10 Weird Part-time Jobs Found in Japan
In Japan,the German term arbeit (アルバイト – arubaito, or baito in short) is used to refer to part-time jobs.
While there are a variety of reasons why people take up baito, having a unique way of earning money might very well be one of them. Let us explore some of these unique and/or weird part-time jobs found in Japan:
1. Vending machine placement scout / PET bottle “drill sergeant”
A recruitment ad for vending machine placement scouts. Source
With over 5.5 million vending machines in Japan, you can imagine that space constraint is a big issue. It is not easy to find a legal spot to plant one of these modern marvels and companies are willing to pay good money (up to 20,000 yen in the above advertisement) for successful scouting of placement spots.
Dream job for a perfectionist? Source: tumblr.com
With the ubiquity of vending machines comes the many production lines for bottled beverages. Every once in a while, you get an errant bottle that decides to “sleep” on the line and the job of the “drill sergeant” is to promptly wake that very bottle up.
2. ‘Sakura’ (Decoys)
A perfect wedding requires perfect guests. An advert for paid ‘guests’. Source:
The term sakura (サクラ or 偽客) here refers to a person who is a decoy, and not the famous cherry blossoms (桜). With the relevant social skills or dressing, one can sign up as a part-time wedding ‘guest’ or even as the officiating pastor! These part-timers are sometimes given a nicer title called “hospitality supporters” and are usually used in small weddings. Sakura are not restricted to just weddings, they also appear in official meetings and are sometimes employed to make pachinko parlours look crowded!
3. Part-time ninja trainers
Budget ninja master? Source:
In light of the declining number of practitioners of ninjutsu, adverts are coming up in all sorts of places seeking ninja masters who are willing to groom the next generation of ninjas… Well, not really, these ‘ninjas’ are usually hired for entertainment purposes in theme parks.
4. Ad balloon ‘life guard’
Colorful advertising balloons. Source:
While inflatable objects often come to the aid of life guards, in this case, the ‘life guard’s’ job is to keep an eye on the advertising balloons (or ad balloons in short) and make sure that they don’t stray.
5. Co-sleeper / Part-time Pillow
Looks…. peaceful. Source:
The news of shops offering “co-sleeping” (添い寝 – soine) packages to customers who want to sleep alongside a lady in pyjamas went viral a while back. The co-sleeper offers services such as allowing you to sleep on her lap, staring deep into your eyes and holding hands while sleeping.
6. Oshiya – Passenger pusher (押し屋)
‘Sardine packers’ at work.
This is a job that I really want to try out – shoving people into trains. While this job used to be exclusive to rail workers, it is now increasingly taken up by part-timers. To be fair, these oshiya are only needed during peak hours at specific popular train lines.
7. Narabiya (並び屋)
The orderly queues often found in Japan. Source:
Narabiya are freelancers who specialise in queuing in place of others. Be it EXILE concert tickets or a copy of the latest game from Square Enix or a spot for a nice picnic during the cherry blossoms season, these part-timers would gladly trade their time for your money.
8. “White Hands” Sexual Care Staff
A drawing session with a nude model. Source:
White Hands, according to their official website, is “a nonprofit organization that is working to resolve the issue of disability and sexuality in Japan”. Among the part-time remunerated positions available are care staff that offer “ejaculation help” (for specific disabilities) and nude models for drawing sessions catered to the disabled.
9. Rental boyfriend
Probably more ‘obedient’ than the usual boyfriend. Source:
Fancy a romantic date at Tokyo Disneyland? Or just want to lie in the arms of a man? Boyfriend rental services are taking off in Japan and shopping for one is as easy as shopping on Amazon. The part-time boyfriends get paid a hefty sum for their services too.
10. Part-time helper on the top of Mount Fuji
“Check out the view from my desk”. Source:
What could be a more unique part-time job than working in a mountain hut (山小屋 – yamagoya) on the 8th Station of the revered Mount Fuji, some 3,000 metres above sea level? The job includes boarding, three meals, transportation subsidies and a daily allowance.
And that wraps up the list of 10 unique (or weird) part-time jobs found in Japan!
