屑くず拾ひろい

noun

ragpicking; ragpicker

Refers to the historical occupation of collecting rags and scrap materials, or the person who does it. Often associated with pre-modern or early modern Japan.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには屑くず拾ひろいが街まちを回まわって古ふる布ぎれを集あつめていた。

  In the Edo period, ragpickers went around town collecting old cloth.

• 彼かれの祖そ父ふは若わかい頃ころ、屑くず拾ひろいをして生せい計けいを立たてていた。

  His grandfather made a living as a ragpicker when he was young.