Chapter XI: Yamamoto and High Cost of Living

After lunch at the missionary's I found my team at the gate spoiling for a run.

"Yamamoto, take me to your home," I said; "I want to meet your family. I want to see how a rikisha man lives. And, Yamamoto, I'll give you a yen if you'll invite me to supper at your home tonight."

The yen looked tempting, but Yamamoto wouldn't play the game.

He said to have a foreigner as a guest at his humble home would bring around his house such a crowd of curious neighbors that all pleasure in the repast would be spoiled--or words to that effect; but he would take me to his home. Off we started, a three-mile run; Ushi pushed and Yamamoto pulled, and I was soon a self-invited guest in Yamamoto's home; and, if to break bread or chopstick rice in Yamamoto's home would have brought a greater horde of curious neighbors than gathered to witness a foreigner's call at that home, then Yamamoto's head was level--Yamamoto's head was level anyway.

A little house 8 x 16, two rooms 8 x 8, the front opening on a street about eight feet wide; a yard in the rear 6 x 8, was Yamamoto's home.

It was as neat as wax and furnished with an _hibachi_ on which to cook, a _tanstu_ in which to store their clothes. No chairs--they sit on the floor; no beds, save _futons_, to lay on the floor; and an _okimono dai_, a sort of what-not stand, on which a few ornaments and articles of household use were placed.

The wife was gone for the day, but his children were at home, and a more interesting trio of children one wouldn't ask to meet.

My team took me back to the hotel. I dismissed them for the day at five o'clock. I paid off Ushi, and made a deal with Yamamoto to go home and write me the story of his life. I told him I'd pay him a yen to tell me all about himself, his family, how they lived, and what it cost. To bring me the letter written the next morning and get one yen fifty for the day and an extra yen for the letter. Two yen fifty I would hand him in the morning when he handed me the letter; and Yamamoto said he would, and Yamamoto did--I imagine one of his daughters did the writing.

Here is an exact translation of Yamamoto's letter as he handed it to me the next morning--and Yamamoto has his stand within the wall, but Ushi does business without the gate:

The present living condition of Tokichi Yamamoto. He was born in
the 12st May 2nd year Meiji 1869. I was born and bred in the city
of Kioto, and have been engaging in the job of Rikisha for these
twenty years, and my family is consisting of my wife and three
children. Elder and younger girls who have had finished the whole
course of the Primary school (4 years), and they are now working
in the factory of the Tobacco Monopoly Buelow, and the young son
is attending the Primary school.

I am somewhat puzzling with the expense of living. My estimated
income is 30 yen each month in the months of April, May, October
and November and the rest of is about 18 yen per month,
therefore, I make it average, it becomes about 22 yen per month,
and two girls get 16 yen, so all the income of my house is
reckoned 38 yen per month.

The elder sister has just abandoned her work in the factory, and
she attends a house for learning of sewing. The list of paying
out a month:

House rent 3.00 yen
City tax and town expense .50
The expense of education 1.10
The rice charge 12.00
Wood, charcoal and oil 1.30
Vegetable and fish 7.00
Dressing charges 3.00
Miscellaneous expense 5.00
-----
Total 32.90[A]

[Footnote A: $16.45 American money.]

Fortunately I am in robust health. Though I am not educated
myself, I am thinking that the dutifulness and truthfulness are
the most important to intercourse with people, and as I am
truthful and dutiful to my friends, I am rather welcomed by them.