Shoeshiner, 92 years old, in front of Shimbashi Station/新橋駅前92歳の靴磨き職人

[yamamo_cchi]

Tokyo is one of those cities where there is a lot of change.
In the midst of all this, there is a man who has been shining shoes in front of Shimbashi Station for 50 years.

Shoeshine by Sachiko Nakamura

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NbSuXWBwH28Lp4Hg9

Please see the following link for her biography.(in Japanese)

https://gendai.media/articles/-/104672

500 yen for 15 minutes.
It is much cheaper than the surrounding market price.
She is at SL Plaza in front of Shinbashi Station on both cold and hot days.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/piQJdRG1bbTMfvDy5

SL Plaza in front of Shinbashi Station

I learn a lot of things when I talk to her.

Shoe care

Health

About work

and more.

About shoe care

"They will be looking at your heels too, so wipe them down carefully."

She also tells us to wipe our heels carefully.

On the health front

"No smoking, no drinking, and if you are Japanese, have rice in the morning."

When I told him that I don't smoke, but only drink alcohol at social gatherings, she replied,

"That can't be helped, you have work to do. You shouldn't drink alcohol all the time, And konnyaku is good, too."

She loves oden.

Konnyaku is a jelly-like food made from konnyaku potatoes and is commonly used in Japanese cuisine.
It is a very healthy and low-calorie food.

She is also very polite and courteous about her work, which is evident in the way she polishes my shoes.

When I talked with her, I could tell that she knows a lot of young people's words and is interested in many things.

She is truly a wonderful person.

I wish I could have introduced her a little earlier.

I'm so glad I did.

"You look like an actor, you have beautiful eyes."

She complimented me.

 

I also have a song about her life.

You can listen to it if you like.

The title is "Shinbashi 2-chome-7-banchi," the address of the place where she works as a shoeshiner.

🇯🇵日本語

東京は変化が多い都市のうちの1つです。

そんな中、50年間新橋駅前で靴磨きをしている方がいらっしゃいます。

中村幸子さんの靴磨き

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NbSuXWBwH28Lp4Hg9

彼女の経歴は以下のリンクをご覧下さい。

https://gendai.media/articles/-/104672

15分で500円。

周囲の相場より遥かに安いです。

寒い日も暑い日も新橋駅前のSL広場にいます。

https://maps.app.goo.gl/piQJdRG1bbTMfvDy5

お話をするといろんなことを教えてもらい、勉強にもなります。

靴の手入れ

健康面

仕事について

など。

靴の手入れについては、

「踵もしっかり見られているから丁寧に拭きなさい」

と教えてくれます。

健康面では

「タバコも酒もだめ、日本人なら朝はお米」

私はタバコを吸わないですが、酒は交流の場で飲むことしかしないと伝えると

「そこは仕方ないよ、仕事もあるからね。普段から酒ばかり飲んではダメよ、

　あとはこんにゃくもいいよ」

と話をしてくれました。

おでんが大好きだそうです。

仕事についても丁寧に丁寧にという姿勢が靴を磨いている姿で伝わってきます。

話をすると、若者言葉などもよくご存知で、いろんなことに興味を持たれていることもわかります。

本当に素晴らしい人です。

もう少し早く紹介したかったのです。

嬉しいことに

「あなたは俳優さんみたいな顔をしているね、目がきれい」

と褒めてもらえました😊

彼女の人生を歌った曲もあります。

良かったら聴いてみて下さい。

タイトルは靴磨きをしている場所の住所、「新橋二丁目七番地」。

[MrFreez]

Such an interesting story to read @yamamo_cchi 

Its amazing to see someone work a job for 50 years till they are 90 years. Shows the dignity in work. 

[PattyBlack]

La sua saggezza è la sua forza. Quando si fa quello che si ama fare, l'età non è un problema. Questa persona merita rispetto per la dignità con cui affronta le giornate e la sua storia merita di essere raccontata perché è un importante legame con le usanze che stanno scomparendo nella modernità. Grazie per la condivisione @yamamo_cchi 

[yamamo_cchi]

@MrFreez 

Thanks for the comment!
50 years of careful attention to one job, really great.
I would also like to learn from you to keep a healthy body to keep it going.

[yamamo_cchi]

@PattyBlack 

Thanks for the comment!

I was also very happy to have her polish my shoes.
It was a happy moment.
If I have another opportunity, I will respectfully ask her to polish my shoes!