Oshiya (Pusher)
Today, I will talk about the interesting Japanese occupation “Oshiya”.
押し屋
Oshiya means people who push passengers and luggage that are protruded from train doors during rush hours.
今日は、日本の面白い職業「押し屋」を紹介します。
This occupation was first introduced at Shinjuku station in 1955.
押し屋とは、電車のラッシュ時に、車両の扉からはみ出ている客や荷物を車内に押し込む人のことです。
Oshiya are arranged in front of each train doors; roles of them are to induce passengers to relatively unoccupied areas, and to notify the conductor of whether or not doors can be closed, in addition to pushing.
押し屋は1955年に新宿駅で初めて導入されました。
Also, if passengers try to get on a train by head and shoulders, oshiya will pull and get them back to the platform.
列車の各扉の前に一人が配置され、客を押し込むだけでなく、乗り切れない客を空いている扉に誘導したり、扉を閉めてもよい状態かを車掌に知らせたりもします。
At such a case, oshiya (pusher) becomes hagashiya (puller).
また、これ以上乗れない車両に無理に乗ろうとする乗客をホームに降ろすこともあり、このときは「剥がし屋」となります。
