

One of the good things about Japan is that unemployement is relatively unheard of. One reason for this is that unemployed people are buried so deep in the basement of society that you don't get to see them often. But to be fair, another reason is that Japanese companies never shy away from hiring perfectly incompetent people for rather useless tasks, because having a lot of employees is a matter of prestige (I wish European companies thought that way!).

Now, we all know that every country has its share of weird and unusual jobs (such as pig yankers or hooters' waitresses), but it seems that Japan has a hell of a lot of them (to my Western eyes, of course...).

The ones that spring to my mind at the moment:

- Tissues distributors: Everyone knows them... The most famous beito in Japan, spending your day in the hot sun handing tissues to passer-by. I don't know how efficient an advertisement technique it is (I don't ever look at the brand anyway), but it's everywhere, except when you actually need tissues because of Murphy's law

- Human road sign: At night, you can see them waving some kind of short Sith lightsaber from left to right, near every construction site. Many times, they actually use a dummy for this one, but when the dummy has been sent on more important missions they make a guy stand in his place for 6 hours.

- Professional bower: I have yet to see this one outside big banks, but I bet it exists elsewhere. Those girls are here only to bow and repeat "irashaimase/arigato gozaimashita" in an endless buckle. Make no mistake; they have no other purpose. I was once wating in a 15 minutes line at UFJ, but instead of opening new lines, the 3 girls stood there and kept bowing.

- Elevator girl: She is not like the groom you see in old movies... She doesn't care which floor you're going, because her job is just to stand at the ground level and push the button to bring the elevator down every minute. That's it. Now you can do that by just programming the elevator system, mind you. But they also wear short skirts.

- Stairs imp: My favorite on the scale of uselessness. When the escalator stops working for some reason, they put several guys on guard next to it to show you the stairs, bow and apologize. Now the stairs are fucking next to the escalator, exactly one foot away from it. I am not shitting you! To be fair, I have yet to see this one out of Shinjuku though.

I could go on, but I'm sure some of you have seen worse...

What is the weirdest job you've seen/heard of in Japan?

[baslisks]

well maybe if they put their logos on the tissues maybe that would boost advertisements.

[Azrael]

- Professional bower: I have yet to see this one outside big banks, but I bet it exists elsewhere. Those girls are here only to bow and repeat "irashaimase/arigato gozaimashita" in an endless buckle. Make no mistake; they have no other purpose. I was once wating in a 15 minutes line at UFJ, but instead of opening new lines, the 3 girls stood there and kept bowing.

LOL, yeah, my UFJ had a girl whose job was to hand you the "next in line" number from the machine. ...That's it. Pull the ticket from the machine and give it to you, rather than you actually doing it yourself. Meanwhile, there was a 15 minute line, and at least 4 closed windows. ...Japanese efficiency at its finest ladies and gentlemen.

I feel sorry for the human roadsigns. Especially in the winter. It's fucking cold out there, and there the guy is...when the light turns green, he raises a green flag. When the light turns red, he raises a red flag. Thank you dude, I would have never figured that one out on my own.

Soon, they're going to be building a mansion-style apartment complex in my neighborhood. So they have a small model room set up. And of course, one guy or girl's job is to stand out in the sun along the side of the road, holding a sign that points to the model room to draw attention.

It is a somewhat humane company though. The sign-holder also gets a chair.

[erbiumfiber]

In my bank, usually the security guard hands out numbers and there is one person who is supposed to help at the foreign remittance machine (for sending money home). Now, I know how to work the machine, but the first time I didn't and didn't know much Japanese (and still don't know much "banking" Japanese). The lady who helps at the machine knows not a single word of English, despite the fact that most people sending home speak at least English.

But the last time, the security guard was helping on the foreign remittance machine. A Japanese person was using it and they STILL couldn't figure it out together. Phone calls were made...finally remittance lady comes back--I waited 45 minutes to get at that machine. And then, I know I need to fill out a withdrawal slip but the security guard shoos (spelling?) me off to the waiting seats...so I fill the withdrawal slip out AT THE COUNTER, making everyone wait that much longer.

Isn't the security guard supposed to be looking out for security? My bank is in a high crime neighborhood (Shinjuku, really near Kabukicho) so I would like a little more effort on security (as once I had to carry 2 million yen out from my bank to Mizuho bank because they couldn't believe I would really want to pay the transfer fee- yes this is what private school costs in Tokyo...).

