はとバス初の“男性バスガイド”誕生　研修に奮闘

With the Golden Week holidays approaching, more and more visitors to Tokyo will be riding tourist buses. While many people may think of a woman when they hear the term "bus guide," Hato Bus, a company famous for its Tokyo sightseeing tours, has recently welcomed its first male bus guide. We followed his training as he struggled to get through it. The man practicing his voice alongside the new female bus guides is Tokyo native Ran Mikuni (18). Since joining the company in March, Mikuni has been training hard in preparation for his debut. On this day, the training included an actual bus tour around the course. After a thorough check of the course, the bus departed. As the bus traveled through the streets of Tokyo, his new colleagues took turns giving tour guides a tour of the area, and as the bus approached Tokyo Station, it was finally Mikuni's turn. However, the tour guides, which he thought they'd memorized, struggled to come out as they should have, leading to some harsh criticism from the instructor. The instructor pointed out Mikuni's lack of knowledge and said, "I honestly wish you'd work a little harder." Mikuni reflected on the training, saying, "It's not just about memorizing; you have to adapt to the scenery. The ability to communicate the content is important, and that's the difficult part." Mikuni, who enjoys being in front of people and was a member of the drama club in high school, says that she was inspired to become a bus guide after seeing a guide tearfully explaining about a memorial monument during a school trip to Okinawa. After graduating from high school, she joined Hato Bus, hoping to provide tourist guides who could convey their emotions. Then came the day of the exam, which would determine whether she would be able to make her debut as a bus guide. The exam, which lasted approximately four hours and was held behind closed doors, was designed to check whether she was able to guide at the right time. The result was... "conditional pass." Although she passed, her lack of knowledge was pointed out, and her debut was delayed by a few days after she underwent supplementary training. Mikuni said, "I want to provide guidance that puts a smile on the face of all passengers. I'll go back and review it some more." He continued, "From now on, I'll be on my own, without a teacher, and I'll be doing everything from guiding and directing passengers. I'm excited about what's to come," seemingly renewing his determination to become a bus guide. Hato Bus's first male bus guide will finally make his debut during Golden Week.