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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 2015)
Street Roots » Oct. 23-29, 2015 Vendors Page 7 Worldwide vendor spotlight Hiroaki Kashiwagi sells street newspapers in busy Toyko, Japan ' west S t of Vhhe E*pressway Bus '¿ ■ M W at the west e a t of Shinjuku station in Tokyo, Hiroaki Kashiwagi sells copies of The Big Issue Japam The e&year-old man stands from 8p.m. - K h u n o n Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from 5pm to the next site,” he recalled. Kashiwagi had worked for his last employer for fo?^n°d 7' big Stations Popular spots about 20 years, Th a n d t ’ “ 1S qUlte rare t0 fuid someone selling but after the Ahe Big Issue at Right in Japan. recession he But why does he sell a t night? Because Kashiwagi was only offered is busy during the day. From 8a.m. - 5p.m„ he does low paying cleanmg Work at seven different parks in Tokyo. Then contracts and e travels to Shinjuku to sell copies of The Big Issue eventually, he to commuters making their way had no choice home. But his day doesn’t end but to quit his job. After that, he searched for a new there. After returning to his job while living off his savings, believing, “It will be neighborhood late at night, he alright.” voluntarily cleans up the litter from Work was about to getting arder to find as his a local bicycle shelter before finally hearing deteriorated. “I remember seeing homeless heading home for the day. tents on my way to work, and I always thought to When asked why he pushes myself that I didn’t want to join them,” he said. himself so much, he replied: In October 2003, Kashiwagi found himself Fortunately, thanks to the support homeless and living in Toyama Park. When he I received, I was able to find became homeless, he promised himself, “Never steal housing after being homeless for from anybody,” and “If I find something with the about a year. That’s why I would owner’s name written on it, I will return it to them .” like to help other people by doing After Toyama Park, he moved to Shinjuku Central whatever I can.” Park, where he was introduced to The Big Issue. “I Kashiwagi was bora on Awaji started selling on Dec. 23, 2004, so 2014 was my Island in Hy go Prefecture in 1948. was already absent when he was Dorn. His motlierremarrieclwhen he wasfl’3' years old. He felt that there was no space for him, so he began to avoid going back home. * “I was a homeless kid. I picked up anything I could exchange for money. Back then, lots of people used to push around carts full of things they wanted to sell and to collect scrap. I used to push other people’s carts up hills to get some extra money. This money helped me to buy some food. I didn’t ask my mother to give me some money. I just couldn’t ” Before he graduated from junior high school, he had left his home and had started working as a carpenter. “I used to stay at one job site for four to five months. We’d build buildings and then move on Hi # 10th anniversary. It was a bit of a memorble year for mg.” Kashiwagi feels he has seenalTaspecte "of Japanese' society while living in Shinjuku. He is sometimes harassed by drunks in Tokyo’s biggest downtown area. But even when someone laughs at him and says “he is a beggar,” Kashiwagi never shows anger. He simply holds out the magazines and says “Please check it out if you want.” He added: “Recently a young man grabbed a magazine from my hand and threw it away. When I tried to reach out and pick it up, the man spat on me and ran away. Of course I felt annoyed, because that means that some people don’t accept us as part of- society, but I have to keep my chin up.” “We are not selling the magazine inside book His voice is rhythmic and pleasant to hear. “I mention the different countries The Big Issue is sold inyvhen greeting people in the street to let them know how big the organization is. I feeTthat^j-aishig public awareness of the good things The Big Issue has achieved will help my fellow vendors around the world feel better. My wish is for all vendors to become self-sustaining. I believe it’s possible after the kindness shown to me over the last decade.” In the end, there’s one message he wants to tell all customers: “I appreciate from the bottom of my heart everyone who has helped me in the last 10 years and those who continue to do so.” Translated from Japanese into English by Chisa Nishikawa. Courtesy o fIN S P News Service www.INSP. ngo / The B ig Issue Japan »■ «— A re you a Veteran experiencing risk o f becoming homeless? or at ill stores. We are selling them on the street. Some of my peers can’t take a bath every day. Some can’t wear proper clothes. That’s why I respect people who come to me and buy the magazines to help them ” Kashiwagi feels concern about the way he and his peers have been harassed by drunken people. He feels that today’s Japanese society needs a “heart and dreams. He attracts customers in his own unique way, writing down a poem on a Japanese folding fan to convey his message to the people he meets. When selling the magazine, he says “From Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south... From our neighboring country Korea and from Norway, I’m selling The Big Issue. Magazines like it are sold in 35 countries all over the world.” Transition Projects Please call 855.425.5544 or visit 650 NW Irving Street Better health here for Delivering physical, behavorial health and. dental health care for Over 230,000 children, families and. individuáis on. the Oregon Health Plan in the Portland Tri-County area. Together we are health www.healthshareoregon.org