Sorry for the rambling posts today, I have almost NOTHING TO DO at work...

[erbiumfiber]

Other stupid jobs:

Crosswalk attendent: Like the flagman at construction sites. Only this guy (yeah, it's always an old guy) holds a flag out when the crosswalk light indicates it's time to cross. Near my apartment, he's also got a whistle (which seems to start around 7 AM thank you very much).

Nigerian guy to get you to come into bar (Roppongi) or buy hip/hop clothes (Harajuku)...Is there some reason that only Nigerians are allowed to do this job? Is it some kind of visa category ("entertainer") or are they refugees?

Office ladies. In my company, we didn't even have an electric hole punch, so people would punch 25 sheets at a time for a 300 page patent application. We have no automatic stapler (for thick documents), have no automatic case tracking (bar codes plus readers so someone is always looking for a file), we have no really good automated docketing system that keeps track of when cases are due...the inefficiency is MIND BOGGLING. Female labor is so cheap there are no labor saving devices- yet my boss still does his own faxes (he's 71- go figure...)

Food sample hander-outers in basements of department stores: self explanatory. You can pick these up yourself...

Platform attendant at just about any station: There are automated announcements but this guy gets a MICROPHONE to repeat it. And these guys are karaoke addicts and NEVER SHUT UP...Like noisy fucker on the platform with a mike all day...Is there anyone who DOESN'T know this is the Yamanote line headed for ..."x"...And even if they get on the wrong one, they can always get back off at the nest stop and cross the platform...

[PopCulturePooka]

Human Advertising signs.
Old guys taht hang around in the big city areas with a board advertising a club or soapland hanging around their necks. Except they just STAND there. They don't direct anyone to the club, or spruik it. No sir. They just STAND there with the board around their necks.

Real Estate Signers
If theres an open house on a weekend you'll see these guys. One on every corner from the station to the house. The sit on a fold out chair, have a small table near them with pamphlets/sign to the house and hold a flag up with the real estate agencies logo. And sit there. Usually in a sui/reflective vest. All day. Just sitting. So many times I'd see these guys or girls sleeping in the chair. Flag help between their legs and lightly gripped, dozing away while housebuyers wander past.

Insane.

[Azrael]

Platform attendant at just about any station: There are automated announcements but this guy gets a MICROPHONE to repeat it. And these guys are karaoke addicts and NEVER SHUT UP...Like noisy fucker on the platform with a mike all day...Is there anyone who DOESN'T know this is the Yamanote line headed for ..."x"...And even if they get on the wrong one, they can always get back off at the nest stop and cross the platform...
I HATE this so much. Sometimes, the guy will announce the train like 3 minutes before it comes. The he'll do it again right before it comes. Then the automation will come on and do it. Then sometimes he'll do it again for good measure. WE GET THE FREAKIN POINT, ALREADY!

[Henjin]

SHINBASHI!!

So how does one score a redundant purposeless job with a company that's willing to sponsor his visa? I bring a lot to the table... I can suck up in Japanese and English... Though I can only bow for 5mins at a time w/out straining myself. I'm working on it, though.

[Kustom]

Think harder about it. Are there really any of these jobs that you'd want to DO??? They all imply boredom on a scale unknown to the West...

[Temp]

When I went on my short term student exchange to Japan I remember my group had been on the tour bus for a few hours and as we were traveling I believe over from Ehime over to Kochi, we passed by a construction site. I was just sitting next to the window half asleep from not getting much rest the night before and suddenly as I pass by I see the traffic attendant with the big orange glow rods that they use to direct traffic was wearing a giant rabbit suit. I mean literally a giant rabbit suit, a bright white with the ears and everything and I bolted upright and rubbed my eyes quickly and looked again just to see if I was seeing things but no it was real. So I turn around and ask a friend if he just saw what I did and he had that same look as me of did I really see that. I later came to realize it was actually a good idea since it was a pretty winding road that a traffic cop may not stand out very well but when he's wearing a bright white rabbit suit it's kind of hard to miss so he safely directed the vehicles away from the construction. However, I must say I felt bad for the guy but I miss seeing funny stuff like that in Japan but it's not like I don't see funny stuff here at home as well, it's just different.

