Reviving thread?
Hey there. I know I'm showing up wayyyyyyy late to the party on this post. Still, I decided to register and write for two reasons: I myself am also looking for a courier job, and this is one of the first results to pop up for a google search on "bicycle messenger Tokyo", so I imagine a lot of people with the same issue/interest will stumble on this in the future.
Anyway, if the original poster is still looking for a courier job after 3 years, I feel like I can input my two cents:
I moved to Tokyo last year after living up in
Tochigi, in the boonies, where infrequent bus service meant it was far more convenient and way less costly to ride a bike an hour to work each way, every day. I joined an enthusiast's club afterwards and ended up meeting a guy who used to work as a bicycle messenger in Tokyo.
Unfortunately, before I could take advantage of his connections to get myself a job, the guy moved back to the states. But, here's what I learned from him:
1) Your Japanese ability does not necessarily have to be that great. Bicycle messenger-ing is not a common job for foreigners, but it isn't that rare either. Some managers can speak enough English to at least interview you if your Japanese skills aren't super great. After that, my friend says, it's more about learning a few dozen set phrases required for the job, and then you're golden.
2) Pay is commission-based. Packages are distributed to couriers based on area, with groups of couriers operating out of a base and each courier operating in a specific area full-time - So let's say you work out of a base in Minato-ku. Maybe your operating area is Nishi-Azabu or something. You get packages for that area, shared equally with other bikers who operate in that area, and you take home a commission based on several packages. So basically, it's like dock work - if there are no packages, you sit in the base not getting paid. The plus side is you don't have to know the entirety of Tokyo like the back of your hand. Just knowing one popular area really well should do the trick.
3) You, of course, supply your own bike.
4) Days are about 9 hours long.
Bear in mind this information is all second hand, so it may not be 100% accurate. Also, not all the guys you see on the street on a road bike are couriers. According to some info I looked at, there is about 500 couriers total in Tokyo. This is a minimal number, of course, compared to total population so I would conclude that the reason foreigners can get this job at all is that it is low paying and dangerous and Japanese people in general really don't want to do it.
I'll try it anyway to get some cardio in on the clock a few days a week.
My friend from the bike club said many of his coworkers were foreigners so I'm also guessing there may be one specific company that specializes in hiring foreigners for this job. Anybody got any ideas on who it might be?