Simkin: A salaryman is being born. Not just any salaryman --Kosaku Shima is Japanese most famous white collar worker. He's the star of a hugely popular adult comic book series, and the creation of this man -- Kenshi Hirokane.
The artist knows what he's talking -- or drawing -- about. He used to be a salaryman himself. 25:23
Hirokane: You can recognise a salaryman by his white shirt and necktie, which he will wear at all times, even in summer. His neat hairstyle is also a giveaway. 25:30
The salaryman thinks his own interest equals his companys interest.This is his destiny. 25:42
Simkin: The salaryman is native to Japan. This specimen is typical of the species. Every morning he migrates to work as part of a huge herd. 26:04
His desk is tiny, his hours long, and the rules of behaviour very strict. Notions of hierarchy are rigidly enforced. He doesn't leave the office until his supervisor does. 26:21
Even fun is taken seriously. If the head of the herd wants to go to a watering hole after work, the salaryman has no choice but to follow. 26:37
Salaryman: My train is packed, but many young people get off at Yokohama, so there's a chance of getting a seat. 26:50
Simkin: With no natural predator, the species has flourished -- until now. These corporate warriors were once seen as crucial cogs in Japan's industrial machine, but now they're becoming a national laughing stock. 27:00
TV advertisment Singing 27:16
Simkin: TV ads urge salarymen to regain their strength. Newspaper articles describe them as mindless drones, and argue that their lack of individuality is stifling the economy. 27:25
Simkin: Across the country, salarymen are being laid off and divorced in the millions. Like the character in the comic book, these salarymen dream of breaking out of their confined world -- if they can. 27:43
Nakajima: even if a salaryman has a dream, it is very hard for him to fulfil it, because of his company or family obligations. He is swept away by the stream. 28:00
Simkin: But this salaryman is determined to swim against the tide. Jutem Nakajima wants to exchange his white collar for spandex, and his tiny desk for a stage. He longs to dance. 28:12
Simkin: Occasionally -- just occasionally -- dreams do come true. Nakajima and five other salarymen have formed a band. They call themselves the Oyaji Dancers, which translates, very roughly, as 'old fart dancers.' 28:34
Suzuki [singing]: Repeatedly shaking my waist and dancing I am the dancer Sexily, I'm inviting you in dripping sweat. 28:53
Simkin: Fed up with the declining status of salarymen, the Oyaji Dancers want to show that white collars are nothing to be ashamed of.
Suzuki: It's like Superman -- at one time he is Clark Kent, then he becomes a superman who saves the earth, 29:21
Suzuki then he resumes his identity as a miserable salaryman. 29:30
Oyaji Dancers preparing for performance Simkin: None of these salaried supermen are particularly young. Some fill out their costumes a little too well, and for others -- well, a comb seems somewhat redundant. But that's the point -- they're salarymen and they're proud. 29:40
Tonight though, the Oyajis are a little nervous. They're preparing for their biggest concert yet.
Concert Music 30:02
Simkin: After seeing the warm up act they would have been even more worried.
Simkin: But when their big moment came, the Oyajis put the competition to shame, bursting into song with a raw sexuality. 30:20
Singing: Round and round the midnight dream, the world of pleasure is going around. Go forward, go forward, my lover. It's okay to live like this, it's okay. 30:29
Simkin: What followed was a 90 minute tribute to the white collar warrior -- even though the only white collar to be seen was covered in sequins. Nakajima-san wowed the crowd with a powerful solo. 30:43
Singing: By crowded commuting train, I go to the office today. After work, my fun time -- dancing -- begins. 31:00
Simkin: They might be self-confessed old farts, but these Oyaji can still belt out a raunchy love song. 31:13
Singing: Energetic love tonight. Let's dance together until morning. Let it loose. Have a dream. 31:22
Simkin: The Oyaji Dancers certainly have dreams, but unlike most of their salarymen colleagues, they're living them. And they're doing it without giving up their day jobs.
The artist knows what he's talking -- or drawing -- about. He used to be a salaryman himself. 25:23
Hirokane: You can recognise a salaryman by his white shirt and necktie, which he will wear at all times, even in summer. His neat hairstyle is also a giveaway. 25:30
The salaryman thinks his own interest equals his companys interest.This is his destiny. 25:42
Simkin: The salaryman is native to Japan. This specimen is typical of the species. Every morning he migrates to work as part of a huge herd. 26:04
His desk is tiny, his hours long, and the rules of behaviour very strict. Notions of hierarchy are rigidly enforced. He doesn't leave the office until his supervisor does. 26:21
Even fun is taken seriously. If the head of the herd wants to go to a watering hole after work, the salaryman has no choice but to follow. 26:37
Salaryman: My train is packed, but many young people get off at Yokohama, so there's a chance of getting a seat. 26:50
Simkin: With no natural predator, the species has flourished -- until now. These corporate warriors were once seen as crucial cogs in Japan's industrial machine, but now they're becoming a national laughing stock. 27:00
TV advertisment Singing 27:16
Simkin: TV ads urge salarymen to regain their strength. Newspaper articles describe them as mindless drones, and argue that their lack of individuality is stifling the economy. 27:25
Simkin: Across the country, salarymen are being laid off and divorced in the millions. Like the character in the comic book, these salarymen dream of breaking out of their confined world -- if they can. 27:43
Nakajima: even if a salaryman has a dream, it is very hard for him to fulfil it, because of his company or family obligations. He is swept away by the stream. 28:00
Simkin: But this salaryman is determined to swim against the tide. Jutem Nakajima wants to exchange his white collar for spandex, and his tiny desk for a stage. He longs to dance. 28:12
Simkin: Occasionally -- just occasionally -- dreams do come true. Nakajima and five other salarymen have formed a band. They call themselves the Oyaji Dancers, which translates, very roughly, as 'old fart dancers.' 28:34
Suzuki [singing]: Repeatedly shaking my waist and dancing I am the dancer Sexily, I'm inviting you in dripping sweat. 28:53
Simkin: Fed up with the declining status of salarymen, the Oyaji Dancers want to show that white collars are nothing to be ashamed of.
Suzuki: It's like Superman -- at one time he is Clark Kent, then he becomes a superman who saves the earth, 29:21
Suzuki then he resumes his identity as a miserable salaryman. 29:30
Oyaji Dancers preparing for performance Simkin: None of these salaried supermen are particularly young. Some fill out their costumes a little too well, and for others -- well, a comb seems somewhat redundant. But that's the point -- they're salarymen and they're proud. 29:40
Tonight though, the Oyajis are a little nervous. They're preparing for their biggest concert yet.
Concert Music 30:02
Simkin: After seeing the warm up act they would have been even more worried.
Simkin: But when their big moment came, the Oyajis put the competition to shame, bursting into song with a raw sexuality. 30:20
Singing: Round and round the midnight dream, the world of pleasure is going around. Go forward, go forward, my lover. It's okay to live like this, it's okay. 30:29
Simkin: What followed was a 90 minute tribute to the white collar warrior -- even though the only white collar to be seen was covered in sequins. Nakajima-san wowed the crowd with a powerful solo. 30:43
Singing: By crowded commuting train, I go to the office today. After work, my fun time -- dancing -- begins. 31:00
Simkin: They might be self-confessed old farts, but these Oyaji can still belt out a raunchy love song. 31:13
Singing: Energetic love tonight. Let's dance together until morning. Let it loose. Have a dream. 31:22
Simkin: The Oyaji Dancers certainly have dreams, but unlike most of their salarymen colleagues, they're living them. And they're doing it without giving up their day jobs.