[Marblehead]

Think harder about it. Are there really any of these jobs that you'd want to DO??? They all imply boredom on a scale unknown to the West...

What about the guy/girl at a museum whose only job is to tell you to not touch the art?

That's gotta be a shitty job. I couldn't stand doing that shit all day.

[Kustom]

Oh yeah, I forgot one I saw in Osaka: Giant Pocky. If you don't know what pocky is, it's basically a stick with some chocolate on it. Dressing up like a giant stick and not being able to use your hands at all, now that must be even more of a drag than being Minnie Mouse in Tokyo Disneyland.

[Henjin]

I don't think I'd mind a mindless boring job... As long as I was getting paid... For awhile, at least.

[co_delphi]

Food sample hander-outers in basements of department stores: self explanatory. You can pick these up yourself...


Just checking here, but I'm guessing that it is not like it is in the states where a unattended free sample table would be easily cleaned out by a single greedy person?

[akitaka]

Do you think that they'd stop you?


Heh. Homer Simpson would be a regular.

[co_delphi]

Do you think that they'd stop you?


Heh. Homer Simpson would be a regular.


Although I must admit even I am tempted to take more than my allotted one sample when Costco hands out tasty samples, typically the look of shame from the person handing out the delectable treats is enough to keep me from doing so. Although if the person is to ever turn their back my handfull is the limit.

[erbiumfiber]

Whenever I'm at Costco in Japan, I make it my business to get a full meal. I just keep circulating, only taking one at a time but coming back several times. I am not the only one, the Japanese are doing it too- anything goes in Costco- no rules...but in the Depato? Well, that's a JAPANESE store, so everyone is polite and takes only one...

[Henjin]

If all foreigners look the same to them, you shouldn't have a problem revisiting, right?

[erbiumfiber]

I usually stick out because there aren't too many foreign women my age in Japan. But they are mobbed the second the food is finished cooking, so they hardly notice who's there or not. It's not like they're going to give you dirty looks or try to stop you...also I only go to Costco every 2-3 months so it's not like I'm a regular...But you should see it- people let their kids run wild, climb up on everything (rather dangerous in Costco)- and these are the Japanese kids! Come on everybody, it's an American store, let's go crazy like in American movies...

[KaiLing23]

Oh yeah, I forgot one I saw in Osaka: Giant Pocky. If you don't know what pocky is, it's basically a stick with some chocolate on it. Dressing up like a giant stick and not being able to use your hands at all, now that must be even more of a drag than being Minnie Mouse in Tokyo Disneyland.

i bet the kids love him though. *thinks of the Kindergarteners in Disney's "Recess"*. :D

[Kustom]

Sadly, this one is most definitely aimed at adults... [sigh]
You'd think after turning, say, 40, people would tire of people wearing stupid costumes and singing silly lalala songs that get stuck in your head forever to advertise for just about anything... I mean I was already sick of it by the time I was 10... But not in Japan oh no not in Japan...

KAWAII MUST DIE! Had to get it off my chest... :(

[Frankey-eh]

I HATE this so much. Sometimes, the guy will announce the train like 3 minutes before it comes. The he'll do it again right before it comes. Then the automation will come on and do it. Then sometimes he'll do it again for good measure. WE GET THE FREAKIN POINT, ALREADY!

That reminds me...

At the Nagoya train station, there's a guy who stands in front of platform 7 and 8 ALL DAY LONG holding up a sign that says "The train to the EXPO is these platforms."

He's standing in the middle of a very crowded path, and everyone has to walk around him. You'd think they'll hang the sign up or something....

[Sbabbari]

2 other pointless jobs:

Merchandise Duster- Just a guy who walks around in the store with a feather duster, lightly dusting the surfaces of the merchandise (I actually took a movie of a guy doing this, if I find a place to host it, I'll post a link)

Public Phone Cleaner- These two old ladies that drive around cities/towns and stop in various public phone booths and dust them. I swear it's just two ladies that cruise around Japan...

[Slartibart]

Human Advertising signs.

