Japan’s ‘evaporated’ people: Inside an industry that helps people disappear

South China Morning Post

18 Mar 202317:00

Summary

TLDRThe video explores the struggles and resilience of individuals in Japan, focusing on those who have chosen to 'evaporate' from society. It highlights the challenges faced by day laborers in Osaka's Nishinari district, personal stories of abandonment, and the efforts of support networks like churches and security services. The narrative delves into the reasons behind people's decisions to disappear, the societal pressures, and the lack of second chances. It also touches on the impact of economic downturns and personal crises, providing a poignant look at survival and hope amidst adversity.

Takeaways

🎶 Japanese society often views disappearing acts, or 'evaporating,' as a social disgrace.
🔄 People who feel overwhelmed and wish to reset their lives may move to start anew.
🏙️ The Kamagasaki Airin District in Osaka is known for a high number of people who have 'evaporated' from their previous lives.
👨‍🦳 A 64-year-old man from Niigata recounts losing his job during Japan's economic bubble burst in the 1980s and moving to Osaka for work.
🏚️ The Nishinari area in Osaka is the largest day laborer district in Japan, with many people staying in cheap hotels.
🏠 Many of the laborers are separated from their families, have debts, and often change their names.
✝️ Pastor Sugiyama, 56, leads a church founded in 1955 that welcomes the homeless and seeks to share God's love with them.
🚔 Japanese police do not actively search for people who disappear by their own choice unless there is a crime involved.
📝 Over 20 years, approximately 3,000 cases involve landlords seeking legal action against tenants who have disappeared.
👮‍♂️ Security company director Naoki Iwabuchi specializes in helping victims of domestic violence and stalkers escape and start new lives.

Q & A

What is the general theme discussed in the transcript?
-The transcript discusses the lives of people who have 'evaporated' or disappeared from society, often due to personal or financial troubles, and their experiences in the Airin district of Nishinari, Osaka.
What is '蒸発' (evaporation) referring to in the context of the transcript?
-'蒸発' refers to individuals who disappear from their regular lives to escape various pressures, such as debt or family issues, and start anew elsewhere.
What reasons do people have for 'evaporating' according to the transcript?
-People may choose to 'evaporate' due to financial difficulties, such as debt, job loss, family issues, or a desire to reset their lives in a new place.
What kind of work is commonly found in the Airin district of Nishinari, Osaka?
-The Airin district is known for day labor jobs, where workers can find daily employment, often on construction sites or other temporary jobs.
How does the church mentioned in the transcript support people in the Airin district?
-The church, established by British missionaries, welcomes and supports homeless individuals, offering them a place of refuge and sharing God's love with them.
Who is 杉山俊樹 (Sugiyama Toshiki) and what role does he play?
-杉山俊樹 is a 56-year-old deputy pastor at the church, dedicated to helping and ministering to the homeless and those in need in the Airin district.
What challenges do 'evaporated' individuals face in Japan?
-'Evaporated' individuals in Japan often face difficulties such as lack of job opportunities and limited second chances, leading them to continue living on the fringes of society.
Who is 田中将司 (Tanaka Masashi) and what is his story?
-田中将司 is a 49-year-old man who was imprisoned for drug-related offenses. He experienced family abuse and struggled with relationships, leading to his escape to Osaka and subsequent challenges.
What does 岩淵直樹 (Iwabuchi Naoki) do, and what services does his company provide?
-岩淵直樹 is the CEO of a security and moving company specializing in helping individuals escape from situations involving domestic violence or stalking by providing shelter and relocation services.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the cases of 'evaporation' or 'night escapes'?
-The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in 'night escape' cases, with numbers rising to two or three times higher compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Evaporation and New Beginnings

The speaker discusses the concept of 'evaporation' in Japan, where individuals disappear to start anew. This is seen as a form of escape and a way to reset one's life. The speaker reflects on personal experiences and observations in the Nishinari district of Osaka, particularly the Airin area, where many people have vanished and started over. The speaker shares his journey from Niigata to Osaka during the economic bubble burst, facing unemployment and eventually settling in Osaka's day laborer community.

05:01

🏨 The Struggles of Day Laborers

The paragraph focuses on the life of day laborers in Osaka's Nishinari district. The area is filled with cheap hotels where workers stay, often relying on government aid. Many residents are burdened by debt or have severed ties with their families, some even changing their names. The speaker, identified as Toshiki Sugiyama, is a 56-year-old assistant pastor at a church established in 1955 by British missionaries. The church, known for its outreach to the homeless and marginalized, strives to convey God's love to everyone, despite some churches' reluctance to welcome such individuals.

