Mr. Kitagawa, My Barber
Mr. Kitagawa runs a modest barbershop near the famous Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa. He manages the business alongside his wife. Stepping into their barbershop (or "salon," as the sign on the door reads) feels like traveling back to the 1980s: manual hydraulic chairs covered in burgundy leather, a large tube TV in the waiting area always tuned to baseball or sumo wrestling, and shelves lined with products that probably haven’t been sold in stores for years. The only modern appliance in sight is the air conditioner—an essential for the sweltering Japanese summers.
At first glance, this might seem like just another nostalgic story, but let’s dig deeper. Mr. Kitagawa is nearly 80 years old, as is his wife. I’ve been coming to their barbershop for a decade, and in all that time, I’ve never gone anywhere else. Remarkably, in these 10 years, the price for a haircut and shave has remained unchanged: 3,400 JPY for a full service, including shampoo and shave.
Talking with Mr. Kitagawa, I learned that they serve around three clients a day, dedicating roughly an hour and a half to each. Despite their age, both Mr. Kitagawa and his wife work at their own pace, but they haven’t lost any of their skills with scissors or razors. How can they spend so much time on each client? Dedication and perfectionism. Every session includes multiple shampooing rounds, meticulous hair cutting, a careful shave, and even detailed grooming of the ears, nose, and forehead, leaving the face spotless. After this thorough process, they end the session with a soothing five-minute neck massage.
This couple only takes 60 days off a year. If we do the math, they earn about 10,200 JPY daily (assuming all three clients opt for the full service), which comes to around 259,284 JPY per month—before deducting expenses like rent, taxes, and other costs.
When I asked Mr. Kitagawa directly about his motivation, he responded, “Look, son, my wife and I are too old to be ambitious. The only joy we have left is running this business and making our customers happy. As long as our health allows, we’ll be here, providing the best service we can.”
We often take for granted what we have. Having a job is undoubtedly a blessing. If we don’t enjoy what we do, let’s work to change that. The easiest route might be to switch jobs, but the most rewarding and growth-inducing path is to try to change the company from within. Now, this doesn’t mean the company should cater to our needs—it means proposing changes that benefit everyone, starting with ourselves, taking on a leadership role. Change is possible and, in many cases, necessary.
So, on those days when we lack motivation, let’s remember why we work, focus on our goals, think about what we want to change in our lives, and remember Mr. Kitagawa and his wife.
#Dedication #CustomerService #Inspiration #Perseverance #PersonalGrowth
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🔗 This article was originally published on LinkedIn.