japan’s elevator girls
These women are a reminder of Japan’s golden age of department stores. In 1929, women as young as 14 were recruited to operate elevators at a popular mall in Tokyo. Elevators were confusing at the time. People fell into shafts. Instead of buttons, they were manually operated by turning handles, which controlled the elevator speed and position. It was considered a glamorous job for young women. The girls used high-pitched voices to call out each floor, and some were even scouted to become television announcers. They are some of the first in Japanese society to adopt western style uniforms, pillbox hats, white gloves, and neatly tied scarves. Elevator girls also served as guides by leading customers to stores and assisting disabled shoppers. With the increase in automatic elevators and the economic crash of the ’90s, many of these jobs were cut to save money. Once the faces of hospitality, elevator girls were now seen as unnecessary. Today, they’re a nostalgic Easter egg. I have seen elevator girls at this ninestory bookstore and Takashimaya department
manual elevators are so cool #japaneseculture #japantravel #japanlife
23 Comments
I remember seeing elevator attendants at this big department store in Osaka with 9 some odd floors.
was a times they were called エレガ elega, short for elevator girl
"people fell into shafts" 😂
Thank you. This was very informative.
In the US, many companies dropped elevator operators when they installed automatic elevators. The only exception was in government offices (since it is very challenging to eliminate job positions in our government).
this is so insightful! thanks for sharing this information! 🫶🏻🫶🏻
North Korea arguably has similar jobs for women, especially young ones such as traffic ladies & in department stores
They used them during check in hours at the Ryokan I stayed at in Hakone. It was very over the top, but cute and appreciated. It wasn't just young girls, it was a mix, and they were in very nice traditional dressings. Still an automatic elevator, but they used the call and floor buttons for you.
Taiwan used to have similar job, there's also bus girls
“women as young as 14” so children?
With high pitched voices😂😂
Gov's go on about "creating jobs"…yet encourage modernisation which "cuts jobs"…They are similar to bus conductresses…Put more work on the drivers with modern ticket cash machine…Get rid of the conductors…there for cutting jobs.
FUN FACT: Japan went through a crash because of the U.S……
"women as young as 14" sooo kids 💔
I to saw one at a large shopping mall but she was dressed in street wear so I was confused why she wasn’t getting off the elevator.
“Women as young as 14” so children, not women 😅
U speak more sss as orochimaru😅
高島屋
"women as young as 14" you means girls…….
I remember these elevator girls exist taiwan too when I was a kid (this made me sound old but I'm literally only 24)
*GIRLS as young as 14
"So whats your job?"
Elevator
So that's why in mall centers of some Pokémon games they had an elevator asistant.
They have this in Brazil! They were very nice, but I wondered what was the point of them.