You forget that there's an etos of work in Japan. Besides of getting some small amount of money, those people get a chance for being useful. That is a mental ef

You forget that there's an etos of work in Japan. Besides of getting some small amount of money, those people get a chance for being useful. That is a mental effect as well and should not be overlooked. Not to mention it reduces unemployment. If you look around there's plenty of such a "pointless" jobs. The same with people steering the traffic at the parking lot entrances/exits at any bigger entertainment or shopping center. Sometimes with almost no pedestrians around and yet those people are standing there in sun or rain alike. Or people who's only job is to smile and open doors for you, less common, but happens as well. To be honest, though, as a "consumer" of such jobs (pedestrian in this case) I do feel they took an extra mile to make it as safe and comfortable for me as possible. And I do feel better about it. It may look pointless at the surface, but I think those jobs are extremely important for society at large.