The Rate of Homelessness in Japan: A Well-Hidden Reality

This social stigma translates into strict policies, such as bans on begging and the closure of parks at night. These measures are designed to make life difficult for the homeless and render them invisible to the public eye.

How the Homeless in Japan Survive

Despite these challenges, the homeless manage to survive thanks to charitable organizations that provide food. Additionally, many work by selling magazines or collecting empty cans for recycling. In Asakusa, for example, a homeless person can earn about 22,848 yen per week by collecting cans, which equates to around 57 meals per week, sufficient to get by.

Cyber-Homeless and Manga Café Drifters

Official statistics do not account for a growing phenomenon: cyber-homeless or manga café drifters. These individuals rent booths in manga cafés where they can sleep, eat, and access the internet. These establishments are cheaper than traditional hotels, with rates ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 yen per night, compared to 10,000 yen for a night in a capsule hotel.

While these people technically have a roof over their heads, they live in extreme precariousness, without stable housing or employment.

The Hidden Poverty of Children and Adolescents

Another often-overlooked aspect is child poverty. One in seven children lives below the poverty line in Japan. Many of these children become homeless without being counted in official statistics. The Toyoko kids, a group of adolescents who gather in the streets and sell their bodies to survive, are a tragic example. Despite potentially high earnings, these young people remain trapped in a cycle of precariousness and exploitation.

Japanese Slums

Contrary to the image of prosperity and modernity often associated with Japan, the country has several slums. The Sanya district in Tokyo, for example, was historically known as a place where construction workers lived after World War II. Today, although these areas have been “cleaned up” and their names erased from official maps, the homeless continue to live in extreme poverty.

Other notable slums include Kotobuki in Yokohama and Nishinari in Osaka, where poverty is even more visible and living conditions are harsher.

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The rate of homelessness in Japan may seem very low in international comparison, but this figure hides a much more complex and darker reality. Between social stigma, restrictive policies, the presence of cyber-homeless, and hidden child poverty, Japan faces significant challenges regarding housing and precariousness.

It is crucial to understand that behind the apparent absence of homeless people in the streets, there exists a vulnerable population surviving under difficult conditions, often overlooked by official statistics and society. To address these issues, a more inclusive and compassionate approach is needed, considering all facets of poverty in Japan.

From 19:15, Riri’s story takes an unexpected turn. Her method, so effective, led her to create decision trees for every response, and she sold this method online as a course. This is how I was able to describe it so precisely. This course gave rise to a term to describe women practicing this art: Itadaki Josi. Google translates it as “super girl,” but this term actually means “receiving girl” in relation to the money they receive.

Speaking of money, Riri sold her course to over 3,000 people, at a price of about €300 per person. Do the math: that’s around €900,000 generated from selling this course, which turns out to be an online scam. To give you an idea of the scale, she even harassed a well-known YouTuber, Don T St Fan, to prevent him from releasing a video exposing her illegal practices. Despite the threats, the YouTuber went ahead with the video.

But in March 2023, a new scandal erupted: two men filed a complaint against Riri, but against a student named IEDA Miku, who had purchased and applied the course. She managed to recover over one million yen from these two people but failed to complete the crucial step 7: after-sales service. The victims realized they had been scammed, and the student was arrested, revealing the existence of the course to the authorities.

At the time of her arrest, Riri had no money on her and her bank account was empty. The money she had earned had vanished into places like host clubs, bars where astronomical sums are spent on alcohol and companionship. It is common to spend up to €100,000 in a single night there. Host clubs particularly attract adolescents by promising them a bright future in exchange for substantial spending. These young people, often living on the streets, spend their money quickly to avoid being robbed, unaware of the professional manipulation by hosts who condition them to spend even more.

Adolescents, often naive, do not protect their money properly and, lacking secure places to store it, prefer to spend it quickly. Hosts also condition these young people to distrust aid organizations, preventing them from seeking help and keeping them trapped in a cycle of dependency and poverty.

To break this cycle, justice seems powerless. Although everyone knows about this system, it is difficult to gather evidence of abuse of power over minors, especially when the victims are conditioned not to cooperate. Hosts, often professionals in manipulation, are rarely held accountable, despite their involvement in human trafficking.

Meanwhile, poverty in Japan is not just about homelessness. It also involves households with fewer resources, exacerbated by inflation. Since 2020, Japan has been suffering from severe inflation, particularly on food items, with prices rising by 12.9%. Stagnant wages and astronomical public debt (260% of GDP) worsen the situation. Japan has opted for inflation to address its economic problems, devaluing its currency. For Japanese people, this means a harder life, especially for precarious workers and single mothers.

It is crucial to understand that while poverty in Japan is concerning, it does not mean the country has become poor. Japan remains a country with exceptional infrastructure, preserved nature, rich cultural heritage, and exemplary security. It is the Japanese people who are becoming poor, not the country itself.

For those considering visiting Japan, now is an ideal time as a tourist. With the euro being very advantageous against the yen, it’s a unique opportunity. Thank you for watching this video, which explored complex topics such as the psychological impact on Toyoko kids and the practices of hosts. Don’t forget to give a thumbs up and subscribe to avoid missing future videos. See you next time!