Thursday, July 19, 2018

Japanese Hoarder

Most Japanese homes are small (by US standards anyway) and close together. People are polite and don't want to do things that will annoy their neighbors.  That's the stereotype anyway.




The District Court in Nagoya ordered the forcible clean up of this gomiyashiki (garbage house) that neighbors have filed complaints about for the last ten years. This three-story, 180 square meter home, inhabited by the 62 year old son of the elderly owner, is being cleaned up against his will.  Authorities estimated it would take at least 3 days to clean up the cardboard boxes, furniture, and other items which have overflowed from the house to the sidewalk. The resident is quoted as saying, "While I don't agree with the court's decision, it can't be helped". 


I don't know how big of a problem hoarding is in Japan, but in the US there are television series devoted to the problem. They bring in psychologists, organizers, and cleaning crews.  The families of the horders cry and still the hoarders can't let go of their "treasures" and often times just plain trash.  It makes me cringe, as much about the health hazards as the disorganized mess itself.  Are there any gomiyashiki in your area?  What can be done about them?

9 comments:

Queeniepatch said...

Yes, we have one, but it is 'under control' and the garbage does not spill out onto the street.
What to do? I think the government should change the law. Now it says the garbage belongs to the owner (collector) and other people, including ward officials or the police can not remove it.
You are fined for tossing a cigarett butt in the street, but can disturb the neighbors and their health by building up these garbage houses. Change the law and go into action.
Unfortunately many Japanese homes are jam packed with things, useful and clean, but still there is just too much of everything, so to distinguish between 'too much' and 'garbage' can be hard. When it starts smelling, dripping and attracting pest, it is time it was removed.
Do you have a garbage house in your neighborhood, Pamela?

kiwikid said...

My goodness, that is bad, I magine the mice and rats that could be living in there. We don't have anyone in this area like that, that I know of. I have seen both US and UK tv programmes about hoarders.

Anonymous said...

Hi Pamela ,oh dear i have also watched the shows on hoarding they make you cringe as they are often smelly and dirty and attract the mice and rats,i wouldnt like to live near one,not at all. Hope you have a lovely day my friend xx

Ann said...

Oh, yuck. The smell and the pests are the worst. Since things are relatively easy to manufacture these days, this problem will get worse. My grandparents had only two very small closets in their tiny house. It certainly encouraged them to sort, discard or donate regularly. Guess it would help us all.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

OMGosh, my sister is one. She is 20 years older than I. The hoarding began when she lost her husband and moved to a home across the street from me. Hoarding can be a form of depression, which is her case. Yes, I often wonder how she lives in the stench. She won't even come out of the house anymore except for doctor appointments. No, there is nothing I can do in this situation. I dread the day she passes and we have to deal with it all.
xx, Carol

roughterrain crane said...

I guess gomiyashiki has increased due to less relationship in the community.

Leonore Winterer said...

While I sometimes refer to my collecting of books, games, and stash as 'hoarding', I'm nowhere near a point where it would be a problem. If I have storage space, I tend to use it, but I could not live with stuff and trash stacked up to the ceiling!

Brigitte said...

Once I saw an episode of such a TV program, until then I hadn't known that such a thing exists. Those poor people who have that problem.

FlashinScissors said...

Oh dear! I have a friend whose brother has filled her parents house with things he buys on eBay and then tries to sell it on. They can hardly get in the house now. It’s quite a problem to solve. I don’t know how it will be resolved.
Barbara x