I've seen quite a lot of these the times i have been in London, mostly old men who lean onto an advertising sign for bodylotion or suntan :rolleyes:

[Kustom]

2 other pointless jobs:

Merchandise Duster- Just a guy who walks around in the store with a feather duster, lightly dusting the surfaces of the merchandise (I actually took a movie of a guy doing this, if I find a place to host it, I'll post a link)

Public Phone Cleaner- These two old ladies that drive around cities/towns and stop in various public phone booths and dust them. I swear it's just two ladies that cruise around Japan...

It reminds me of the cleaning lady we had at my Nova school. A rude, mean old bitch that would pop in every monday and use her filthy duster for a few brushes on our tables and the top of the garbage cans. She never ever cleaned the restrooms or use any cleaning product, of course, but she was dressed as a UN WMD inspector. Sometimes I still daydream about pushing her from the 8th floor... :rolleyes:

[Ironfrost]

I HATE this so much. Sometimes, the guy will announce the train like 3 minutes before it comes. The he'll do it again right before it comes. Then the automation will come on and do it. Then sometimes he'll do it again for good measure. WE GET THE FREAKIN POINT, ALREADY!

Is this really so strange? In England, trains will usually get announced 3 times too ("the next train on platform 3 will be...", "the train now approaching Platform 3 is...", "the train now standing at Platform 3 is...").

Of course, we don't employ someone to actually talk into the microphone all day, but the concept is the same.

[Arilou]

I've seen quite a lot of these the times i have been in London, mostly old men who lean onto an advertising sign for bodylotion or suntan :rolleyes:

In Stockholm it's mostly middle-eastern men of indeterminable age, and it's restaurants they advertise. But otherwise I know the phenomenon.

[Katiekoneko]

I wish I could go to Japan and be in weird Japanese commericals or on billboards
*sighhhh*
that would be SO cool

[Sbabbari]

Ever see "Lost In Translation"? :D

[Roxie]

NO.

No one here has ever seen that. Ever

[Sbabbari]

Hmm, didnt think so... Its a pretty obscure production :p

[Varia]

Hey, those train guys are pretty useful. Particularly useful when you are somewhere you have never been and aren't so familiar with the train system. I probably would have gotten on the wrong train once or twice if those guys hadn't been there.
________
Avandia Class Action (http://classactionsettlements.org/)

[DrSax]

Human Advertising signs.
Old guys taht hang around in the big city areas with a board advertising a club or soapland hanging around their necks. Except they just STAND there. They don't direct anyone to the club, or spruik it. No sir. They just STAND there with the board around their necks.



I see these people all over California. They just stand their holding a sign all day, sometimes swinging it around a bit. Sometimes they're nowhere even remotely near the place they are advertising so you're left to guess where the hell that place could possibly be. They do often wear headphones though, so I guess that's a plus.

[Kustom]

Ever see "Lost In Translation"? :D

My advice, from the bottom of my heart: don't watch this movie before you experience Japan for yourself, it's misleading and full of cliches. :mad:
Better yet, don't watch this movie at all.

[Heywood]

2 other pointless jobs:

Merchandise Duster- Just a guy who walks around in the store with a feather duster, lightly dusting the surfaces of the merchandise (I actually took a movie of a guy doing this, if I find a place to host it, I'll post a link) Actually, where I work, that's not so pointless. The store has about ten million dollars in inventory sitting around, some of it gets quite dusty, especially when people don't bother to rotate the stock. I've dusted it myself on occasion, and with the human traffic in the neighborhood of seventy-five thousand people walking through in any weekend, it gets dusty again by Monday. The amount of skin shed is phenomenal. What sort of stores did you see this in?

Public Phone Cleaner- These two old ladies that drive around cities/towns and stop in various public phone booths and dust them. I swear it's just two ladies that cruise around Japan... Well, I take it Japan isn't like the US in that every payphone is filthy, covered in condiments, spit, graffiti, etc. Are they only dusting it? If that's all they're doing, it's a bit ridiculous.

[Katiekoneko]

Scarlet Johanssen (sp)
from Lost in Translation.. is pretty. (in the movie she looks like a more normal person..but at award shows and stuff.. I think she looks glamourous)
I went to a wedding and someone said I looked a bit like her.

My bf is obsessed with her now tho Bleh :(

[Henjin]

Okay this is off-topic, but does anyone else think Rachael Leigh Cook and Rina Uchiyama look kind of similar?

No? Yeah, probably just me.