Do you remember what kinds of jobs people toiled at in the Showa era? From occupations that have all but vanished today, like telephone operators and elevator attendants, to roles that have evolved and continued in new forms, the working scenes of Showa are filled with both nostalgia and discovery.
Looking back on the many jobs that supported daily life back then, you’re sure to find episodes that make you nod and say, “That’s right!” Shall we trace our memories of Showa-era work together?
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For seniors: Nostalgic stories to share! Memories of work and life in the Showa era (1–10)
Puffed Rice Snack ShopNEW!
In the Showa era, mobile puffed rice vendors were beloved.
It was a kind of street performance by today’s standards, and if you brought your own uncooked rice and sugar, they would make puffed rice for you on the spot.
Some of you may remember your hearts pounding as children at the loud bang! and the toasty aroma.
These mobile vendors are now a rare sight, but puffed rice is still cherished.
Buying some again after a long time can stir up nostalgia, and you might enjoy comparing the taste with the puffed rice of the past.
steam locomotive engineerNEW!
Steam locomotives supported Japan until they were completely retired in 1976.
An SL engineer is the driver who operates a steam locomotive.
They shovel coal into the firebox to produce steam, and the SL engineer uses that steam to run the locomotive.
For boys who love trains, SL engineers are heroes! However, to become an SL engineer you have to pass a national exam, so not just anyone can do it.
There are still a few places and facilities today where you can ride SLs, and my son was absolutely captivated whenever he saw them.
We rode them together several times, and it felt very fresh and exciting.
elevator girlNEW!
Elevator girls were once a glamorous role at department stores.
It referred to women who operated the elevators and made announcements, essentially serving as the public face of the store.
Naturally, poise and knowledge were required, giving the impression that they were the chosen few.
Nowadays, due to advances in elevator technology and cost-cutting, you hardly see them anymore, though many girls probably admired the job.
As for me, the only place I saw them as an adult was at Abeno Harukas.
It seems they even offered an elevator girl job-experience program in 2023.
sandwich board manNEW!
A “sandwich man” refers to a person who wears signboards on the front and back of their body.
They walk around the streets in that state to advertise.
You might think of it as human advertising.
This advertising method was born in New York, USA, and in Japan it was often seen during the Showa era in places like Ginza, Tokyo.
It seems they not only hung signs, but also drew attention with costumes and performances.
Personally, I feel that in a way it might have been a kind of street performance.
TypistNEW!
Before personal computers became widespread, typists were known for playing an important role.
Using typewriters, they were responsible for making fair copies of handwritten text.
Accuracy and speed were essential, and their work also included aspects of proofreading and copyediting to check for typos and omissions.
At times, language skills were required as well, so the profession became synonymous with well-educated women.
There is also a French film themed around typists called “Populaire,” so if you’re interested, please take a look.
bus girlNEW!
Women conductors who worked on route buses and shared-ride buses in the Showa era were called “bus girls.” They collected tickets and fares, operated the doors, and served as guides.
They drew attention for their high starting salaries and their unusual Western-style uniforms.
As times changed, those duties shifted to a single driver, and the bus girls gradually disappeared; however, February 2 has been designated as Bus Girl Birth Day.
Their berets were striking, and even today they look sharp and cool!
benshi (silent film narrator)NEW!
A katsudō benshi is a professional who delivers narration of the story and the characters’ lines in a live voice during a silent film.
Nowadays, with films that naturally include sound and music, there aren’t many people who have seen a silent movie.
I’m one of them, but since a benshi performs in front of a live audience, they can’t afford to make mistakes, and acting ability is essential.
Even without having seen it, I could imagine it must have been an amazing profession.
I wonder if older people have seen them live.
I’d love to hear what the atmosphere was like.