30 Years a Blind Masseur, Sumadi Now Relies on House Calls to Put Food on the Table

Jakarta — A sign reading ‘Klinik Pijat Tuna Netra Sumadi’ hung outside a modest building in Gang Keamanan III, Tebet, South Jakarta. The sign had begun to fade with age, but the lettering remained clearly visible from the mouth of the narrow residents’ lane. Behind the simple sign, Sumadi (57) has made a living from a craft he has practiced for more than 30 years: massage.

‘These days I am called more often to clients’ homes. The place here is cramped and parking is difficult,’ Sumadi told Kompas.com on Wednesday 20 May 2026. Sumadi’s massage clinic is in a small building with a narrow entrance. Inside there is only one massage bed covered with a brown-and-black fabric, a folding massage chair, a small shelf in the corner, and an air conditioner mounted on the wall. Maroon curtains serve as room dividers, while a dim white light illuminates the cream-painted room.

When approached, Sumadi sat on a small bench while taking calls from prospective customers. For him, the sound of a phone is now the hope that the kitchen will keep bubbling.

‘If I’m tired from many patients, I’m happy. The hard part is when there are no patients, and I start to worry about money for daily meals,’ he said.

In the beginning, he briefly worked at a welfare home run by the Jakarta DKI Social Service Agency in Mangga Dua. After that, he worked at a regular massage place before eventually opening his own practice with a small savings.

‘I used to rent my own home while running a massage practice in front of the house,’ Sumadi said.

In 2013, Sumadi moved to Tebet and opened the massage clinic that remains in operation to this day. In its heyday, he even employed two assistants. ‘Back then you could see seven to eight people a day. Sometimes up to 10,’ he said.

At that time, according to Sumadi, the profession of a blind masseur was still quite popular. Although massage fees were far cheaper than now, the income was still sufficient to meet daily needs. ‘Charging Rp 5,000 was enough for a day’s meals,’ he said.

Today, the clinic’s rate is Rp 100,000 per hour. If called to a customer’s home, the fee is Rp 120,000. However, the number of customers is no longer as many as before. ‘These days it’s around 20 customers a month at most. Sometimes two or three in a day, but then two to three days go by with none,’ Sumadi said.

The major change has been felt by Sumadi over the past decade. The rise of online massage services has altered consumer patterns. Many customers now prefer services that can be ordered via apps and come directly to their homes. ‘There are now many online massages, including premium ones. That has quite eroded his customer base,’ he said.