I don't often hear or read about homelessness in Japan. Last week I read an interesting story that reported on a government survey showing homeless people at a record low in Japan this year. While I didn't expect a record high, I was surprised that there were fewer than ever after two plus years of the pandemic.
According to the government survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, which has been taken every year since 2003, there are 3,448 homeless people in Japan this year. (This does not include people who are living in internet or manga cafes, so there are actually more people without homes.) The decrease reflects the results of self-reliance support projects run by local authorities and regional NPOs. The number fell by 376 since a year ago, which is a 9.8% drop.
The majority of homeless people are located in public parks, riversides, roadsides, station buildings, and other facilities. Men make up the largest numbers of homeless with 3,187. Major cities account for 2,737 or 80% of the total. Osaka has 923 homeless people, Tokyo - 703, Yokohama - 285, Kawasaki - 161. By prefecture, Osaka had the largest number with 966, followed by Tokyo with 770; and Kanagawa with 536. According to the survey, twelve prefectures have no homeless people: Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Yamagata, Fukui, Nagano, Shiga, Nara, Tottori, Shimane, Yamaguchi, and Nagasaki.
How does this compare with homelessness where you live?
Our friend Julie goes round in Tokyo early on Monday mornings handing out food packets (onigiri). She says there are fewer people in her area now as there has been a lot of redevelopment and the new buildings have locked entrances and caretakers/guards. In my area I have only seen a few homeless, they were elderly and demented. I am sure the local authorities took care of them in the end. In Stockholm, Sweden there are about 2.400 homeless, 115 are sleeping rough, 185 are in shelters. In recent years there are many people from East Europe who come to beg for money outside stations and supermarkets. I have seen them being picked up by a 'leader' in a car and taken to the outskirts of the city to sleep in makeshift tents. A very organised type of begging.
As Queenie says, I have been delivering onigiri weekly in Shibuya for over 30 years, and my daughter started before that helping the Franciscan Chapel Center.who were delivering in Shinjuku. Gradually the homeless are forced out. First by building sports fields in Miyashita park, the moving construction vehicles into the Ku parking area, then construction around the station, and out of the station B1 and B2 halls because of washing the floors. During the olympics they were moved somewhere else, but this morning in the basements of 109, I passed out atree bags of onigiri and fish sausages. Some of those elderly men I have known for years. The church also takes more to Yoyogi park, and meals the third saturday of each month. Yes, fewer now than before, but maybe some of those elderly are dying out.
Just over 3000 homeless for a country the size of Japan sounds like not a lot at all, although of course each single story is bound to be tragic. Official numbers list more than 40k in Germany.
Our friend Julie goes round in Tokyo early on Monday mornings handing out food packets (onigiri). She says there are fewer people in her area now as there has been a lot of redevelopment and the new buildings have locked entrances and caretakers/guards.
ReplyDeleteIn my area I have only seen a few homeless, they were elderly and demented. I am sure the local authorities took care of them in the end.
In Stockholm, Sweden there are about 2.400 homeless, 115 are sleeping rough, 185 are in shelters. In recent years there are many people from East Europe who come to beg for money outside stations and supermarkets. I have seen them being picked up by a 'leader' in a car and taken to the outskirts of the city to sleep in makeshift tents. A very organised type of begging.
As Queenie says, I have been delivering onigiri weekly in Shibuya for over 30 years, and my daughter started before that helping the Franciscan Chapel Center.who were delivering in Shinjuku. Gradually the homeless are forced out. First by building sports fields in Miyashita park, the moving construction vehicles into the Ku parking area, then construction around the station, and out of the station B1 and B2 halls because of washing the floors. During the olympics they were moved somewhere else, but this morning in the basements of 109, I passed out atree bags of onigiri and fish sausages. Some of those elderly men I have known for years. The church also takes more to Yoyogi park, and meals the third saturday of each month. Yes, fewer now than before, but maybe some of those elderly are dying out.
ReplyDeleteThat's very impressive, Pamela. It's certainly something the US should aspire to.
ReplyDeleteJust over 3000 homeless for a country the size of Japan sounds like not a lot at all, although of course each single story is bound to be tragic. Official numbers list more than 40k in Germany.
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