How did the beer seller, who was extremely popular at Tokyo Dome, change his playing field from the audience to the ground? An interview was conducted on Number Web with Okura Karin, a former beer seller and currently a member of the official Yomiuri Giants mascot girl, Venus. We will bring you a digest version of that.
Abandoning stable work and audition for “one or eight”
“My family is in Nagano, but my family was a Giants fan, so I have naturally supported the Giants since I was a child,” says Okura. After moving to Tokyo to go to university, I thought, “If I were a salesman at Tokyo Dome, I might be able to watch the games!” and applied for a part-time job as a beer seller. He carried a server of about 18kg on his back, and although he was so hard that he couldn’t afford to watch the game, he was one of the most popular beer sellers at Tokyo Dome.
The highest daily sales of 350 cups were astounding. If we calculate it as 180 minutes per game, it’s about two drinks per minute. With an average of around 200 bowls, he achieved top-class results. He gained strength through hard work, and he said, “After continuing for four years, my shoulders were about twice as thick as I am now (laughs).”
After graduating from university, he got a job at a local company, but with passionate love for Giants and the desire to “dance in front of people is so much fun. I want to make this my job,” he decided to quit to try his hand at Venus audition. “If I fail, I have no choice but to look for a new job again. I guess I’d say a little or eight,” he said, giving up his stable job and dreaming of it.
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Venus’ auditions are known as the narrow gate with a multiplier of approximately 50 times. Okura showed enthusiasm, saying, “Only Venus could have thought of,” and successfully passed the exam.
“The emotions I had been giving towards the team and the players have now become more relevant to the customers,” says Okura. Even now that he has become a part of the team from a fan position, he smiles, “My love for the Giants is not at all shaky.” The main interview details more in detail about the “reality of a beer seller,” the behind-the-scenes side of the audition, and the way he works as Venus.
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You can read the main story of this article from the link below.
