You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons:

This IP address has been blocked from editing Wikipedia.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

The IP address or range 44.201.0.0/16 has been blocked (disabled) by ‪ST47‬ for the following reason(s):

The IP address that you are currently using has been blocked because it is believed to be a web host provider. To prevent abuse, web hosts may be blocked from editing Wikipedia.
You will not be able to edit Wikipedia using a web host provider because it hides your IP address, much like a proxy or VPN.
We recommend that you attempt to use another connection to edit. For example, if you use a proxy or VPN to connect to the internet, turn it off when editing Wikipedia. If you edit using a mobile connection, try using a Wi-Fi connection, and vice versa. If you are using a corporate internet connection, switch to a different Wi-Fi network. If you have a Wikipedia account, please log in.
If you do not have any other way to edit Wikipedia, you will need to request an IP block exemption.

How to appeal if you are confident that your connection does not use a web host's IP address:
If you are confident that you are not using a web host, you may appeal this block by adding the following text on your talk page: ((unblock|reason=Caught by a web host block but this host or IP is not a web host. My IP address is _______. Place any further information here. ~~~~)). You must fill in the blank with your IP address for this block to be investigated. Your IP address can be determined here. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your IP address private you can use the unblock ticket request system. There are several reasons you might be editing using the IP address of a web host (such as if you are using VPN software or a business network); please use this method of appeal only if you think your IP address is in fact not a web host.

Administrators: The IP block exemption user right should only be applied to allow users to edit using web host in exceptional circumstances, and they should usually be directed to the functionaries team via email. If you intend to give the IPBE user right, a CheckUser needs to take a look at the account. This can be requested most easily at SPI Quick Checkuser Requests. Unblocking an IP or IP range with this template is highly discouraged without at least contacting the blocking administrator.

This block will expire on 23:54, 31 July 2024.

Even when blocked, you will usually still be able to edit your user talk page, as well as email administrators and other editors.

For information on how to proceed, please read the FAQ for blocked users and the guideline on block appeals. The guide to appealing blocks may also be helpful.

Other useful links: Blocking policy · Help:I have been blocked
Your IP address is in a range that has been blocked on all Wikimedia Foundation wikis. The block was made by ‪AntiCompositeNumber‬. The reason given is Open proxy/Webhost: Visit the FAQ if you are affected .
- Start of block: 13:55, 18 August 2022
- Expiry of block: 13:55, 18 April 2025
Your current IP address is 44.201.219.156. The blocked range is 44.201.0.0/16. Please include all above details in any queries you make. If you believe you were blocked by mistake, you can find additional information and instructions in the No open proxies global policy. Otherwise, to discuss the block please post a request for review on Meta-Wiki. You could also send an email to the stewards VRT queue at stewards@wikimedia.org including all above details.

You can view and copy the source of this page:

((Short description|none))
((Expand Japanese|ホームレス|date=October 2013))
[[File:Homeless man, Tokyo, 2008.jpg|thumb|right|A homeless man sleeping in [[Tokyo]]]]
[[File:Semacode tent, Homeless camp, Shinjuku Park, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.jpg|thumb|A homeless [[tent]] in [[Shinjuku]]]]
'''Homelessness in Japan''' (ホームレス, 浮浪者) is a [[social issue]] overwhelmingly affecting middle-aged and elderly males. [[Homelessness]] is thought to have peaked in the 1990s as a consequence of the collapse of the [[Japanese asset price bubble]] and has largely fallen since then.

== Classification ==

=== Definition ===
According to the "Special Act in regards to Supporting the Autonomy of the Homeless Population" ([[Japanese language|Japanese]]: ホームレスの自立の支援等に関する特別措置法), the term "homeless" is defined as "those who utilize city parks, river banks, roads, train stations, and other facilities as their place of stay in order to live their daily lives".<ref>“ホームレスの自立の支援等に関する特別措置法.” ''e-Gov'', 7 Aug. 2002, elaws.e-gov.go.jp/search/elawsSearch/elaws_search/lsg0500/detail?lawId=414AC1000000105.</ref>

