[Reiwa version uncle’s side business]Kitchen of restaurant
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“Oh, my uncle is working in a place like this …”
In recent years, I often see “uncles” in the field of non-regular labor. Moreover, cases where so-called white-collar office workers are dispatched or working part-time have become noticeable.
40-year-old retirement age, job-type employment, and corona sickness. As the employment situation surrounding middle-aged and older men becomes more severe, I will report on the soulful and sad appearance of uncles who start side jobs.
(Mioko Wakatsuki: Freelance writer)
On the first Saturday of April, a tavern in Tokyo was crowded with people who enjoyed cherry blossom viewing. In response to the sixth wave of the new coronavirus infection, the “long winter” due to the priority measures such as prevention of spread that had been applied in Tokyo is over, and people who rejoice in the reunion following a long absence openly remove the mask and bustling the table. Surrounding.
In the oily kitchen at the back of the store, there was a middle-aged man wearing jeans and a hoodie, wearing an apron, and washing glasses and dishes.
Mr. C (59) is working part-time at an izakaya. He is a salesman at a wholesale company related to men’s clothing on weekdays. He is so young that he is unlikely to reach his 60th birthday, and he is a refreshing old man who is somewhat similar to Junichi Ishida in the trendy drama era.
Mr. C works for a company that wholesales men’s clothing accessories such as ties purchased overseas and domestic to major department stores. It is said to be a long-established store that has been in business for over 50 years.
“The products we sell are not brand-name products, but they are higher-grade ties that are particular regarding materials and designs. Even the cheapest ones cost 10,000 yen.”
The reason why Mr. C started a part-time job on the weekend was still Corona.
Men’s clothing is one of the industries that was hit hard by Corona. Remote work has expanded, and demand for suits has dropped sharply. Naturally, sales of products handled by Mr. C’s company also dropped significantly.
When the first state of emergency was declared in April 2020, the atmosphere within the company was still optimistic.
“At that time, I didn’t expect this situation to last this long. I thought it would be temporary, and I thought it would come back.”
During the declaration, Mr. C’s company also became a remote work, but there was an order such as “I want such a product when the department store resumes”, and I was buying online. However, even following the first state of emergency in Japan was declared, the situation did not improve.
According to the Japan Department Store Association, sales of men’s clothing in FY07 / 20 fell by nearly 30% compared to the previous year. In the first place, Corona chased following the fact that the suits were gradually being separated from around 2010. Currently, the men’s clothing industry itself is at a crossroads.
The men’s clothing industry is exposed to strong headwinds due to the increase in remote work due to suit separation and corona damage (Photo: AP / Afro).
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