(Tokyo) They roam the bleachers, beer taps on their backs: in Japan, these street vendors in baseball stadiums represent a tradition that is still very popular, even if their working conditions may be questionable.
Called “uriko” (“the saleswomen”), these young women relentlessly run up and down the stairs in the middle of the bays, whispering a few kind words to their customers while filling their cups with a beer gun.
They are easy to spot with their neon uniforms, always consisting of a miniskirt or shorts. Some also wear knee pads to protect themselves from injuries and grime, as they often have to kneel down when serving a beer – so as not to obstruct the view of the supporters.
Still, Honoka Hagiwara, a 22-year-old saleswoman at the Tokyo Dome stadium, says she loves her job, even seeing a “glamorous” side to it.
“I’ve been doing this job for a little over a year and I’ve gotten used to it,” she says of having to carry a keg of beer weighing up to 30 pounds for three hours straight. .
The young woman admits that it was “physically very hard” at first. But she says she enjoys helping fans have fun, and says the job gives her “confidence.”
Competition among these street vendors is fierce, as they are paid on commission.
Mariko Matsumoto, a 25-year-old “uriko,” says she’s “always thinking” about her sales numbers. “We pay attention to other people’s sales and we think of our own, trying to sell more than the day before.”
The hundred Tokyo Dome vendors serve around 20,000 cups per game night on average.
They change their barrels ten to twelve times during their service, with a speed and efficiency that has nothing to envy to pit stops in Formula 1.
Barely time to drink a glass of water or cold tea while standing while assistants replace his keg on his back, and the “uriko” sets off again in search of thirsty customers.
Few men do this demanding job today, whereas they were in the majority until the 1980s.
There are only female vendors at the Tokyo Dome, but a spokeswoman for the site says organizers aren’t opposed to the idea of hiring male vendors. Simply, “there are 100 times more women applying than men.”
The archipelago had its own movement
However, the tradition of “urikos” is almost non-controversial, nor is that of cheerleaders performing somersaults on the field between playing times.
One element of the explanation probably lies in the fact that the atmosphere in baseball stadiums in Japan is generally peaceful, with a disciplined, mixed and family audience. And security guards intervene if drunk spectators cross the line.
Like her colleague Honoka Hagiwara, Mariko Matsumoto says she enjoys interacting with fans: she has bonded with some regulars, even receiving gifts from them from time to time.
Ms. Matsumoto thinks it’s important to keep smiling even when it’s hard: “I like watching baseball games myself, and when I see a salesman smiling, it makes me want to buy a drink.” .
But the experience of this profession is not so positive for everyone. In 2019, a former “uriko” called her “creepy” on a blog site hosted by the Asahi newspaper.
“It didn’t take long for me to realize that I wasn’t just selling beer and snacks – I was selling myself,” wrote this former “uriko” who complained about customers wanting to take her picture or give her away. their business cards.
