A short while ago, a group of men belonging to a particular delivery service company became hot news in Japan, not for their sterling courier service as you might expect, but, to put it bluntly, for their dashing good looks. Yes, as silly as it may sound, good-looking delivery men, specifically those working for major Japanese delivery company Sagawa Express, have been making many a Japanese woman swoon.
But then again, perhaps it isn’t too surprising that these “Sagawa Danshi” (literally, “the Sagawa men”), as they have come to be collectively known, have been in the media spotlight, as plenty of hot men are indeed in the employ of Sagawa Express, and the busy delivery work tends to keep them physically fit and energetic looking. However, all of this attention now seems to have resulted in a rather unfortunate phenomenon for some Sagawa delivery men.
According to a recent article appearing in News Post Seven, some Sagawa delivery men have been distraught of late as women receiving deliveries have been showing expressions of abject disappointment when the appearance of the delivery staff isn’t quite “up to their expectations”. The poor men! Here’s what one Sagawa delivery man had to say:
“I know I’m not an 'ikemen' (good-looking guy) like the delivery guys who appeared in the media. And I think that’s maybe why some women who receive packages from me look so obviously disappointed. Some of them even come out wearing carefully applied makeup, quite possibly because they’re expecting some hot hunk of a guy. Well, I’m sorry to have to disappoint them, but hey, my feelings get hurt, too!”
While we sympathize with this delivery man, it’s also true that when Sagawa Danshi fever was at its peak, some of these guys were treated like idols.
One of the more fortunate Sagawa employees says in the article, “Yes, there were ladies who gave me their telephone numbers or gifts. Some of them even called for package pick-up everyday. I was flattered, but I have to say I was at a loss as to how to respond.”
And what does the PR department at Sagawa Express have to say about all this? “It’s our policy not to take requests for specific delivery personnel. Our delivery staff do not give their name or distribute name cards to customers. They also don’t wear name badges while making deliveries, although not in order to specifically prevent customers from requesting a particular delivery person.” So, apparently the folks at Sagawa have taken measures not to let the craze escalate too far.
Hmm … I, for one, would hate to have to make a package delivery and see the look of disappointment on a customer’s face when they caught sight of me. Let’s hope that the ladies of Japan give the hard-working Sagawa delivery men a break and receive the men in blue and white stripes with a big smile.
Source: News Post Seven
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47 Comments
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Ewan Huzarmy
Shallow society.
kimuzukashiiiii
Ewan - or perhaps more like one in which it is almost impossible to meet someone?
Probie
If this was men talking about women, it would be "demeaning".
lachatamber
lmao, and yet no one has a problem when there's a hot girl as JT's photo of the day.
ChibaChick
Taking bored and lonely housewifery to a whole new level....
Seriously - like men, nothing wrong with a bit of eye-candy, but when you start dolling yourself up to receive the mail, and drooping with disappointment when the man in question doesnt meet your "standards" you have got to start asking yourself some pretty searching questions about your life!
BurakuminDes
Hopefully all these delivery-men are getting plenty of action from these bored housewives! Heck, if its ok for their salarymen hubbies to be cruising the snacks and bars by night, let their neglected wives have some naughty fun!
tmarie
Sad women who need to get a life if they are calling these calls for daily pick-ups and giving them presents. Get a job? Get a hobby? Go out and meet people in real life?
tmarie
If this was men talking about women, it would be "demeaning".
I agree. I find the pictures of the day on here and all the articles about women here demeaning. I guess they try and balance it out sometimes? Very shallow though.
gaijinfo
Only in Japan. UPS guys have been getting laid for years. But did they make a big deal, and come out with an official company statement, and have professional photo shoots and try to leverage it into some kind of corporate sanctioned promotion? No, they didn't.
Why?
Because they know that some things need to be kept on the "down low."
By taking naturally occurring phenomenon like delivery guys getting some on the side, Japan Inc. has a knack for killing any kind of spontaneity.
nath
This is demeaning, on a human level- I am relatively certain a few grey cells went poof, as a result.
This particular brand of condescending pap, seems to be de rigueur by this "writer".
The good news is, if you see "Kay", you can go elsewhere...
