(Credit: Pixel)
People are drawn to a modest, inconspicuous fruit and vegetable stall in Tokyo’s affluent Ebisu neighborhood. This stand, which operates on an honor system where clients deposit coins in a mailbox, sells fresh food at surprisingly affordable costs amid the city’s lavish cafes and bars.
The creator of this distinctive stall is Tomoko Oshimo, also referred to as Tomo-chan. At 53 years old, Tomo-chan has committed her life to giving fresh, affordable produce to the underprivileged youngsters of Tokyo. She said, “Dear young people, I came here from Hiroshima with nothing,” in a handwritten letter on the stand. a month on watermelon without being able to seek mom for assistance. After thirty years, I still raise a lot of veggies. You have Tomo-chan to help you, so don’t worry about the future.
Tomo-chan’s booth, which opened five years ago, has grown to be a ray of light for many young locals who are struggling financially. “I saw your booth while I was on my way to the shrine to worship. You made me feel better,” a satisfied client wrote.
Tomo-chan hardly makes a living from her stand; she gets up early to tend to her farm in Urawa and augments her produce with deals from the Saitama Central Market. To make ends meet, she also works many overnight jobs at a nursing home. She recalls fond childhood memories of picking strawberries on her family farm, thus her job on the farm is very personal to her.
Her desire to assist young people experiencing food hardship led her to decide to run the stall. Her intention is to serve as a reminder to them that they are remembered and appreciated by offering produce for as little as 100 yen, or roughly 70 cents.
Tomo-chan’s kind initiative exemplifies her belief that meaningful achievements can be achieved even in difficult situations and is proof of the effect one person can have.
