Saruwatari Mitsunori, 48
Motorcycle Mechanic from Kumamoto
Could you describe your routine?
I work from 8:30am to 10pm, Monday through Saturday. I often work on Sundays too. 80% of my time is on repairs, but I often go to help customers if they have an accident or a problem. I have many longtime customers. They come to have a chat like we’re doing now. I consider that part of my job. I can learn about people and their lives, like that you like writing. Every night after I straighten up the shop I have a cup of sake, a bath, then dinner.Sake doesn’t taste so good after dinner.How much vacation time do you take?
I don’t take any vacations. I even work through Obon and golden week.Why did you decide to run your own motorcycle shop?
At university I studied mechanical engineering and belonged to the automobile club all four years. At that time my dream was to go on the Sahara Rally in Africa (the Paris-Dakar Rally). After graduating I worked at a car service station for six years. That’s where I learned about engines. Cars are expensive, however, so I decided to open my own motorcycle shop. I’m not following my father, you see--I found a job I love. I’ve had the shop for 18 years.What about the Sahara Rally?
Well, I named my girls Sahara and Rari. I hope to take them someday, but I’m not sure that they’ll want to go! It’s my dream. Maybe we can all go together after they’re married.What are the good and bad points of your job?
There are no bad points. I love fixing motorcycles. The best thing for me is working on a Kawasaki W1. There’s a newspaper article (points to the frame on the wall) of me fixing one. It’s an old bike, tricky to fix. Most mechanics don’t want to touch it. You might say that’s my specialty. That bike fits my personality, my way of driving.How’s your salary?
It can be rather low or rather high depending on the amount of work. I don’t have any employees. Employees are expensive. My wife does the office work in the afternoon. The salary was enough to put my eldest through university, but I had to sell both my motorcycles to do it. You can buy a motorcycle anytime, but your child only gets one chance to study at university. She’s a nursery school teacher now.What about the future?
After both girls become adults I can cut back a bit--but I’ll keep fixing awasaki W1’s until I die.the end
This interview was originally published in Kansai Time Out magazine.