| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"stoney" |
| Date: |
31 Oct 2003 11:09:03 PM |
| Object: |
OT: Japanese pay rather than ask for help |
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/31/1067566085918.html?from=storyrhs
Japanese pay rather than ask for help
By Mark Magnier in Tokyo
November 1, 2003
Some clients' flats were chest-high in garbage because they were
terrified of running into other people at the communal rubbish bin.
Others needed help making up their wedding parties, including a bride
who was supplied with two 27-year-olds posing as her bridesmaids.
Then there was the young woman who had retreated to her bathroom after
finding a dead cockroach in her living room. After an emergency phone
call, it took less than a minute to remove the offending object. Fee:
$A70.
Part handymen, part psychologists, Japan's "benriya", or
"convenience-doers", solve problems once handled by relatives,
neighbours and friends. Business is thriving in this society beset by
social fears, alienation and an apparent inability - or unwillingness -
to perform many of life's basic tasks.
Even as they pocket often-hefty fees, however, some benriya reflect on
the social changes that have fuelled demand for their services. "It's
sad that Japanese find it so difficult to ask each other for even simple
favours," said Kanji Sugimoto, head of the Project K benriya firm.
Benriya are unlicensed, and most are men working alone - an estimated
5000 nationwide, including about 1000 in Tokyo. They advertise in
leaflets, in phone books, over the internet and by word of mouth. Though
every nation has its handymen, benriya perform a much wider variety of
tasks than their overseas counterparts.
"Compared to Americans, Japanese are far less independent or
self-reliant," said Yutaka Iwase, director of the Osaka-based Japan
Benriya Association. "In Japan, benriya do a lot that people really
should do themselves."
As life in Japan becomes more divorced from nature, the tolerance for
dirt and odd smells has dropped, bringing more calls to rid flats of
such things as odours that sometimes appear imaginary.
Many benriya also have first-hand experience with "hikikomori" - the
social breakdown and acute depression now on the rise in Japan.
Tokyo-based ACT Service, which specialises in female clients, offers a
combined house cleaning and psychological counselling package for those
unable to cope, fearful of even the slightest contact with neighbours.
Given the importance of saving face and avoiding confrontation, benriya
are also able to help extricate a customer from a sticky situation, such
as saying no to a troublesome neighbour.
"They fill a real need in Japanese society," said Motoo Murata, an
independent analyst. That can also include spying on lovers, supplying
alibis, pretending to be the husband of a loan applicant or sitting in
as the fiance for a gay or happily single client during parental visits.
Yutaka Manabe, head of Benriya Japan, earned $A640 pretending to be a
groom's professor, giving a glowing speech about the young man's
non-existent academic achievements.
(c) 2003 Los Angeles Times
This story was found at:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/31/1067566085918.html
Stoney
"Designated Rascal and Rapscallion
and
SCAMPERMEISTER!"
When in doubt, SCAMPER about!
When things are fair, SCAMPER everywhere!
When things are rough, can't SCAMPER enough!
/end humour alert
alt.atheism military veteran #11
{so much for the 'no atheists in foxholes' rubbish}
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| User: "Doc Smartass" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Japanese pay rather than ask for help |
01 Nov 2003 12:56:36 AM |
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stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote in
news:6tf6qvgmrmv6ev96sdtr0i81sj9096ofc3@4ax.com:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/31/1067566085918.html?from=story
rhs
Japanese pay rather than ask for help
By Mark Magnier in Tokyo
November 1, 2003
Some clients' flats were chest-high in garbage because they were
terrified of running into other people at the communal rubbish bin.
Damn, this is sad. :/
--
Dr. Smartass
BAAWA Knight of Heckling -- a.a. #1939
Your primitive religion amuses me. Bring me your finest meats and cheeses.
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| User: "Bill, The Avender" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Japanese pay rather than ask for help |
01 Nov 2003 03:59:41 PM |
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In alt.atheism on Sat, 01 Nov 2003 06:56:36 GMT, Doc Smartass
<gekiskivviesdo@astroboyskivviesmail.com> wrote:
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote in
news:6tf6qvgmrmv6ev96sdtr0i81sj9096ofc3@4ax.com:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/31/1067566085918.html?from=story
rhs
Japanese pay rather than ask for help
By Mark Magnier in Tokyo
November 1, 2003
Some clients' flats were chest-high in garbage because they were
terrified of running into other people at the communal rubbish bin.
Damn, this is sad. :/
Quite! :- Oddly enough, I found myself contemplating the acquisition
of the Japanese language and exporting myself. MUST... RESIST...
GREED!!! :-# Though now that I think about it, fundies here in the
U.S. could use similar services. Clients could pay people to make
them look intelligent, either by bragging about them or by making
themselves look even more stupid than the client.
--
L8r,
Bill, The Avender
***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***
A pessimist would see a hole in the ozone layer as increased exposure to deadly UV rays.
An optimist would see it as an opportunity to get free, unlimited tanning.
***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***===***
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