10:01

🚨 Evaporation and Disappearing Acts

This section delves into the phenomenon of people vanishing voluntarily in Japan. The speaker, Naoki Iwabuchi, who runs a security and night-escape business, describes the challenges and dangers faced by those fleeing domestic violence and stalking. His company provides shelters and helps individuals escape safely. The discussion highlights the increase in disappearances, especially among women, due to the lack of second chances in Japan. The business has seen a rise in demand, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

15:05

🌟 Seeking New Life Paths

The final paragraph addresses the emotional aspects of those who choose to disappear. The speaker, who left home due to abuse and regrets not reuniting with his mother, advises a 16-year-old contemplating escape to reconsider and seek help instead. The emphasis is on avoiding criminal activities and seeking solace in faith. The speaker expresses a desire for a brighter future guided by spirituality and reflects on the importance of making amends and finding a peaceful path forward.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡蒸発

In this context, '蒸発' (jouhatsu) refers to the phenomenon of people disappearing intentionally, often to escape debt, abuse, or personal crises. This concept is central to the video's narrative, highlighting the struggles and motivations behind why individuals choose to vanish and start anew in different places. The term is repeatedly mentioned in relation to the hardships faced by people living in areas like Nishinari and the Airiin district.

💡リセット

'リセット' (reset) signifies the desire to start over and leave behind one's current life. This term is used in the video to describe the mindset of people who feel overwhelmed by their circumstances and seek a fresh start. The idea of resetting one's life underscores the desperation and hope for a new beginning, as mentioned by individuals in the video who fled their previous lives.

💡日雇い労働

'日雇い労働' (hiyatoi roudou) means day labor. This type of employment is prevalent in areas like Nishinari, where many people who have disappeared or are struggling with financial difficulties find temporary work. The video depicts the harsh realities of day labor, illustrating how it provides a minimal means of survival for those in precarious situations.

💡釜ヶ崎あいりん地区

The '釜ヶ崎あいりん地区' (Kamagasaki Airin District) is a well-known area in Osaka associated with day laborers and the homeless. It serves as a refuge for many who have vanished or are trying to escape their past. The video discusses how this district provides affordable lodging and work opportunities, making it a hub for those seeking to disappear.

💡ホームレス

'ホームレス' (homeless) refers to people without a permanent residence, a common issue in the areas highlighted in the video. The church mentioned in the video aims to support the homeless, showing compassion and providing a place of refuge. This term is crucial for understanding the social issues addressed in the narrative.

💡夜逃げ

'夜逃げ' (yonige) translates to 'night escape,' referring to the act of fleeing one's home secretly to avoid creditors or abusive situations. The video explores the increase in such cases, particularly among women escaping domestic violence. This term emphasizes the lengths to which people will go to find safety and start over.

💡DV

'DV' (domestic violence) is a significant theme in the video, highlighting how it drives individuals, especially women, to disappear or seek new lives. The video mentions shelters and services that help victims of domestic violence escape and rebuild their lives, underscoring the social support needed for such vulnerable populations.

💡再建

'再建' (saiken) means 'reconstruction' or 'rebuilding,' referring to the efforts of those who have disappeared to start anew. The video discusses how some people, while vanishing from their previous lives, aim to reconstruct their existence, often with the help of social services and support systems. This concept is vital to understanding the broader narrative of resilience and hope.

💡就職

'就職' (shuushoku) means employment or finding a job. The difficulty of obtaining stable employment after disappearing is a recurring theme in the video. It highlights the barriers faced by those with gaps in their history or those trying to escape their past, which complicates their efforts to find stable, long-term work.

💡セカンドチャンス

'セカンドチャンス' (second chance) refers to the opportunity for individuals to start over after facing significant life challenges. The video suggests that Japanese society offers limited second chances, making it difficult for people to reintegrate and rebuild their lives. This lack of opportunities often drives people to disappear in the first place.

Highlights

In Japan, disappearing due to shame is common, with some choosing to start a new life elsewhere.

Osaka's Nishinari Ward, known as Kamagasaki, has a high number of people who have disappeared from their former lives.

Many people who disappear come from various parts of Japan, such as Niigata Prefecture, seeking work after job loss due to economic downturns.

Osaka is known for its day laborer community, where people can find temporary work daily.

Affordable hotels in Nishinari provide temporary lodging for day laborers, with rates as low as 2,000 to 3,000 yen per night.

Some people who disappear change their names and start anew to escape debts or family issues.

The church in Osaka, built in 1955 by British missionaries, is welcoming to the homeless and those in need.

A man named Tanaka Shoshi, 49, shares his experience of being incarcerated for drug use and his troubled relationship with his family.

Japan lacks a robust system for second chances, leading some to feel that disappearing is their only option.

Personal information protection laws in Japan make it difficult to track down people who disappear willingly.

Yoshinori Naoki runs a security company that helps people escape from domestic violence and stalkers by providing safe shelters.

The demand for services to help people escape dangerous situations has increased two to three times since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kamagasaki and Airiin Districts are known places where people who have disappeared from their former lives congregate.

The emotional toll of disappearing is significant, with some expressing regret over lost connections with family.

Efforts to provide support and a sense of community to those who have disappeared are ongoing, with some turning to religion for solace.