Two Months After the Start of the Japanese Ride-Sharing Service: The Good and the Bad
A Lexus SUV was dispatched among a fleet of luxury cars including BMWs and Porsches.
Two months have passed since the ban on “Japanese-style ridesharing” was lifted in Tokyo and some other areas to alleviate the cab shortage.
While rideshare drivers in the U.S. and other countries are sole proprietors, “Japanese-style” drivers are part-timers who are operated and managed by cab companies. At first, few vehicles were caught, but finally they are gradually becoming more common in the city.
I used the “Uber” app, the only app in Japan that allows you to select and call a ride-sharing vehicle, and actually rode in one.
When I matched with a driver near a certain station in Koto-ku, a Lexus SUV showed up in about three minutes. The driver was Mr. Takano (pseudonym, in his 30s), a sports club manager. He looked a little nervous as he began to drive away.
All of the customers I’ve picked up so far have been foreigners, and this is the first time I’ve picked up a Japanese customer. The average sales per ride is about 12,000 yen. After deducting expenses, the hourly wage is about 2,500 yen. I work three days a week, and my monthly income is about 60,000 to 70,000 yen.