=== Names ===
Names for the homeless in Japan include ''hōmuresu'' (ホームレス, from the English "homeless"), ''furousha'' (浮浪者, meaning "wandering person"), ''kojiki'' (乞食, meaning beggar), and ''runpen'' (ルンペン, from German ''[[wiktionary:Lumpen|Lumpen]]).'' More recently, ''nojukusha'' (野宿者, "person who sleeps outside") and ''nojuku roudousha'' (野宿労働者, "laborer who sleeps outside") have been used to avoid negative connotations associated with the word "homeless".<ref name=":0">Marr, Matthew D. "Japan." ''Encyclopedia of Homelessness'', edited by David Levinson, vol. 1, SAGE Reference, 2004, pp. 325-327. ''Gale eBooks'', https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3452400093/GVRL?u=umuser&sid=GVRL&xid=48e11c9a . Accessed 13 Nov. 2020.</ref>

==History==
After [[World War II]], many became homeless due to the economy being damaged from the [[Air raids on Japan|bombing of the mainland]].<ref name=":0" /> Fewer people became homeless in the 1960s due to the [[Japanese economic miracle]].<ref name=":0" />

Homelessness grew noticeably more widespread in Japanese society since the collapse of the [[Japanese asset price bubble]] across the 1990s, and the resulting "[[Lost Decade (Japan)|Lost Decade]]" of economic stagnation. This has resulted in higher [[unemployment]], a contributing factor towards potential homelessness.

In 1997, [[Tokyo]] acknowledged the existence of homeless group representatives and started listening to their issues.<ref>((cite book |last1=Hasegawa |first1=Miki |title=We are not garbage!: The homeless movement in Tokyo, 1994-2002 |date=6 December 2012 |publisher=Routledge |pages=117 |isbn=9781135507831 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q6FCJy7_WqsC&q=tokyo+homeless+1997))</ref>

In 1998, [[officials]] claimed there were around 3,700 homeless in Tokyo alone. Homeless support groups estimated the number to be close to 5,000 and indicated that this number was rapidly increasing.<ref>[http://www.share-international.org/ARCHIVES/homelessness/hl-ticardboard.htm Homelessness in Japan] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706001829/http://www.share-international.org/archives/homelessness/hl-ticardboard.htm |date=2010-07-06 )) share-international.org, accessed June 1, 2009</ref>

Since the 1990s, part-time and temporary employment has increased in Japan, often at the minimum wage, in part due to changes in legislation in 1986 and 1999. Renting accommodation in Japan usually requires a deposit and three months' rent in advance, making access difficult for those without permanent employment. This has increased the homelessness problem.<ref name=cnn-20200504>((cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/03/asia/japan-coronavirus-internet-cafe-refugee-hnk-intl/index.html |title=When your home is a Japanese internet cafe, but the coronavirus pandemic forces you out |author1=Emiko Jozuka |author2=Junko Ogura |author3=Will Ripley |publisher=CNN |date=4 May 2020 |access-date=4 May 2020))</ref>

Due to bureaucratic obstacles, it was quite hard for a homeless person to obtain welfare benefits that they might have been eligible to receive. In August 2002, the "Special Act in regards to Supporting the Autonomy of the Homeless Population" (((lang-ja|[[:jp:ホームレスの自立の支援等に関する特別措置法|ホームレスの自立の支援等に関する特別措置法]]))) was enacted to reduce obstacles for homeless people to get support.

In 2019, Japan had 22 million part-time and temp workers, compared to 17 million in 2011, according to Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

==Statistics==
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+ MHLW Nationwide Homeless Counts<ref>((cite web |url=https://www.e-stat.go.jp/stat-search?page=1&layout=normal&toukei=00450323 |title=ホームレスの実態に関する全国調査（概数調査） |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=e-Stat |publisher=Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan |access-date=2020-08-25 ))</ref><ref name=":1">((Cite web|title=ホームレスの実態に関する全国調査（概数調査）結果について|url=https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_12485.html|access-date=2020-12-12|website=www.mhlw.go.jp|language=ja))</ref><ref name=":2">((Cite web|title=ホームレスの実態に関する全国調査（概数調査）結果について|url=https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_17922.html|access-date=2022-01-11|website=www.mhlw.go.jp|language=ja))</ref>
|-style="text-align:center;"
!Year!!Counted
|-
| 1999 || 20,451
|-
| 2000 || -
|-
| 2001 || 24,090
|-
| 2002 || -
|-
| 2003 || 25,296
|-
| 2004 || -
|-
| 2005 || -
|-
| 2006 || -
|-
| 2007 || 18,564
|-
| 2008 || 16,018
|-
| 2009 || 15,759
|-
| 2010 || 13,124
|-
| 2011 || 10,890
|-
| 2012 || 9,576
|-
| 2013 || 8,265
|-
| 2014 || 7,508
|-
| 2015 || 6,541
|-
| 2016 || 6,235
|-
| 2017 || 5,534
|-
| 2018 || 4,977
|-
| 2019 || 4,555
|-
| 2020 || 3,992
|-
| 2021 || 3,824
|}
According to a survey conducted by the [[Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare]] between January and February 2003, the total number of homeless people in Japan at that time was 25,296. However, according to another survey conducted by the Ministry, by January 2007 the number had fallen to 18,564 due to economic recovery across Japan.<ref name="jittaigaiyou">((cite book | title=ホームレスの実態に関する全国調査結果について | author=厚生労働省 | year=2011 | url=http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/houdou/2r985200000191qr.html))</ref> At that time middle-aged and elderly men accounted for 95% of the homeless population,<ref>((Cite web |url=http://www.scn-net.ne.jp/~shonan-n/news/030222/030222.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602081557/http://www.scn-net.ne.jp/~shonan-n/news/030222/030222.html |archive-date=2009-06-02 |url-status=dead ))</ref> with the average age being 57.5 years old.<ref name="jittaigaiyou"/>