SauloJpn
So the "mailman lover" has finally got to Japan???
cleo
The Sagawa Man on my route is a very nice man, but about 105 years old and 4'10". I always feel bad about having heavy items delivered.
Mocheake
No muscles and no facial hair pass for sexy men here. Most women I know would laugh at these boys who can barely lift a 10-kg. box. Call me when they get some deliverywomen.
Maitake
Thanks Kay! Thank you for the penetrating and enlightening article. It is really thought-provoking and newsworthy. I feel that after reading this article I have more insight into the world and society in which I live. I can honestly say that it was well worth my time perusing it. Hope you write more intelligent and insigjhtful articles such as this one.
tmarie
Taking bored and lonely housewifery to a whole new level....
That made me laugh. A lot. Indeed Chiba, indeed.
nath
In my area we got quiet a ladies doing deliveries for sagawa(some cute ones), the guys seem to be pretty fit too.
But than I don't rate those for their looks.
oikawa
Maitake, I kind of know what you mean with the frivolity, but what's contained in this article actually is indicative of a lot of aspects of society here.
Silvafan
@oikawa
Great point! It is simply a case study with a shared common theme to lots of international marriages, employment, singles past 40 (specifically j-women) , herbivore and etc.................
Tamarama
Sounds like smart marketing to me.
Maria
I am very impressed with the delivery services here, and I think both Sagawa and Yamato are excellent. Great phone manner, very efficient, very helpful, very friendly. I have nothing but good things to say about all the people who work there - good-looking guys, middle-aged men, little old fellas, slight women, I've had the lot!
It is a job with long hours, lots of driving, climbing stairs and heavy lifting, but they are never anything but smiling when they get to the door. I raise my hat to them, and to the companies they work for.
ChibaChick
Well said Maria, I agree.
And thanks tmarie - alway happy to bring a smile to someone!
Alejandro Dela Cruz
This is funny!!
DudeDeuce
A note to housewives, especially the college-educated ones who sit at home all day and only entertainment is when a package is delivered: GET A JOB!!!!
nath
Maria @ you said it.
Maitake
Sancho!
nath
Half the delivery guys I've had at my place I'd swear were homeless doing this to make a few bucks or serious alcoholics. I've had several reeking of alcohol delivering something here.
kickboard
Yeah, I'm sure they were homeless
Tessa
I rely on delivery services a lot because I don't have much time for shopping, but I don't usually pay much attention to the guys who bring my stuff up. One time I was pleasantly surprised when the delivery man spoke fluent English, and told me that he'd lived overseas as a child. I had to wonder why he was doing that kind of job.
Anyway, excellent service.
GW
Clearly a lot of these ladies are in dire need of a life LOL!
UsagitoSaru
hahah and here I am always answering the door in my jammies or exercise clothes when Sagawa delivers!
OrangeXenon54
I have to admit, almost all Sagawa guys that come to my office are smoking hot. I came to the theory that Sagawa guys were the hottest while the Kuroneko guys were the leftovers. Glad that my shallow, stupid theory was "proven". I'd date a Sagawa guy any day!!!!!!!!!
TheDevilsAssistant
A note to housewives, especially the college-educated ones who sit at home all day and only entertainment is when a package is delivered: GET A JOB!!!!
motytrah
@gaijinfo I doubt the Sagawa guys are making the same kind of wages that a UPS driver makes (Average pay for UPS driver is $75,000 USD).
badsey3
People everywhere should be thankful that the Sagawa delivery men (and women!) are going above and beyond their call of duty to make package recipients in Japan happy. I personally understand how fruitless such a endeavor can be and salute all these workers trying to do the impossible keeping these stay at home wives happy.
LFRAgain
Welcome to the human race.
LFRAgain
@ motytrah and gaijininfo,
An employee for Sagawa in his 20's will generally make around US$36,000 a year, and one in his 30's will see that rise to $50,000 a year, while the overall average salary among the 38,585 employees that make up SG Holdings is around $60,000 annually.
