Rickshaw pulling is one of the growing tourist attractions in Japan, where you can take a leisurely stroll around the streets on a two-wheeled cart pulled by a driver. Rickshaw pullers were mostly men but a surging number of Japanese women have also entered the profession, and Tokyo Rickshaw, the company operating within the Asakusa district, reports that women comprise about a third of their pullers. This sudden interest can be attributed to social media as rickshaw pullers post videos of their trips online to promote themselves, attract more customers, and gain repeat customers.
It might seem like a dangerous job for women, since it's physically demanding and there's always the risk of sexual harassment from customers or discrimination. However, the women themselves find it engaging and fulfilling, and so they continue to work. Moreover, popular drivers can earn over 1 million yen a month which is twice the average salary of a typical Japanese employee, and ten times that of the minimum wage.
(Image credit: Felix Luo/Unsplash)