<!--Middle-aged and elderly men account for 95%((cn|date=May 2020)), the average age is 57.5 years old.<ref>((Cite web|url=https://translate.google.com/translate?act=url&depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/houdou/2r985200000191qr.html&xid=17259,15700021,15700124,15700149,15700168,15700173,15700186,15700190,15700201|title=Google Translate|website=translate.google.com))</ref>
-->
In 2001, the government reported there were approximately 25,000 homeless people in Japan.<ref name="ENCYCLOPEDIAOFHOMELESSNESS">((cite book|last=Levinson|first=David|title=Encyclopedia of Homelessness|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-PgHH8TJi8C&pg=PA326|volume=1|year=2004|publisher=SAGE|isbn=978-0-7619-2751-8|page=326))</ref> At its peak in 2003, 25,269 homeless people were counted throughout Japan by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. In 2018, the number of homeless people counted in Japan was 4,977 (4,607 males, 177 females and 193 unknown).<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_00075.html|title=ホームレスの実態に関する全国調査（概数調査）結果について|website=www.mhlw.go.jp|language=ja|access-date=2019-12-19))</ref> In 2020, the number of homeless counted was 3,992 (3,688 males, 168 females and 136 people of obscurity), a 12.4% decrease from 2019.<ref name=":1" /> The largest number of homeless was found in Osaka metropolitan area (1,038 people), followed by Tokyo metropolitan area (889 people) and Kanagawa prefecture (719 people).<ref name=":1" />

For the first time between June and July 2007 a survey was done by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in regards to people spending the night at Internet cafés and 24-hour shops. The study found that across Japan, the number of people either sleeping or staying up all night in these places was around 5,400.<ref>((cite book | title=日雇い派遣労働者の実態に関する調査及び住居喪失不安定就労者の実態に関する調査の概要 | author=厚生労働省 | year=2007 | url=http://www.mhlw.go.jp/houdou/2007/08/dl/h0828-1a.pdf))</ref> The survey found that the number of homeless people in the eastern part of Japan, where the winter is comparatively colder, was 9,225;<ref name="gaisuuchousa">((cite book | title=第2部 ホームレスに関する概数調査の結果 | author=厚生労働省 | year=2007 | url=http://www.mhlw.go.jp/houdou/2007/04/dl/h0406-5b.pdf))6ページ</ref> while the number of homeless people in the western part of Japan (described in the study as areas west of Toyama, Gifu, and Aichi prefectures), where the winter is comparatively warmer, was 9,339.<ref name="gaisuuchousa" /> Since the numbers were approximately the same, it was concluded that there was not a strong correlation between climate conditions and distribution of homelessness across the country. When divided by administrative divisions the highest number of homeless people was in Tokyo metropolitan area, at 2,672.<ref name="jittaigaiyou" /> Second-highest was Osaka metropolitan area at 2,500, and third-highest was Kanagawa prefecture at 1,814 people. When divided by municipal districts, the highest number of homeless people was in the 23 districts of Tokyo, at 2,396.<ref name="jittaigaiyou" /> Second-highest was Osaka city at 2,171 people, and third-highest was Yokohama city at 692 people.