This is all dependent, of course, on experience, ability, and performance. And it doesn't necessarily reflect the average salaries for female Sagawa employees.
http://heikinnenshu.jp/kininaru/sagawa.html
Not the same as the average $78,000-per-year a UPS driver makes, but I doubt very seriously that particularly handsome UPS or Sagawa drivers are being drooled over because of their earning potential. That might have something to do with it, but considering both companies require of their drivers long, often-tedious, back-breaking hours of very physically demanding work, I'd venture to guess the major draw for the interested eye is the fact that these guys are likely in far better shape than the average male specimen, either in Japan or America.
smithinjapan
And likewise the Sagawa guys, while perhaps being insulted, should too try not to be disappointed -- such fickle women are, after all, for one reason or another obviously unhappy with their lives.
hidingout
@TheDevilsAssistant
Couldn't agree more. What kind of pathetic person would look forward to what should be a two minute interaction with a delivery person? If someone is that desperate to see and speak to "hot guys" then they should get out of the house more often.
Not exactly related to the article but I can't stand these delivery services. They seem to think its their god-given right to stack all their carts and boxes and whatnot out on the sidewalks in front of their offices. Keep your junk in your office please, the sidewalks are for the use of everyone, not free warehouse space for those companies too stingy to rent the floor space their business requires. Second, their delivery staff have gone from pushing one cart each to two. I constantly see idiots from delivery companies pushing two carts down the middle of the sidewalk leaving no space whatsoever for anyone to get by in either direction. They act like the sidewalks are their own personal space.
theResident
@hiding out: You seriously need to leave Japan if something as shallow as this winds you up. I doubt if you would get the same service in whichever country you crawled in from!
hidingout
I suppose they probably do offer a prompt and convenient service. I wouldn't know firsthand because I manage to function quite nicely without ever using takyubin. In addition to that, the quality of their service has nothing to do with their tendency to clutter up the public streets with the paraphernalia of their work.
badsey3
takkyubin: TA-Q-BIN : Yamato Transport : Kuroneko => is a delivery service.
If you have an issue with these people = just ask and they will probably give you a good reason why they do it that way. Maybe there is a better, more innovative, way to get these parcels around. Electric carts etc.
Very innovative company that delivers skis/golf clubs and just about anything.
http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/en/personal/ta_q_bin/
Cos
Another PR article about imaginary hype...
As if the rest of the time, they don't apply the make-up carefully ? They could be ready to go out, or even to get the visit of some hottie that his their lover/hubby/customer. Is not the guy imagining things ?
They already have the numbers for deliveries at home. What gifts ? A box of omiyage cookies they don't need or some Louis Vuitton male hand bags ?
Unlikely. They could go to the sports club, they could view some in shorts and bathing suits like all day long. A few street away, we have firemen, every evening, 6 p.m. , they work out... in the street, 6 of them usually. Weights and MMA. The first time I thought they were fighting for real. These ladies could just go out to watch them. They don't. If I say to Japanese women : "They are hot no ?" I get a horrified stare : "Those scary machos ? Oh no...". They prefer the boys at the hairdresser. They are good looking, but for me, as kids not men... Well, they are in their 20's, but they groom themselves to look 14.
sincerely999
The Ikemen guys in the company are used for raising earnings. Good luck!
gas07lisa
I'm young (24), I have a job, I have some hobbies, I have friends to go out with, and yet I still looked forward to seeing Sagawa Man making deliveries to my house, because he was handsome, in good shape, and polite. I kind of wished making friends with him but he doesn't make deliveries to my house anymore. One can have a life with jobs and all the things to keep in mind but still enjoy an eyecandy.
rydangel
i agree with gas07lisa, nothing wrong with admiring the view . i check out hot delivery guys, policemen, soldier boys etc. and i love the fact that the firehouse is only a block from my house especially when they wash the fire trucks by hand.
globalwatcher
hidingoutApr. 21, 2013 - 09:55PM JST
Classic!! How in the hell do you have a right to tell others what to do? Japanese love to tell others what to do. Leave them alone!! Your comment like this is very rude and unpleasant to read.
globalwatcher
theResidentApr. 21, 2013 - 07:07PM JST
YOU SERIOUSLY NEED TO LEAVE JAPAN IF SOMETHING AS SHALLOW AS THIS WINDS YOU UP.
Classic!! How in the hell do you have a right to tell others what to do? Japanese love to tell others what to do. Leave them alone!! Your comment like this is very rude and unpleasant to read. You are crossing a line, dude.