“Belle on Wheels” hits Tokyo

“Belle on Wheels*” made her first appearance on the streets of Tokyo Saturday, visiting Ueno, Ichigaya, Otemachi, and Seijo LCs, in addition to cruising by Yurakucho, Aoyama, Shibuya, and Sangenjaya, while broadcasting reports of the ongoing strike at Berlitz. (see photos attached)

Thousands of people viewed the sign and listened to the announcements as we rolled through crowded areas of Tokyo. People were literally stopped in their tracks, faces frozen, as they read and
listened. Many gave us words of encouragement. I even had a thousand yen pressed into my hand by a well-wisher.

Van-glish lesson

The van decorated with union posters stopped in front of various Berlitz LCs, while union members stood on the roof to explain the strike at Berlitz, and offer a one-point labour eikaiwa lesson:

“How do you say “sutoraiki kekko chuu” in English?”
“I am on strike! You are on strike! He is on strike! She is on strike!…”

This was particularly popular with high school students passing by Ichigaya LC.

At Seijo, we were joined by local strikers for leafletting in front of the school, while the van circled the block, to the wonder of all in the normally sleepy town.

Neighbours who had seen us there before stopped to talk about the ongoing dispute, and said “gambatte”, in spite of the noise and fuss. Non-striking teachers were invited to get on the bus and join the strike.

Many thanks to the driver and navigator from Ikebukuro LC, whose skills behind the wheel were indispensable to this mission, and to Nambu for lending us the van.

*The P.A. van was christened with this name by one of its drivers.

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