Japan's GARBAGE HOUSE problem

Hello everyone! When you think of Japan, one of the first things that might pop into your head is “clean”. Yes, cleanliness is in our DNA! The world was so surprised at our cleanliness in 2018 when they saw Japanese fans at the FIFA World Cup cleaning the stands after matches. But imagine if the world saw this FILTHY side of Japan.
Homes that are full of garbage and are neglected are called gomiyashiki, which means “garbage house”. Piles of food, garbage, and filth make it completely unlivable, and yet, there are people who CAN and DO live in them.
I hope for many of you, when you look around your own home, you don’t live in this kind of mess. However, I can’t say the same thing for myself, because I spent my early 20s living in a room that was a complete mess. But why did I let it get so messy? That’s one of the things I want to talk about today!
Sign up for the Mrs. Eats newsletter to get the latest news on me, as well as fun resources on Japan and Japanese language! mrseats.tv/new...
MRS. EATS MERCH! mrseats.tv/merch
Subscribe for more fun videos!
www.youtube.co...
Support The Channel!
Patreon - / mrseats
Get access to EVEN MORE great Mrs. Eats content and other awesome opportunities!
🌟Channel Member - www.youtube.co...
Get a cool badge by your name, special Mrs. Eats emoji, and exclusive photos!
🌟Shopping on Amazon US - amzn.to/3udlLib
By using the link above to do your regular shopping, we receive a small commission at no additional cost to you!
Keep In Touch!
💬Discord - / discord
Join the Mrs. Eats Discord, full of the kindest people you'll meet on the internet!
💬Instagram - / mrseatsjapan
Special Thanks to:
🙏Patreon supporters! Your support allows us to keep making videos and even bonus content!
🙏Eating Buddies and Super Chatters for your continued support! You allow us to continue to make great content!
🙏Those who have sent things to us or bought something off our wishlist!
🙏Rode and the Wireless Go II microphone system for the clear, crisp audio! Learn more about the Wireless Go II - amzn.to/3d4nOiR
Disclaimers:
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Rode has provided the Wireless Go II microphone system to us free of charge. We were not paid for our review, usage, or mention of their products. We're just huge fans and they make great products!
Music licensed by Dova Syndrome ( dova-s.jp/_con... )
Songs Used:
Sharou "10C" ( • 10℃ / しゃろう )
Sharou "2:23 AM" ( • 2:23 AM / しゃろう )
Sharou "Cassete Tape Dream" ( • Cassette Tape Dream / ... )
Sharou "Summer Triangle" ( • 【30分耐久フリーBGM】SUMMER TR... "
Sharou "Honey Lemon 350ml" (dova-s.jp/bgm/...)
Sharou "極東の羊、テレキャスターと踊る" ( • 極東の羊、テレキャスターと踊る (Sheep... )
Sharou "週末京都現実逃避" (dova-s.jp/bgm/...)

[@MrsEats]

The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/mrseats03221 How is YOUR room?? I hope it's cleaner than these Gomiyashiki!

[@taif_nas]

My room is all clean!

[@michaeldthreelegs1312]

Mine is clean too. Lol

[@nicolechavez9409]

My house is clean but sometimes stuff piles up when we buy a lot of groceries. We have a small apartment. 😕

[@raven_bard]

Clean. I have a touch of OCD and hate leaving things strewn about on the floor. Drives me mad.

[@user-hp9wh9fh1q]

Hihi😥

[@metsutai]

This video is done so well. You took an issue that is usually poked fun at and approached it with so much empathy and insightfulness. While keeping things entertaining too.

[@MrsEats]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!!

[@mygirldarby]

A messy home or room stemming from depression is different than hoarding, which happens to people who have a different psychiatric illness. Hoarding makes them feel safer and more insulated. Hoarders feel they can't throw anything away. Even something as small as a broken pencil will cause them great anxiety if someone tries to throw it away or take it. Someone depressed, however, just doesn't have the energy or motivation to clean and throw things away. They aren't attached to the extra garbage and they hate the mess, but they are just too depressed to do anything about it.

[@automnejoy5308]

An important distinction. And then there are people who are just naturally messy. They're not hoarders and they're not depressed; they're just not bothered enough to spend the time and energy on cleaning. I know someone like this. She's been this way since childhood. Her mom could only get the vacuum about a foot into her room, and that was that.

[@paxhumana2015]

So, basically, those people are like the people that are gathering things into those balls in those games, right?

[@nicholashodges201]

It can also happen as a form of social defiance in people who feel they don't have control over their life. While not as strong as in Japan there's still a cleanliness demand here culturally, and when you feel you have no control over your life willfully breaking that social/cultural demand you get a feeling of control, even if it's an illusion

[@garryferrington811]

Very true: my father went through the great depression. Boy, did he hoard. Not insanely, though. The upside to that was that I always found great reading material laying around. I think I read LOTR years before anyone else I knew, which was lucky for me, as I was able to envision my own, personal Middle Earth.

[@kiyokowilkinson158]

I don't think that's it's not that they can't be bothered by cleaning up as much as it is your taking away their memories of sorts to them . They accidentally want to keep the broken pencil it's not something they see as a mess as much as a memory or something they have become attached to due to different issues in their lives . They desperately need to be heard and seen this their own pers way of crying out for help or could just be the only way they know how to handle their trama healthy or not . We can't take away everything from people which is one reason they need to be in control so badly and hold on to things in this manner inntill they figure out a better way that works for them . Just love more and judge less that will really help other people in every aspect of life regardless of the situation . remember something has has everyone react the ways they do a cause to cause this reaction l

[@warriorbard]

There's a good chance that those people living in those garbage houses are hoarders, which is an actual psychological illness. Simply getting rid of their stuff isn't enough; they need psychological intervention otherwise they'll just continue in this vicious cycle of hoarding stuff. There are entire reality shows about hoarders in different countries and how they people try to help them. One of the biggest takeaways I got from these shows is that you *need* to involve the hoarder in the process of getting better in order for them to heal. If you use aggressive force and start chucking their stuff away, it'll worsen their condition.

[@lchen2522]

Generally, up to 6% of the population could be suffering from a hoarding disorder. I think in Japan with how private people are, there are probably many people successfully hiding it from everyone they know.

[@gorowlystomak3339]

As someone who is currently living in my own trash, I can tell you it's not a hoarding thing. Well I'm sure it is for some - but this is a very distinct thing. Mrs Eats actually gave about as good a description as I've seen on how it happens. WIth me, I've always had a problem with procrastination and the covid times took that and caused it to run rampant with my general anxiety. A big part of the problem is what I call 'cycle-breaking';' things sometimes require other things (Like needing clean cuttlery to eat for example) and when you lose track of a 'cycle' (you live your life as a cycle whether you realise it or not) suddenly you get this gridlock-effect, where everything seems to depend on everything else and you have no recourse to even start to clean everything up. You end up freezing and it's easier just to order take out (finger food) and forget about for another day. Luckily for me, I was able to start making progress and I've clearning 3 of my four rooms, but my bedroom is still full (and it's bvy far the worst of them). I can't get out of the sides of the bed so I have to sort of wiggle my way to the foot of the bed like a worm and by computer monitory is framed by a window of cans and packets. I'll get it sorted at some point by it's hard psychological maze to navigate before you even get to the physical stuff (which is worse than you expect).

[@nilawarriorprincess]

Very, very true. It's definitely seems to be triggered by a traumatic event as well. Losing my mother meant I no longer have frequent visitors & I find myself keeping things that remind me of her that I might not need. I'm not in a hoarding situation, but I can relate to how it begins.

[@lainiwakura1776]

@@gorowlystomak3339 Hoarding gets to the point where stuff and garbage just piles up until every surface in your house are buried under several feet of it because hoarders feel a psychological attachment to it. It can also be a sign of depression. Even lazy people get to the point where they throw their mess away and tidy up, not so with hoarders and depression.

[@gorowlystomak3339]

@@lainiwakura1776 No, not true neccesarily. Anxiety and depression comes in many forms. You're making the mistake of conflating procrastination with laziness (same as people who conflate sadness with depression). Hoarding is something that happens when people develop an attachment to their belongings. It's a specific thing. Being overwhelmed and unable to act Is what's happening with teh garbage house phenomenon in Japan. It happens in the west too but is far rarer. People saying it's hoarding are attempting to make it fit into a more familiar western box. And again, I'm not saying hoarding behavoir can't cause this either (it usually does). It's just not the thing that is being presented in the video. :)

[@kodyblack6366]

I love the 2 of you together when doing skits, I can watch ya'll all day

[@MrsEats]

Hey Kody! Thank you so much for watching our videos! Im always happy when I see your comment!

[@lyndsaybrown8471]

You're just encouraging Mr. Eats. Please continue.

[@lyn3325]

The dramatization in her voice. I'd say she would be a really good voice actor.

[@ahmedoji9608]

Now I know why Marie Kondo was such a sensation a few years back. Japanese people need to be reminded about "Danshari" until she came as an angel for this problem at the right time that she became a relatively overnight sensation. Wow, never have I figured, during my 3-year stay in Japan, why my Japanese friends never allowed me to come to their house. Turns out it is because of this

[@taschak3889]

Isn't Marie Kondo more famous in Western countries than in Japan? I think she isn't that famous in Japan.

[@gtw4546]

Mari Kondo provided me with a rubric for evaluating what to keep (brings joy) and gave me "permission" to discard a lot of "gifts." I didn't do all the steps, but what I DID do has been maintained and greatly simplified my life! Opening my drawers and closets now brings me joy.

[@420JackG]

I don't trust anyone who tells you to tear pages out of books and throw the rest away.

[@wchan39]

@@420JackG Aren't those just memes about Marie Kondo taken out of context?

[@420JackG]

@@wchan39 if by meme taken out of context you mean her stating that if only part of a book "sparks joy" that one should "consider tearing out those pages" [in order to discard the rest of the book]... because you know, that's what books (and everything else, apparently) is for: making you feel good.

[@brianc21324]

In general Japan is clean. But, I can't tell you how many Japanese people's houses I've been to that are super full of stuff all over the place. Some of them can probably be featured on shows like "Hoarders."

[@MrsEats]

Hi Brian! I'm happy to see you again! Yes! Many Japanese people like to keep stuff!! I think it's part of the MOTTAINAI culture! Even my parents have my stuff from when I was baby!!!

[@sleepycowboy18]

My relative married a japanese lady and she moved to my country, man her house is full of just things, not garbage and it's a relatively clean house but full off small things and big things

[@TheCyberMantis]

Same here. I'm not even Japanese. Over the years, you just accumulate stuff. Good stuff that you can't just throw away. Stuff that has value. Maybe even more value than when you bought it. So you can't just toss it out.

[@TheCyberMantis]

@@AmoebaInk It's also about the "value" of stuff. If I paid $200 for something, and I know it is still worth at least $100, but if I sold it, I could probably only get $20 for it... i'm keeping it. People are cheap. They want stuff for free basically. So I would rather toss it in the dump, than let some cheapskate rob me. Or I will just keep it.

[@wareforcoin5780]

@@TheCyberMantis I'm the complete opposite. I just throw even perfectly usable stuff away. If it's sat too long without me using it, it goes. Except for my video game collection, which isn't even that big.

[@artistofdarklight3612]

I was the child of a hoarder, I grew up in such a small area that I could keep clear of enough garbage, a small patch on top of a pile of trash, with as many soft things as I could pile up there to sleep on. The entire house was a mess of tiny tunnels through the trash. I had 5 other siblings and my mother, I shared my space with my youngest sister and when I was younger my younger brother slept there as well, but he became embarrassed about sleeping with his older sister as and he moved into another part of the house. I have no idea what triggered her to start hoarding, but she couldn't stop. At some point our house had 3 bedrooms, and by the time I left none of them could be used, because they were full from floor to ceiling, wall to wall and trash was blocking the door ways. The kitchen couldn't be used, as it had been covered by garbage for as long as I could remember. My mother would buy pets, and they would go missing, probably crawled under a pile that collapsed and crushed them. It was hell. When I did leave, it felt so weird to put my arms out, and to open and close doors. It felt so foreign to walk around my home, instead of having to crawl or climb over piles of trash. It felt so strange to sleep on a mattress. In those first few years I learnt so much about living that I couldn't experience, like cooking and cleaning, basic things that I don't think many people realize the importance of. Growing up I knew it wasn't normal, but it didn't really set in how not normal it was until I was out on my own. I ended up reporting my mother to child protective services and I ended up looking after my younger brother and sister, she is still with me and he has now set out on his own adult path. I wish I could have gotten them out sooner, and I wish my older brothers had tried to get us out instead of leaving us there for 5 years knowing how bad it was and choosing to ignore it. I take pride in the fact that my sister can at least grow up sleeping on a real bed. I resent my mother so much for letting it get so bad, and for letting children live in conditions like that, I can't even say she "raised" us, because we raised ourselves. I hold no grudge against hoarders letting things get out of control, I understand mental illness and the struggle to live, but I do not forgive any human being who chooses to put garbage in front of the lives of their children. I condemn a person who will bring animals into it, knowing full well what will happen, and then choosing to do it again. And for those who are wondering, the house couldn't be saved. It ended up being bulldozed and everything was carted to landfill, the walls were infested with mold, termites, rats and all kind of nasty stuff. In the end the trash was the only thing really keeping the roof up, almost all the wooden beams were crumbling from the termites, if left another few years it would have fallen in on itself, and considering it had been that way for ~24 years I wouldn't have been surprised if it went on for that long. I just hope people get help and stop before it gets too late.

[@tristinkirby]

So glad you took the time to share this. Thank You

[@RilkeanKisses]

Thank you for sharing. This is so harrowing. As a neat freak I can't imagine growing up in these conditions. How did you guys bathe or eat? Glad you and your siblings are doing better now. I wouldn't wish this life on anyone.

[@nuxies2503]

When you said "Moved into another part of the house" That hurt, I'm so sorry you and your siblings had to go through that, but I'm glad it's better now

[@bwabwa8810]

Sorry you went through that. I had a friend who's mom suffered from depression and the dad was lazy, he did work a lot though. They had 9 kids! And my friend, who was the elder daughter, was expected to take care of them much of the time while the mom hid in her room. The house was horrible. Old food crusted along the walls. Piles of stuff all over. It was psychologically damaging to the kids. They all turned out alright though. And they're all very clean.

[@altenberg-greifenstein]

Imagine, 7 people in a house, everyone producing dirt and trash and nobody is cleaning. Did you ever try to throw trash away? Did your mother force you to leave the trash you yourself produced inside the house and threw a fit when you tried to throw it away? Your mother is clearly sick. It is easy to say you will never forgive. But sick people need help. A sick single mother with no help from anyone but so many children needs even more help from her own family. There is also one thing you forgot: the day will come that you find out that someone will never forgive you, and it might be your own children, for whatever reason they choose. Good luck!

[@rachelsmith3592]

I like the way you connected the Gomiyashiki problem with stress, consumer culture, and mottainai/fear of wastefulness. Compulsive hoarding is a psychological disorder that affects people all over the world, so it was really interesting to learn more about it in a Japanese context. It’s important to treat people who create gomiyashiki with empathy and recognize the underlying struggles with trauma, poverty or mental illness that often lead to hoarding behavior.

[@gjergjaurelius9798]

Definitely need a hoarders Japanese edition! Lol

[@k.a._135]

Omg we are the exact opposite! As a middle eastern, Its more common to invite people to your house than to go outside. Family gatherings at weekends are always a must. So, there is a pressure to always keep the house spotless because "you never know when a guest might come". As for public areas, its not as clean and littering can be a problem. Our houses can be cleaner than the public parks and public bathrooms sometimes. It is getting better with government hired cleaners in the streets and cleaning campaigns in schools to make people more aware. I remember how each class (30 students) was assigned to clean the whole school during lunch break just to see how bad littering can be. It definately taught me a lesson 🥲♥️

[@MortimerZabi]

Interesting. Is it because it's cooler inside than outside, and you want to avoid the heat?

[@weakassnerd]

It's the same for us in the Midwestern US! there's a big pressure to always have your house clean in case someone comes over. Public places aren't clean at all too lol. I know some girls growing up that would squat over the toilet seat or line the seat with toilet paper when they went to the bathroom because our public bathrooms are so dirty! It's unfortunate that we (Americans) are so individualistic that a lot of us don't even care if we leave a mess in the bathroom because we don't have to clean it up 🙄

[@dansketch4603]

Middle Eastern hospitality is at different level

[@k.a._135]

@@MortimerZabi I honestly never thought of it in that way before but its definately an added bonus😂. Generally Sitting with the whole family indoors, eating lunch together, then talking and catching up with each other while eating sweets/fruits/dates with arabic coffee has always been a thing even before air conditioning existed. Here are 3 reasons for it to be an indoor gathering rather than a picnic : 1) it typically happens in the grandparents house. So it's like the parents are regularly going back to the house they grew up in with their children every weekend. Plus elderly have more difficulty moving from place to place so it's just more convenient to go to the grandparents house. 2) privacy indoors. More privacy = more relaxed and free. If the family is muslim then its more convenient for the women to stay at home as they dont need to cover up when they gather with other women indoors. The women typically chat together comfortably in the living room while the men sit in another room. I guess the hot weather can amplify the discomfort too (imagine having to cover up completely while being in a humid and hot environment🥲💔). So, we definitely don't have picnics unless the weather is cooler and it's less humid outside. 3) (props to you for bringing this up) We basically only have 2 seasons; REALLY LONG & HOT SUMMERS and short windy/ rainy winters, so the "perfect picnic weather" rarely happens. We'd rather rent an air conditioned private swimming pool or go to malls, but that would be too expensive given how many mouths we'd need to feed. That's why it's only an occasional thing. So yeah, home gatherings on weekends are the best 😂✊.

[@SyrianSoaper]

Im also middle eastern and dont allow people into my house nor do i like going to other peoples homes.

[@damascusraven]

The psychological side of this is interesting. In my country it's commonly seen in people who grew up extremely poor, so they're afraid of throwing anything away because they might need it later.

[@kev_mclernon_family_channe4745]

Yes.

[@blue_storybook3230]

As the saying goes, home is where the heart is, you can really tell a persons or family mental state just by looking at the cleanliness of their houses. I hope people get help with this habit of theirs.

[@kimmykuma]

I was just talking about this with my friends. We live in the inaka of Akita and there are many gomiyashiki's in the area. And i think another MAJOR issue is how (at least in the inaka) freakin' difficult it is to throw away or even donate things!! Even if you go to the dump, you have to pay crazy fees to throw away items...or even be rejected by the dump because its not the right KIND of garbage that they take. This 厳しすぎ system is not helpful for people with low incomes, as well as social anxieties of having to go to 12 different places only to be rejected because their garbage isn't "right." So, what else can they do? They dont have the money to pay to get rid of stuff along the way, and there arent convenient donation centers for homeless or needy folks, so they just let it pile and pile and pile.

[@maidoll_fei]

And there are lots of scammer in those garbage collect/cleaning service. I try to clean house before moving I encount like 5 scammer in 3days. Because the garbage collect system are so harsh on everything. People try to take advantage and use it to scam people. When I try to throw a bigger item.(longer than 30cm) I have to go to fill a form on gov website. Not only they only able pickup my item like 3weeks~1month later. And the online form require me to choose the exact item type. So if I cant find the item on the list they dont pick it up...

[@colinmartin9797]

I'm a paramedic and see these houses in the US all the time. They're called "hoarders" here. Trying to get a sick person who can't walk out of these places is a nightmare. I've nearly been crushed under ten foot tall piles of magazines

[@LaraCroft36]

Respect

[@Zehahahahahahahahahahahaha]

My mom is a hoarder and it's pretty annoying

[@toshi_ca]

I suddenly feel like cleaning my house 🧹. Thanks Mrs and Mr Eats!

[@MrsEats]

Oh cool!! Yes let's do DANSHARI together!!

[@toffeenut1336]

Feng Shui helped sort me out. I grew up in a household, maybe not as bad as what was in the video, but close to it, and sadly that lifestyle followed with me for sometime. I was always so depressed coming home from work to a messy place. Now it’s clean, open, airy and fresh. Having a clean environment makes such a difference in you feel.

[@busymike]

This is probably one of your best videos. I appreciate the honesty about your life and I'm glad "dan sha ri" got you to a better place. I think getting attached to things is a very big problem, especially in the times we're living in where people are more lonely and depressed than ever.

[@destineeryan6773]

I thank you, Mrs. and Mr. Eats for covering this topic both realistically and kindly, as a child who grew up in a hoarding home who faced severe neglect. I don't know if this is a common reason in Japan, but for many hoarders I know, familial abuse can often play a large factor in the hoarding itself and whether or not they get help. People are rarely kind when making these sorts of videos, or those that are kind are often disingenuous about the reality of garbage homes. They ARE nasty but rarely is it over nothing. Though I never held any love for the hoarding house I grew up in beyond memories with my family there, people who talk too disgustedly about the subject make me feel great shame and embarassment, even though I was not personally the hoarder-it was my mother. I know it was one of her greatest shames as well. It was interesting to compare the reasons some Japanese people have for facing this struggle compared to hoarders in America, and note that while some of the cultural values causing the anxiety and depression are different, it always boils down to mental illness. My mother was both extremely anxious and depressed from all of my father's abuse which started when I was 4-5, which lead to her hoarding material items, especially those of her children. Us children were her reprieve and joy from my father, so she never threw away a single school paper we brought home to show her. When we cleaned the house finally after she died, we found countless sippy cups that should've been thrown away years ago, baby clothes, binkies, spices that had been expired for 10+ years, tubs of Vicks Vapo-Rub that were older than me (born in '99, she died in '17), spelling tests from when I was still in primary. My father would critize and shame her for how messy it still was every time she did try to clean our Garbage Home and change for the better, and after only receiving negative feedback, she ultimately gave up and let the illness win instead of trying to progress beyond that first step because he would yell at her whether the home was clean or dirty, but if it was cluttered at least she had the things she thought made her happy. We were banned as kids from helping her or even doing basic chores by my father (he did nothing either) because it was "her mess to clean," and he viewed her as incompetent because she "couldn't even clean properly." I think my father knew if she ever dug herself out of her depression she would leave him and he wanted to continue abusing her, so he kicked her while she was down frequently to keep her there. You're 100% right about how overwhelming it is when looking at the mess, and I'm sure it took great courage for my mother to try on her own when she did, with no support. I feel great shame knowing I did not do everything I could to support my mother positively, but I try to forgive myself as I was a child who hardly even understood my living situation was not normal until I was approximately 12. I do not know if you read all of this Mrs./Mr. Eats, but if you did thank you for your time and compassion you show for those with Garbage Homes. Hearing positive words and knowing help is available might not help everyone, but words like yours could have easily been the positivity my mother needed to have had a better life and escape the hellish house that her hellish relationship created. You are doing a wonderful service to families like mine, and hopefully other families can find help and support before it is too late for them.

[@Xen0Blutschatten]

I generally associate the state of my room with the state of my mind. If my head becomes messy, my room becomes messy too. Cleaning it up never takes much time, but if i'm stressed it can pile up quite a bit.

[@britbrat85]

I’m really happy you shared this. I became very stressed and depressed with my last job. I didn’t become a hoarder but I did get to a point where I would just leave clothes and trash on the floor. I didn’t have the energy to care anymore because all my energy went in to keeping up with work. I knew it was bad to keep my room in such a way. Even having a dirty room started to add to my stress. Once I left that job I encouraged myself to develop daily cleaning habits and things have been great ever since then. It’s been such a relief!😌

[@dis4497]

God, I love their sense of humor! The skit with the garbage reminded me of a movie with Nakama Yukie where she was helping hoarders get rid of unnecessary stuff.

[@MrsEats]

Oh thank you!! What is the name of the movie? Sound so interesting!!

[@dis4497]

@@MrsEats It's 人生がときめく片づけの魔法。("Jinsei ga tokimeku katazuke no mahou" ). I hope you like it and thank you for the comment! ☺️

[@RsSquier51]

I've seen places like those before at my previous job. Had to walk on and over trash to move through the apartment to do repair work. Second half of video was very inspiring to clean up all aspects of ones life.

[@MrsEats]

Wow! So interesting you had to see it!! I have seen it one time before when I was little! It was very shocking to see!

[@Vailskibum]

That JoJo reference was golden

[@ObservationofLimits]

Damn so many comments before someone mentioned it. Not too many cultured people among us apparently.

[@longlivehw]

I really loved the acting and empathy you brought to this video. I always wondered where all the stuff goes in these small Japanese houses.

[@haliburley4153]

I loved this video. I was surprised to see Mrs. Eats being so sincere and serious. I agree with your message. Too much stuff is a burden. Less stuff means more mental space.

[@KuraiKEI]

Another factor is hikikomori which literally translates to shut ins. Which are those that stay inside their home and rarely go outside ever. Usually are ones who have a garbage house

[@MrsEats]

Yes hikkikomori can have gomiyashiki too!!

[@pmonday]

Thank you for being willing to talk openly about this. As a person with serious depression keeping things clean is always a really big struggle, sometimes I'm more successful than others. These things need to be looked at with more empathy and the more people are willing to talk about these issues the less stigma will surround them. Nobody wants to live like this.

[@Mansplainer452]

This is so strange. When I first moved into my apartment in Japan, I kept it clean for the first few months. But over time the garbage just accumulated and before I knew it, it had just become a part of my identity. It was a tiny apartment and with so many Amazon purchases and the garbage separation system, it made it quite difficult to keep things neat. Not to mention the deep set depression I fell into being a foreigner and feeling like I just didn't fit in the Japanese society.

[@starsatnightsparkle1318]

Are you feeling better now?

[@Mansplainer452]

@@starsatnightsparkle1318 Oh yes in a much better space thanks for asking. Being with the family definitely has helped. I'll be heading to Thailand soon. I'm hoping the experience will be better😊

[@tomifost]

Mrs Eats dressed as disappointed parents was hilarious. Keep that up! This was also a very heart-felt episode. Glad to know you're doing better as I look around my room full of crap.

[@TheCCBoi]

What a wonderful ending - thank you for sharing your story Mrs.Eats.

[@DogFlamingoXIII]

Thank you for sharing this. This is a major issue in the US. It is so expensive to get someone to clean the issues as well.

[@pageturner1988]

This got deep, appreciate you open up about your own struggles

[@OustoL]

Thank you for sharing your story! I'm glad you were able to get back on track and find happiness again

[@MrsEats]

Thank you! Getting out of the mess was difficult but not impossible!

[@Hotcoffeepls]

Yes! I noticed too when I visited Japan - it feels like things are more "extremes" - compared to Canada, the spaces that are clean are amazingly clean, especially things like train stations and parcs. But I also saw some of the messiest houses I had ever seen, with piles of things everywhere! I relate a lot to the anxiety and stress of wanting to control a space but not having the energy to sort through stuff. But letting go is necessary!

[@craigthomason2190]

I just started following this channel and this is easily one of my favorite episodes. Thank you.

[@judyhorstmann6332]

I cant imagine what that must have felt like. Thank you so much for feeling comfortable with being vulnerable. Many people feel guarded, afraid or ashamed. You may have helped many people have the courage to reach out for help. Much respect to you!

[@thinktransnational]

Thank you for sharing your story and introducing us to this topic. This entire video was so interesting. Hoarding in the US is definitely a thing and I think it is exacerbated by the isolation and hopeless part of depression. Tangentially, to add to the Americans inviting people over to their homes, I'd say that this has to do with our lack of public transit systems and public spaces. After college my friends and I moved to different outer parts of the city and were all an hour away from each over by car or an hour and a half with traffic, even though we were all considered to live in the same metro area. We often tried to make plans to meet up in the city (30 mins away for all of us), BUT none of us could imagine trying to fight after work or weekend traffic, plus trying to find parking and having to pay to park three cars downtown, just to meet for an hourlong coffee. It always worked out to be cheaper and more convenient for two of us to make the drive to the other's house and make an evening of hanging out (dinner, movie, board games, etc).

[@ThatGamerCher]

Deeply feeling this issue right now. I'm not at gomiyashi status yet, but even approaching that status is a concern and a worry. Thank you so much for sharing and giving me hope that I can turn my situation around now before it gets worse. 💜

[@anonomas6126]

Start small. Bathroom is easiest and just throw everything away.

[@ComplacentOtter]

There's a show in the US called "Hoarders" that shows people that live this way getting help and shows some of the ways people get themselves into this situation. Thanks for your videos!

[@JBM425]

If the A&E series “Hoarders” ever runs out of material, they can always do an international edition from Japan.

[@JustHereForTheTea]

My mom is a hoarder, but a clean one. She has to keep every bit of paper because it might be something we need. I desperately wanted to throw away some of my stuffed animals and toys as I got older and she wouldn't do it! We had so much stuff stored in boxes - usually we had attics or basements to put them in but for a while we had to rent a big storage space. What had caused all this was that her parents sent her to visit her aunt when she was 17 just so they could throw away EVERYTHING she owned, because she was now an "adult" and didn't need her "kid" toys and clothes. Then my father died when I was six years old. Also depression runs in our family. So she didn't want to let go of any memories or create problems for herself if she threw out something she would later need. People say the Hoarders shows are awful and take advantage of people, but watching those shows is what actually changed her habits! She recognized what she was doing and how bad it could get if she kept collecting. We still have a lot of stuff, but she finally let go of things like my old stuffed animals and sooooo many papers.

[@Steven-ki9sk]

When I see your friendly face it always puts me in a good mood. Thank you

[@Jordan-inJapan]

More than a ‘garbage problem’, I’d say that Japan has an ‘anxiety problem’. Social expectations are really heavy here, and I think a lot of people just kind of get crushed by the weight. Actually, I think being a foreign resident in Japan is pretty ideal since you get (many of) the benefit of Japanese society without (most of) the pressure. Anyway, it’s working pretty well for me… (Thoughts on this, Mr. Eats?)

[@korpen2858]

I was living the garbage life when i felt like shit when i was 19. Life felt pointless and a family member was dying. It's definently because the person is not in a good place mentally.

[@euomu]

@@korpen2858 Not always

[@VerhoevenSimon]

I was wondering the same thing. The social pressure just becoming too much and painting a home just requiring too much energy atop the normal outward appearance maintenance.

[@christesterman]

I agree I love living in Japan even the worst parts are comparable to the best parts of most American cities

[@RadenWA]

There is definitely certain advantage of staying being a “tourist” in a country. That’s why digital nomad is a thing nowadays.

[@robynobrien744]

This was such a heart-warmer! Thank you, Mrs. Eats, for sharing this part of your story. It's very inspiring.

[@Claudia_87]

I feel called out, I even have the Hello Kitty bottle cap in the video 😅 At some point in my life, my room also looked like that, so I can really relate to Mrs Eats story. Now, I try to do some deep cleaning every now and then, 'cause it's scary to think I could easily go back to living inside a pile of clothes.

[@MrsEats]

Claudia!! Hello Kitty bottle cap is CUTE! I just bought a purse that looks like a steamed bun 😂 those cute things make us happy so it no problem😁 Let’s clean together!

[@sonoftheredfox]

This may be my favorite video you've done yet. The encouraging words you put in there were a real help to me. I just discovered your channel a couple of months ago and I've enjoyed everyone I've watched. Though, your nod to JoJo during this sets it above all the rest. For now. 😁

[@toymenagerie2947]

I love how honest you are. ❤️ It‘s such a good feeling to throw things from a past life away. I have a problem with spending money, because of multiple reasons, so I own many things for a very long time. It’s such a good feeling to make everything clean and throw these things out. It feels like a new start.

[@ComfortRoller]

Thankyou for sharing your story.

[@gerryalexis]

We have people in the UK called HOARDERS... i think it would be EXTREME hoarders by the standards in the video! I really enjoyed this - as i do with all your content. Entertaining and informative. The Anime skits are hilarious - i LOVE IT! keep up the great work guys xx

[@nicolechavez9409]

Yes! New video! 😄 Missed you guys 😊

[@chisas_student1091]

Love your videos!

[@MrsEats]

Thank you!

[@notsharingwithyoutube]

You have a contagious smile, Mrs. Eats. I wish you much success.

[@feral_shade]

I live in the US, but I can completely relate to the overwhelming stress and depression you used to feel!! I'd probably have a garbage house myself, but I don't really live life, so I barely create any garbage, lol... (Probably not a "lol" thing to say) A burdened heart ➡️ a burdened home

[@BlessedBaeLLC]

I simply adore how fun and educational you and Mr.Eats make your videos. This one particular was very well done!❤💯

[@NachtKaiser666]

Oh yeah, there was a substory in Yakuza 7 about a trash house! I thought it was just a "haha, funny dressed man hoarding trash fights you" but seeing these video footage... oof, I never would've guessed it could be a real problem! At the same time, knowing the stress that comes with the work culture, I shouldn't be surprised. I lack energy to clean my tiny flat at times and I just work a regular boring job for 40h a week without a long commute either.

[@Cicadas01]

I really appreciate you relating to mental illnesses and being understanding.AND..AND offering solutions. My room gets cleanned every weekend, but in between it can get bad

[@MrPooleish]

"The Police Begged Him" (Waving a gun around) I guess Japan and America aren't that different after all.

[@MortimerZabi]

Joking aside, over there, police are allowed to interrogate you without a lawyer present.

[@wareforcoin5780]

@@MortimerZabi They're allowed to do that here, too. You have to ask for the lawyer, they don't have to wait to question you if you don't.

[@Picanhadopapaimolusco]

​@MortimerZabi いや、 本来は裁判官の許可なしで勝手に家に入ったり取り調べたり出来ませんよ。 取り調べ受ける人が許すなら別。

[@solidpunch147]

I also struggle with getting rid of clothes. No matter how many times I "clean" my closet. Your video inspired me to clean, and this time donate my clothes for good!! Thank you, Mrs. Eats!! 😊

[@Tmidiman]

I started cleaning when this started. I can see the floor, but there is always room for improvement. I got rid of unneeded people long ago and definitely gave me more time for my wife and friends that matter.

[@galas455]

Thank you for opening up about yourself, I have experienced the same thing in my life, and perhaps I need to get rid of some things myself. You're the best!

[@Mecks089]

Thing is, in the U.S. we have something called *_"Hoarders" or "Hoarding"._* It's similar to a Garbage house, it's just collected useless stuff that might as well have no value, that fills up a house or yard, it's often tied to a mental condition of not wanting to let go of something or filling a void in someone's life. So I kinda understand that this is a human mental condition issue, not entirely tied to a nationality.

[@Yirimyah]

And there ya go

[@soonersciencenerd383]

some are embarassed to show that they are hoarding.

[@itsbeyondme5560]

@@Yirimyah Yep. The top comment is correct. Did you watch the show Hoarders at A&E

[@Yirimyah]

Yup very cringing stuff

[@karenanson]

Lol… I love watching the show Hoarders in the background while I’m cleaning house. Good motivation ‼️🥳

[@glasslinger]

I'm glad you only threw that yellow dress with the big flowers away for the video and actually kept it! That was soooooo cute!

[@goddessstarla]

For me personally, I struggle with cleaning, I used to be worse but have gotten a much better. Still have little messes, but I made progress compared to when I was first on my own. I'm glad you were able to overcome and make your life the better! ^-^

[@BookNerd4Music]

I really needed this video as a kick in the butt. It was very encouraging.

[@SvengelskaBlondie]

I think having a basic amount of "littering" in your home is just natural, I couldn't imagine living in a place that feels like it's clean enough to perform open heart surgery in. Then again, my place isn't even a fraction of a fraction as bad as that. Worst was when I had a crazy soda can/bottle collection thing going on, even that was surprisingly tidy for being over a dozen black garbage bags of empty cans/bottles.

[@MrsEats]

I see your point! Too clean places could be uncomfortable for some people!

[@SvengelskaBlondie]

@@MrsEats At least for me, it's not so much uncomfortable as it is not seen as a problem. If it starts feeling like a problem, doesn't take that much to just clean it.

[@Curlyheart]

Lol town with no name

[@SvengelskaBlondie]

@@Curlyheart "Come back shane" "firecracker sound" "kid flies off into the sunset" "My name's not Shane, kid" "back to the future train flies off"

[@staceyn2541]

My aunt always thinks her house is dirty. She has no clutter. It takes her 2 days to clean every week. She lives alone. She wipes the baseboards and her cabinets every time. Her house makes me so nervous.

[@PlancoandChill]

I live in a hording house. No BS. Have always wanted to clean it out but we never have the money. Being a poor working household we just put in more time at work rather then stay home and clean.

[@timothyharris1125]

There is a show here in the states called Hoarding: Buried Alive that shows situations like this where elderly or mentally unwell people hoard garbage as a coping mechanism and have to clean it out with a city ordinance before eviction by disaster zone. This is actually common in the U.S.

[@zakeemsworld6619]

You spoke to my heart and I needed to hear what you told me. I too am too tired to clean. And your right less is more.

[@alucardleashed]

In North America, we refer to these as "hoarder homes". Watching this type of footage makes me want to clean up/uncluttered my home.

[@SpartanX360]

Here in the US we call it _HOARDING_ which is worse seeing people hoarding garbage stacked so high and living in miserable conditions, they hoard cats,pets, etc they needed help and the city or volunteers would help clean up.

[@nothnx3210]

There's a hoarder house that I pass by on my way to work, and they have a dog. That dog sleeps outside the front door everyday, and sleeps right next to piles and piles of belongings. It looks sooo bored and sad. It's such a weird thing to see in Japan. 30 percent of the year in my city rains, so I worry about those people's belongings always being outside . . . 😫 I know Japanese people pay too much for just throwing away trash like sofas and big items, but come on. Japan is not the country to live in if you're a careless spender who buys so many useless things.

[@edennis8578]

One piece of advice that helped me was to do just one tiny thing toward your goal. Almost anyone can do one tiny thing. Throw away an empty cardboard box, for example. Then the next day, do one more tiny thing. Pretty soon, it becomes easier to do more.

[@p0r5ch3911]

I think everybody knows how it feels when you are too tired after a bad day and you don't want to clean the kitchen. So I don't think it should be weird to imagine how this can became a regular basis when you are dsepressive to the point where you give up. In germany the people of extrem cases are called Messies and it is seen as a psychosis and therapy is covered by health insurance. But in most cases community worker and family have to talk those people into therapy since you can't help someone who doesn't want help.

[@danielkarbozov8026]

Thanks Ms eats it was amazing story telling about information how to get rid of trash 🗑 🙂 thank you

[@EE-hk7if]

In Australia we call these people hoarders. There was even a tv show about it.

[@MrsEats]

Wow! Interesting! They make a video about their day or life?

[@kuebelzinker7839]

In Germany we call it Messies

[@EE-hk7if]

@@MrsEats I think it was called Buried alive, and it talked about the mentality of what causes it aswell, such as anxiety and stress like you've said.

[@ajclements4627]

The US has had a television show about hoarders for years now. It’s equal parts heartbreaking and shocking to see the state of some people’s lives and houses.

[@stacey_spooks]

Yes “Hoarders” is a very hard show here to watch in the states. I myself have even helped people I know personally clean hoarder homes… it’s so sad and can be quite stomach turning🤢

[@jjaa_joyjoyartist]

That ending scene was so beautiful Mrs. Eats!

[@makeemar]

I read a book about danshari but it didn't speak to me like Konmari did. Different methods for different folks :) In the west hoarding is considered a mental condition - just clearing the house for such person doesn't usually work long term - they need psychotherapy.

[@lilyleigh8518]

Thank you for sharing your experience. The pressure of consumerism in Japan coupled with cheap items from stores like Daiso are unexpected, are unexpected, at least for me, to cause hoarding in Japan.

[@phon14593]

The quality of this video is superb! Your videos make me interested in Japanese culture and society. Looking forward to seeing more from you guys! Edit : Just finished watching the whole video, and I'm quite thoroughly inspired by what you just said because I've gone through, or maybe still going through a similar experience. I thought buying more stuff and accumulating wealth will ultimately make me happy but tbh after grinding for 2 years, I feel like I've lost the direction I had once. De-cluttering my living space and sorting my life out should come in first-hand in order to live happily, I think. So I agree with a lot of points you made, appreciate you for pointing those out, and am glad to see you guys are living happily together!

[@MrsEats]

Thank you! I want to show you more side of Japan!

[@kazeryu17]

This was entertaining, and very well made. I find it interesting, how many extreme contradictions exist in Japan. Examples: ancient temples, next to brand new skyscrapers covered with led screens. Some places in Japan are super quiet, while others are super noisy. the cleanliness, and the hoarders. And most notably, the serenity that can be found in Japan, like drinking matcha while staring at a waterfall, along with the extreme stress many go through in japan. still, I think Japan is the best country. I have been there as a child, but would love to visit again some day, and actually experience Japan as an adult.

[@AllisonShiro]

my brother lived in basement. He didn't clean basement. He ignored carpter. Dogs peed on carpter. it smell so bad. I told him to clean basement. He said nah. He moved out. My mom and I had to clean basement. it was hell. My mom changed basement for renovation. It looks so clean . it took year becaue of covid pandemic (stores were closed) She had to wait until it was opened.

[@nothnx3210]

Your brother is a jerk. 😒

[@thewatcher6295]

This was very funny and very sweet. Thank you for sharing this story. I am glad that you have found happiness.

[@MrsEats]

Thank you for your kind comment! Sometime life is rough but we can make it a little better little by little:) I hope you are happy too!

[@thewatcher6295]

@@MrsEats I am not always happy but there is more happiness than sadness in my life. this video made me happy.

[@Xiaoxiao738]

The not inviting people to your house things is funny, cause that's when I clean my house the most. My grandparents visited recently and I cleaned up my whole house before they arrived, I also do this if friends are coming over. Maybe a solution to the gomiyashiki problem is Japanese people need to have friends and family over more.

[@umezawanora]

You gave me power!! thank you very much for this amazing video! I am following you from Egypt.

[@ian_s7481]

I thought Mrs Eats was Japans dirty secret 😂😂😂😂 You are definitely not the average typical house wife but you are so funny. You should do stand up comedy… This is probably your best video to date - for me anyway.

[@lorisaberisha3901]

I really like this video. It was very informative. I especially liked how you encouraged empathy towards these common struggles.

[@markymarkthemag]

I used to live in an apartment next to a hoarder here in the US, he had roaches and mice and when he would take his clothes to the laundry room in our building it would leave behind a puddle on the floor that smelled like a dumpster

[@nilawarriorprincess]

Thank you for sharing your personal story. I used to love being neat & cleaning my home. Then I lost my mother, got too sick to work & my apartment complex removed our on campus recycling units.

[@am0comix952]

my room, "am i a joke to you?

[@MrsEats]

You can always hire gomiyashiki cleaning service!

[@paulmurphy1345]

Your fight seen with your husband. Absolute riot. Love your content.

[@takinastabatit]

You didn't actually throw away the clothes and books, did you? That is the sort of thing I would donate to a second-hand store.

[@user-11Il10I1]

Sad to say that it is the most convenient way to get rid of clothes and books asap. I live here in Japan and at least every 2~3 weeks, I see volumes of manga and piles of clothes being dumped in the collecting area. I think that the idea of donation here is mendukusai as you need to travel or sometimes fill out forms which is time/energy consuming.

[@takinastabatit]

@@user-11Il10I1 Oh boy, as someone who has always depended on second-hand stores as both a way to reduce waste, and my only chance of having actually nice things, this makes my little goblin heart sad. But of course here (USA) donating is as easy as dropping off a box, no paperwork needed. Yes, it takes a trip to do so (my nearest donation station is a half-hour drive), but on the occasions I am purging I find the effort worth it, especially if what I am getting rid of is in good, useable condition.

[@takinastabatit]

That said, I am not making judgements!

[@ali7027]

Everything about this video was awesome! The jokes, the info, and your own personal story. Thank you for sharing it with us! 💗

[@julieb3996]

It's kind of comforting to know this condition exists in all societies. My church struggled for many years to help a person with this problem to find a home.

[@mixtlillness9825]

Mental illness is a serious problem anywhere in the world. A seriously unkempt home is one symptom.

[@mlem6951]

Here where i live, this behavior is called "hording", it's a mental illness what mostly older People get. Or people with really bad depression. These people need help, beyound just cleaning. Sadly, most people don't get this and make fun fun this. Or do even worse things to such people :/. I myself am not the cleanest person, as I get distracted too quickly when cleaning up. But I get meanwhile a surface cleanliness, which is quite enough for me personally xD. The minimalism is also a got take on this. I myself have been living more minimalist for a few years now. Which not only helps with a more manageable apartment, but also helps your'e wallet xD. Also, this video is so cute. Best wishes to bot of you

[@jaredf6205]

This is totally separate from hoarding. Not cleaning your house and not throwing away trash is not hoarding, it’s caused by depression. Hoarding looks more like an earthquake hit a pawn shop, this looks more like using your floor as a trash can.

[@mlem6951]

@@jaredf6205 Hoarding means you can't trow stuff away. And what she showed and telled was also Hoarding. And because she just talked about Depression, i added the Hording thema in. Because Hording and Depression come often hand in hand. And btw Hording is to 90% people who can't trow stuff away AND don't clean there house, because of depression and other stuff. I know that you can't really name something like that because every case is different. But also "using his floor as trash-can" comes in many cases from mental illness or like in her case overwhelming, ect. which can lead in the worst case also to chronic mental illness.

[@aladus]

What a great video. It touched on a very problematic condition with lot's of empathy and skits. It also finished in such a wholesome note!

[@HitsujiEmi]

I've seen this sort of thing in anime, but I had no idea this was an actual problem in Japan. I mean, I can see this as an American problem, but I wouldn't expect this from other countries.

[@elizebeths.8880]

This is a human condition. Not an American one...

[@HitsujiEmi]

@@elizebeths.8880 As an American, I know that many of us can hoard a lot of trash, and I've met those kinds of people. But, thanks for letting me know.

[@misstekhead]

Your videos and editing have improved immensely! Good job Mrs Eats. (And Mr Eats as well.)

[@derpderpderpPSN]

I don’t think this is about “garbage houses”. This is about mental illness.

[@timothyharris1125]

Mental illness is the cause of the hoarding.

[@michaeldthreelegs1312]

ARIGATO!!! For the new video. Mr. Eats was hilarious with his take on the issue. But in all realities, that would be difficult for the people living around someone like that. Thank you for your video.

[@MrsEats]

Hi M. Hu!! Good to see you again!! Yes it's tough to live around gomiyashiki house especially we have not much space around us!! When Mr. Eats and I were planning this video we found gomiyashiki house near us! The resident doesn't close their curtain at night so you can see the garbage piling up inside! 😱

[@michaeldthreelegs1312]

@@MrsEats Yikes! I do love the informational videos and live streams you guys share. I could not stop laughing at Mr. Eats. Specially when he had the thong or i mean T-back on his head. Keep up the great work on your videos. Im rooting for you gu yuh s all the way. Team Eats.