Jōhatsu: how to disappear in Japan

thomas · 22 Aug 2020

Here's an interesting video presented by the BBC about jōhatsu (蒸発), "evaporated people".

The people choosing to 'disappear' in Japan
In Japan, the Johatsu, literally "evaporated people", choose to abandon their current lives - due to family strain, work pressure or any other reason. So-called 'night moving' companies help them disappear without a trace and start a new life somewhere else. Loved ones can be left searching for answers. This is part of the Rulebreakers series from BBC World Service in collaboration with Sundance Institute.

The people choosing to 'disappear' in Japan

In Japan, the Johatsu, literally "evaporated people", choose to abandon their current lives for new ones.

www.bbc.com

The Johatsu: The Evaporated People of Japan

This article describes a social phenomenon in Japan of which few people are aware. It points to the fact that its customs, traditions and lifestyles are patently different from Western and specially American culture. Perhaps, this is why it continues to fascinate so many people worldwide.

owlcation.com

Japan's Missing People: On the Trail of the Johatsu

Are thousands of Japanese really staging elaborate disappearances every year?

time.com

thomas · 25 Feb 2025

The BBC once again on "johatsu," evaporation in Japanese, referring to those who choose to disappear, severing all ties with their past lives and their families. While some plot their departures independently, others call on the services of "night movers": companies that help people vanish without a trace.

Following the owner of one such business named Saita, Andreas Hartmann's and Arata Mori's poignant documentary surveys the circumstances that drive people to desperate measures. Unfolding like a suspense thriller, the opening sees a man hurriedly get inside Saita's van, his voice trembling with fear. Unable to cope with a possessive partner, he finally manages to flee. Interviews with Saita's other clients reveal that, besides financial catastrophes, domestic abuse is often a catalyst for escape. At the same time, the reasons for a disappearance are not always clear-cut, and the film not only lends an ear to the "evaporated" but is also sympathetic to the abandoned, who are left with gnawing questions and no answers.

Johatsu review – poignant account of Japan’s ‘voluntarily disappeared’

Melancholy documentary follows the owner of a ‘night moving’ business in Japan, helping people abandon their own lives

www.theguardian.com