Wada Mitsuru, 57
Street Vendor in Osaka
When did the Big Issue start?
Two years ago, 25 issues ago. This is a translation of a British magazine, printed in Japan. Besides Osaka, it’s sold in Sendai, Tokyo, and Fukuoka. The publisher does this to help the homeless. Each issue costs me 90 yen, and I sell them for 200, so it’s 110 yen profit. I sell back issues too. I make about 80,000 yen a month. I got this job at city hall. My friend introduced it to me. Seven or eight sell in this area. Altogether 50 or 60 homeless sell it in Osaka.How much do you work?
All the time. Every day from about 8am until 6pm. It’s tough. I take breaks of course.Where do you live?
On cardboard under this building. I used to work a part-time job doing construction but these days there’s not much work in construction.Can you save now?
Not really. These days sales are going down a little. It changes day to day. I only sell here and at the post office.Are there any government employment programs?
No.Is the situation for homeless improving?
Getting jobs like this is an improvement. We can get some income.How do customers react? Do some people chat with you?
Yes, sometimes. They compliment me about an interesting issue, or mention that a previous issue was disappointing.Do you think the money you receive is fair?
Not really. It’d be better if I could make more. I’d really like to make at least 100,000 yen a month. The company is being fair because its whole purpose is to help us.What about selling Japanese at Work books?
It’d be difficult. The Big Issue is slick. It’s a popular magazine in Britain. During the World Cup we played soccer. A British organization flew homeless Japanese men to England to play a charity match with other homeless.Who won?
Japan was at or near the bottom.What kind of job would you like to do after this?
I’m not young so it’s hard to say. Perhaps a job cleaning. I used to be a truck driver. When the owner died, the company stopped operation. That was about 15 years ago. Since then I’ve been doing part time jobs.Any dreams for the future?
Rent an apartment. You can’t work without an address. So I want to get an address. I have to save money for deposit and key money shikikin (key money).
the end