Chie Takamizawa, 30, is a "Yakult Lady" in downtown Tokyo. A mother of two boys, aged 8 and 9, she first got on her delivery bicycle when her second baby turned 8 months old. With almost eight years of speeding through alleys and avenues, Takamizawa delivers healthy beverages, yogurt and Yakult, a delicious fermented probiotic health drink, to her hundreds of loyal customers who depend on her and the drinks to keep them regular. Yakult contains billions of "good bacteria" that keep the digestive system in top working condition — specifically the Lactibacillus casei strain called Shirota. Every day about 25 million people drink it in 32 countries, delivered to their homes or offices by 79,000 Yakult Ladies like Takamizawa. As one of central Tokyo's top-30 saleswomen, Takamizawa always carries 20 kg of the tiny bottles on her route, kept fresh by 10 kg of ice. Although the load is heavy, it doesn't feel that way to her: She says it's been a great ride for her family, and she plans on peddling a lot more.
Having a shotgun wedding doesn't mean your life will go up in smoke! When I was 19 and in college, he was 21 and already working. We dated for six months before I got pregnant, but we knew we loved each other, and we are still very close and happy. My two best girlfriends also got married quickly and have perfect family lives with beautiful children.
If parents work with all their hearts, their children also put the same effort into their studies and sports. We never tell our kids to study hard or do better at baseball practice. It comes natural to them. They see my husband and me working hard, and even though they are so young, they know they should do their best, too.