==Support==

((More citations needed|section|date=February 2024))


In August 2002, the "Special Act in regards to Supporting the Autonomy of the Homeless Population" (((lang-ja|[[:jp:ホームレスの自立の支援等に関する特別措置法|ホームレスの自立の支援等に関する特別措置法]]))) was enacted, and proper support began to be offered by the country, including the first nationwide survey into the homelessness of the country, launched by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in February 2003. A factual investigation was also conducted in April 2007.
*People without the income, savings or property to meet the basic necessities of living were able to receive livelihood protection.
*Women escaping from domestic [[violence]], or from former partners seeking to restart former relationships, were able to receive support from women's care institutions, refuges, and shelters.
*In the case of minors, forms of support such as child welfare [[institutions]] were also made available.

==Specific aspects==
Some specific aspects of Japanese homelessness are due to the [[social structure]] of Japanese [[society]]. Historically, men were the sole providers for their [[families]]. Japanese companies believe that [[married]] men work better than unmarried ones do because the former feel more obligations and responsibilities toward their families. Hence, not only elderly men, who face [[ageism]] and cannot find employment, but unmarried men over 35 years old have difficulties in finding employment. <ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1018/p07s01-woap.html Japan's homeless face ageism] csmonitor.com, accessed June 1, 2009</ref>
Furthermore, families usually provide more support for women than they do for men.<ref>((Cite web|url=http://www.street-papers.org/case-studies-asia/|title=Asia: The Big Issue Japan|access-date=2009-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706142506/http://www.street-papers.org/case-studies-asia/|archive-date=2010-07-06|url-status=dead))</ref>

==Internet cafés and homeless==
((main|Net cafe refugee))
((As of|2011)), Japan is continuing to experience economic [[recession]]. For ¥1,500 to ¥2,000 per night homeless people have been staying in Internet cafés or [[capsule hotel]]s,<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/sep/28/japan.socialexclusion|title=Tokyo dreaming|publisher=Guardian|language=en|author=Justin McCurry|date=28 September 2007|access-date=15 January 2017))</ref> where they get an individual room (space) and a shower, television, soft drinks and Internet access.<ref>[http://inventorspot.com/articles/japan_internet_cafes_house_homeless_5687 Internet Cafés and homeless] inventorspot.com, accessed June 1, 2009</ref>

==See also==
*[[Kamagasaki]]
*[[Poverty in Japan]]
*[[Deinstitutionalisation]]
*''[[Tokyo Godfathers]]'' - an [[anime|animated film]] about three homeless people in Tokyo
*[[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]]
*[[Economy of Japan]]

== References ==
((reflist|2))

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8vhdQOH-Tk&list=PLXw1GwgfxFvcHX2nVpe0HWWLkhnC7lB9q Homelessness in Japan video series, Life Where I'm From], YouTube
* [http://donmaclaren.com/danse_macabre.html "Slumming in Osaka/Mother's Day, 11:30 PM, Ashiya, Hyogo-ken, Japan"]

((Homelessness|state=expanded))
((Asia topic |Homelessness in))

[[Category:Homelessness by country|Japan]]
[[Category:Housing in Japan]]
[[Category:Social issues in Japan]]
[[Category:Poverty in Japan]]

Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page (help):

Homelessness in Japan (edit)
Template:Ambox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:As of (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Asia topic (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Cite book (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite news (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite web (view source) (protected)
Template:DMCA (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dated maintenance category (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dated maintenance category (articles) (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Expand Japanese (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Expand language (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:FULLROOTPAGENAME (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:First word (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Hidden (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Hidden begin (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Hidden begin/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Hidden end (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Hlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Homelessness (edit)
Template:Icon (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Iso2country (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Iso2country/article (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Iso2country/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Lang-ja (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main other (view source) (protected)
Template:More citations needed (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Mw lang (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Template:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Template:Para (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description/lowercasecheck (view source) (protected)
Template:Sp (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Webarchive (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Wikidata sitelink (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Yesno (view source) (protected)
Module:Arguments (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Disambiguation/templates (view source) (protected)
Module:Exponential search (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/links (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Format link (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote list (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Icon (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Icon/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Labelled list hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/ISO 639 synonyms (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana languages (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana regions (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana suppressed scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana variants (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Message box (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/ambox.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Mw lang (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/disambiguation (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/setindex (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/softredirect (view source) (protected)
Module:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:TableTools (view source) (protected)
Module:Unicode data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unicode data/scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:Webarchive (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Webarchive/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:WikidataIB (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:WikidataIB/nolinks (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:WikidataIB/titleformats (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Wikitext Parsing (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

Return to Homelessness in Japan.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness_in_Japan"