In Tokyo’s upscale Ebisu district, a small, unassuming fruit and vegetable stand catches the eye of passersby. Amidst the city’s opulent cafes and bars, this stand offers fresh produce at incredibly low prices, operating on an honor system where customers leave coins in a mailbox.
This unique stall is the brainchild of Tomoko Oshimo, affectionately known as Tomo-chan. At 53, Tomo-chan has dedicated her efforts to helping Tokyo’s struggling youth by providing affordable, fresh produce. Her handwritten note on the stand reads, “Dear young people, I came here from Hiroshima with nothing. Lived on watermelon for a month, but couldn’t ask mom for help. Thirty years on, I grow plenty of vegetables. Tomo-chan is on your side, so don’t worry about the future.”
Opened five years ago, Tomo-chan’s stand has become a beacon of hope for many young residents facing financial hardship. “Walking to the shrine to pray, I came across your stand. You lifted my spirits,” wrote one grateful customer.
Tomo-chan, who rises before dawn to tend to her farm in Urawa and supplements her produce with bargains from the Saitama Central Market, barely breaks even from her stand. She also works multiple overnight shifts at a nursing center to make ends meet. Her farm work is deeply personal, as she recalls childhood memories of harvesting strawberries on her family farm.
Her decision to run the stall came from a desire to support young people facing food insecurity. By selling produce at prices as low as 100 yen (about 70 cents), she wants to remind them that they are valued and not forgotten.
Tomo-chan’s generous initiative is a testament to the impact one person can make, embodying her belief that even in challenging circumstances, effort can yield meaningful results.
