I’ve been in Japan for nearly two years. I was fortunate to receive the Asahi Newspaper Scholarship to come here. My part-time job is delivering newspapers.

At first, I thought newspaper delivery was a simple task. Just delivering newspapers to homes seemed straightforward. However, it turned out to be anything but easy. About a week after arriving in Japan, I started training for the delivery job. I was given a motorbike, a Honda CUB. It’s not very fast, but its engine is strong enough to climb steep hills.

Next, I was shown the area where I would be delivering newspapers using a map. My area is Takarazuka. I deliver the morning paper in Komyocho, Kamei, and Chigusa, and the evening paper in Ohibuchi, Ishiko, and Kobayashi. The map includes the names and addresses of the customers and the types of newspapers they subscribe to. I had to memorize the map and followed someone from the shop for deliveries.

My first day delivering alone was extremely tough. I hadn’t memorized the map yet, so I had no idea whose house to go to or which newspaper to deliver. It was dark, making it difficult to read the map, and it was cold, which made handling the newspapers challenging. It took me two hours to deliver just 120 newspapers, a task that others could complete in thirty minutes.

Now, I wake up at 2 am every morning, load the newspapers onto my bike, and start delivering. I have to deliver newspapers to customers every day, regardless of rain or cold. Initially, it was tough and very tiring, but gradually it became easier.

After one or two months, I started to enjoy delivering newspapers. Although it’s hard work, the pay is good. The people at the store and the customers are kind, and it allows me enough time to focus on my studies. Waking up early also gives me plenty of time to practice Kanji.

Thanks to my newspaper delivery job, I have become much stronger than before.