Bocca is one of the oldest and most unusual professions in Japan (7 photos)
Bocca is one of the oldest and most unusual professions in Japan. These are porters, who today can be called couriers. Their peculiarity is that they deliver supplies to people who live high in the mountains. And since it is impossible to get there by transport, the boccas go on a journey on foot. It is amazing how in Japan technological progress does not interfere with the existence of ancient traditions and professions.
Japanese porters carry loads weighing from 80 to 200 kilograms! Special wooden structures that they carry on their backs help them deliver such heaviness. Thus, with a whole tower on their back, they can overcome difficult climbs into the mountains and equally difficult returns. Today these structures are made of strong materials, but in the old days, boccas could carry up to 165 kilograms of loads, stacked on their backs and held in place by sticks.
It sounds a little fantastic, 80-100 kg is still imaginable... but more? Even Mr. Olympia may not be able to handle such weight. However, perhaps not everything is so simple. One may recall Jiro Nitta's novel Gyokuden, based on the true story of Goyoku, who carried a load to the Hakuba Mountains. He was carrying a weight of 50 kan (this is a Japanese unit of measurement), which is approximately 187.5 kg. True or not... who knows? But, considering that carrying a net of potatoes from the market home for many men is hell on earth, then even 80 kg on your back to the mountains sounds like a feat!
And, yes, fans of the great and terrible Hideo Kojima immediately recognized the game "Death Stranding", where the main character Sam Bridges was engaged in delivering goods in the same way. Fortunately, in the real world of bocca you don't have to fight raiders and monsters, and you don't have to hide from temporal rains. But they don’t have the exoskeletons and smart technologies that Sam had. 
Shot from the game 
If you are interested, you can watch a short story about these hard workers on YouTube. The video is in Japanese, but subtitles can be provided.
