Dear Customers & Freinds;

Hello from Japan! This is Antique Ichiroya News Letter.No.98th.
As you feel everyday,the economy is awful all over the world,and I am so greatful to have one of the best job;however,
many people just have to take the jobs againt their wills because we need to pay bills,so we look for jobs on newspapers,mostly online,send resumes,get interviews and be accepted,earn salary,support family.This is the common process,but how about old days?
Today,I would like to talk about jobs and related subjects.

A few months ago,I happened to meet one interesting woman.
She is now working independent,but used to work as a Decchi(it is called Decchi,but called Kozo in Tokyo).Growing up in Japan working at modern office,I had no idea what Decchi is,but I found out that it is very unique and traditional system.
Decchi is a educational system carried out from Edo to the end of WWII.
They are brought into the enterprise as teenager,housed,clothed and fed by merchant house,but not paid a wage,compensated in kind and in the training provided by higher level,already experienced,members of the house.Their main jobs are to carry merchandises,deliver them,draw attentions standing in front of stores,wipe floor,learn business manners,I guess all kind of works from the basics.

Eventually,Decchi can be promoted to clark(Tedai) status which was paid
a salary and work as a tool of the Shujin,owner.After being trained for many years,they finally are called Bantou, allowed to have Noren-wake.Noren is curtains hung in front of store with store's logo,so literally, "Share the noren," meaning "to permit a veteran employee to open his own branch of the family business."
During Edo,stores who can afford to have many Decchi are usually famous merchants,so if you can come this far to Noren-wake,you are quite winner! One of the most famous merchant,Mitsui,there was only 1/300 who could do Noren-wake from the owner.
Decchi are usually from village,and came to Edo to work,so they are allowed to come home to see family twice a year,Obon and Oshogatsu(Agust and new year),so Shujin gives him Kozukai,pocket money which is believed that is origin of bonus.One more thing as reference,Decchi was provided own small table for eating,writing,drinking,one drawer or some space under the neath to store a pair of chopsticks and plates.Here is one table we have on our site.

http://www.antiqueichiroya.com/item/list2/506002/

Because it is not Edo now,she did not live with Shujin when she was Decchi,but she started from nothing,came to store earlier than anybody,left last,did all hard works,she was not allowed to touch any art pieces,so looked them over from Shujin's shoulders,she always paid attentions to all because there were too much to learn.She told me that her salary was close to nothing,but her actual experience was more than wad of bills.Going throught all,she became tough as old boots,but extremly thoughtfulness,has her own seccessful store and I am so proud of her!!!

Interestingly,being in this business,I still see people calling Decchi,Shujin,Bantou.Decchi carries antique Imari china wrapped with Furoshiki,wrapping cloth and always in a hurry because Shujin is yelling at him.
Some people don't like this system,but personally,I really love it because I think young people are so fortunate to learn directly living together from experienced secessful professional everyday and one day, they do same keep inheriting all what they learned! I hope that this system will last forever....

Tomorrow will be our last day will list interesting antiques,and charming kimonos,so please browse our both sites!

Thank you for taking your valuable time to read my 98th
newsletters and great patronage through a year.

Wishing you happy holidays and wonderful 2009!

Hisami Sato

Japanese antique Ichiroya
http://www.antiqueichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
address: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN