- 14 Mar 2002
- 15,972
- 9,211
- 749
A few days ago, Jake Adelstein presented his new Podcast on 蒸発 (jōhatsu, "evaporation"), the phenomenon of about 80-100 thousand Japanese disappearing from their established lives without a trace every year. There are several reasons for people purposely vanishing: work pressure, debts, depression, addiction, or escape from abusive partners, family members or even cults. According to the NPA, in 2015, 82,000 people disappeared, and 80,000 were traced by the end of the year.
Adelstein, the author of "Tokyo Vice", stated that due to limits and practices by the police--only family members or spouses can report someone missing--the actual number is estimated to be 240,000. Many reported missing are later found, but many are not--or never officially reported missing. Specialised businesses, so-called yonige-ya (夜逃屋), help people who want to hide move quickly and escape their original lives.
Here's a link to Jake's Podcast:
The Wikipedia entry on jōhatsu:
Needless to say, "evaporation" isn't a phenomenon restricted to Japan.
Adelstein, the author of "Tokyo Vice", stated that due to limits and practices by the police--only family members or spouses can report someone missing--the actual number is estimated to be 240,000. Many reported missing are later found, but many are not--or never officially reported missing. Specialised businesses, so-called yonige-ya (夜逃屋), help people who want to hide move quickly and escape their original lives.
Here's a link to Jake's Podcast:
The Wikipedia entry on jōhatsu:
Jouhatsu - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Needless to say, "evaporation" isn't a phenomenon restricted to Japan.