jaw house cleaner

Anonymous Man, about 60
Day Laborer Cleaning Houses in Tokyo

Charles McJilton, director of the NGO Second Harvest Japan, was handing out applications for food cards along the river in Tokyo. He explained the reason for the applications was to ensure those men with some sort of structure to live in got money. Others had no means to cook the rice and sometimes wasted the food. This man seemed happy and healthy but declined to give his name or have his picture taken.

What’s your job now?
Nothing.

For example, how many days do you work within a month?
Three or four.

So what do you do those days?
I clean up old apartments.

About how much do you make?
¥10,000.

A month?
Per day.

Isn’t that a lot?
No! I work all day for it.

Does it include lunch?
No. A car meets me in Sanya and takes.

Is it enough?
Well… not enough.

What was your previous job?
I was a bookkeeper.

Why did you quit your job? Or did you retire?
I retired (laughter). Actually, the company went bankrupt.

After that did you apply at many other places?
Yeah. I did some part time work.

Are there painful points about your present job?
I get tired. It’s boring.

So you don’t look forward to going?
I wouldn’t say that. This job feeds me. Without it I can’t live.

If you could, would you like to work more?
Sure, if I could do it regularly I could get myself an apartment. But there’s no security with this job. I can’t rely on the income so I can’t get an apartment.

What would you do about a guarantor?
I’d be able to find someone.

Is there anything painful about living along the river?
Hot weather.

Worse than winter?
Yeah. I can bundle up in winter. I have a stove to cook warm food as well.

Charles, needing to distribute flyers, ended the interview here.

the end