Meet a Professional: Simon, the Butler of Kabukiza Theatre (2/4)

Not Only Luck; As a Hilton Butler

After graduating high school Simon decides to start working instead of going on with education because he “didn’t have anything to expect from university.” He experiences various jobs from a construction worker to a hotel butler of Hilton Nagoya. The Hilton Butler is a staff specialized in hosting VIP customers. Simon was applying for a restaurant waiter, but a few lucky coincidences (or it could have been fate?) guided him to this new-made position. “My mother was strict about manners,” laughs Simon. Apparently the hotel manager noticed his aptitude and gave him this big chance. Simon didn’t wallow in his suddenly given high position, but instead gained on-the-job training for all sections of the hotel using time after his own work shift. “Well, I didn’t want others to be envying me for my luck. All I could do was to make enough effort to deserve the position”. He improved his skill as a hotelman, creating many VIP fans on the way. The directing manager of Kabukiza was one of them.

If you have a chance of meeting Simon --- which is not difficult if you go to see Kabuki --- you will be able to feel his remarkable sense of hospitality. “KIZUKAI” will be the Japanese word for “solicitous” or “hospitality”, the ability to realize what the other person is looking for. His sense of noticing others’ needs could have been a given talent, but the gentle atmosphere and “Kizukai” he creates is definitely a trained one. The expectation for service of Japanese customers is very high, as you can see at traditional hotels (Ryokan) and restaurants (Ryotei) even if the price is not that high. There are many subtle and delicate points of expectations, and many attendants just overwhelm the expectations by skilled manners and wit. It is interesting how Simon developed a very Japanese sense of detecting needs, and creatively uses both Western and Japanese manners according to the situation. He definitely knows how to maximize the effect of his “foreigner” mask and “Japanese” cultural background.

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