'Macho Caregivers' - Japanese Bodybuilders Filling Staff Shortages - video Dailymotion

TaiwanPlus News

In Japan, a care company is hiring bodybuilders to tackle worker shortages. Their strength and discipline improve patient care, attract new talent and boost revenue while challenging the idea that caregiving is only women’s work.

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00:00In Japan, young male bodybuilders are stepping up to ease labour shortages in the struggling

00:05care industry, taking on its physically demanding roles.

00:10With her tan and prominent biceps under a black sleeveless vest, care worker Yusui Takuya

00:15is among those who have built a rapport with patients at a care centre for people with

00:20disabilities.

00:21Operated by Visionary, a firm based in Nagoya, Yusui shares what he has learned on the job.

00:29I've not taught you anything, right?

00:31Nothing.

00:32Well, her hard-working attitude.

00:35As you can see, she can't quite use her hands, but she doesn't give up.

00:38She uses her mouth instead.

00:40That inventiveness and resourcefulness I find very inspiring.

00:45Don't be so shy.

00:46The company has attracted male bodybuilders with perks like paid gym time and protein shake

00:52subsidies.

00:53It hired 168 people last year after previously struggling to recruit even one care worker

00:59a year.

01:00I started weight training while working as a military officer and participated in competitions.

01:08When I learned about Visionary, I was attracted to the idea of using weight training, which

01:12was my hobby, and my muscles in a way that could contribute to society.

01:17With these employees putting the muscles to work, Visionary's revenue is now booming.

01:22Its CEO, Niwa Yusuke, says bodybuilders are suited to care work because they are used to

01:29hard training and strict diets, which can be a great advantage for caregivers who support

01:33the same clients every day.

01:35The bodybuilders are extremely photogenic, cool, and the embodiment of tireless hard work.

01:42With Japan's super-aged society, it's suffering from a labour shortage in the care industry,

01:48with nearly four vacancies for every job seeker.

01:51The labour ministry predicts a shortfall of 570,000 caregivers by 2040, driven by low wages

01:58that fail to match the physically demanding nature of the work.

02:02But, the CEO says, much of our caregivers can help address this.

02:06We need to become a more reliable industry, one where we can confidently say, leave caregiving

02:14to us.

02:15This would allow individuals to focus entirely on their work, learning, or pursuing other

02:21aspirations.

02:22Being able to clearly define and separate these roles is, in my opinion, essential for Japan's

02:29economic development.

02:30In Japan, thousands of people leave their jobs every year to care for family, and even

02:35more are juggling work and caregiving at the same time.

02:40With men mostly absent from these roles, women take on the bulk of their responsibility.

02:45Now, the muscle care approach is stepping in, not just helping meet the demand, but also

02:50challenging the idea that caregiving is only women's work.

02:54Chris Ma and iQi for Taiwan Plus.

'Macho Caregivers' - Japanese Bodybuilders Filling Staff Shortages

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