The Japan Tourists Don't See: Exploring Tokyo's SECRET Slum

Tokyo's biggest slum has been wiped off of all modern maps, but it still exists and so does its problem with poverty. Follow me to this hidden area of Japan where 88% of people are on welfare and the average age of residents is almost 70 years old.
DONATE TO HELP HOMELESS IN SANYA: www.jpkb.org/akiramenai
My Instagram: anming7?hl=en
Collaboration with Nathan: / @ninjamonkeyguy

[@OrientalPearl]

Follow this link to make a difference and donate to an organization providing food and housing to the homeless in Sanya: www.jpkb.org/akiramenai

[@Sukrut_Kulkarni]

Is Underworld or the word is under belly?

[@popseehesaid4950]

IF I HAD THE MONEY I WOULD WALK THRU THE AREA 👍💯

[@yo2trader539]

poverty porn

[@zjohn662]

This is a pretty risky video to post. Props to you!!

[@sophielee3210]

What you're* doing is so sweet. But why don't you use your platform to help your own hometown in the US? Assuming your hometown is in Michigan, Detroit for example is much much worse...

[@origenjerome8031]

Wow, even Japan's slum area is remarkably clean and organized.

[@naenae3461]

For real. I lived in Seattle and Portland. Both places are trashed.

[@MaheshBaburajapalayam]

Yes really true

[@Haunt888]

Ok weeb

[@star5726]

@@Haunt888 what?

[@Haunt888]

@@star5726 Oh another weeb, foh

[@RalphQuest]

I've been living here in the Kanto area for 5 years now and this is the first time I have heard about this area. Thank you for making this informative video. Stay safe! お疲れ様でした

[@OrientalPearl]

I just found out about it recently too. It’s not talked about much. Japanese KZbinrs have made videos there though.

[@KirkKiyosadaTome]

Bummed to see you treated like this in my motherland. I definitely saw quite a few homeless guys wandering about the alleyways in Kawasaki when I last visited, and they were just as rude. While understandably so, this is a problem that requires a better solution than just hiding it away. Thanks for showing this side of Japan, Anming.

[@OrientalPearl]

It’s ok. I just want to raise awareness about poverty and people in need of help. Sometimes I run into rude people, but it’s ok. Most people are kind.

[@rogerelzenga4465]

There is no society without rude people... has nothing to do with the country...

[@trappenweisseguy27]

I find it disturbing how the poor, particularly retirees, are treated and packed away from public eyes.

[@rogerelzenga4465]

@@trappenweisseguy27 Yeah... but thats everywhere too... just look at the state of the USA now for example....

[@DanielJoyce]

"Rude" is relative. Sometimes these guys just ask rude questions to drive away the non-locals. They've probably seen their fair share of "concerned" people showing up, running a story, and then nothing changing. You haven't seen rude till you've been chased by a guy screaming randomly at people and then for some reason decides you are the source of his problems. Was chased for 3 blocks once.

[@user-nd7gj4zp7c]

日本における高齢のホームレスは特殊かもしれません。 借金、家庭問題、過去の犯罪等から距離を置くために身分証明の必要ない単発の労働で生活を営み陥ります。 一度陥ると戻るのは難しくなりますがセーフティネットも用意されており、贅沢を望まなければ社会復帰も不可能ではありません。 彼らは社会保障を放棄している人が大半で一般社会に戻るのを嫌う人が多く、静かな暮らしだけを求めています。 現在ではそのまま高齢になり働けなくなるのが社会問題になっています。

[@miobulle1112]

The homeless and the poor do indeed exist in Japan. But they are hidden from the eyes of society. It's important to show the dark side of Japanese society. If we are really interested in Japan we must also know its excesses and its social problems. Thank you for sharing and please keep on your investigation.

[@OrientalPearl]

You’re right. I literally see homeless people everyday here. It always amazes me that tourists don’t see them.

[@onestopshop]

Literally every major city in the world

[@nezzelotivar8466]

Be detective Conan 😊

[@joansullivan1473]

Very interesting, and very surprising. An excellent video!

[@superpanda3857]

​@@OrientalPearl tourist don't see them? Lol u r delusiona for sure tourist see them they just dont care at all oh yes u care now make them rich

[@nikkitea7061]

Great video showing the other side of Japan no one talks about. Homelessness is a major issue in every part of the world and seeing how other countries are tackling it inspires others to find ways to help the homeless.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you so much. It’s definitely an problem that isn’t talked about much on KZbin.

[@HouseMDaddict]

It's crazy that they wrote these sections off their maps!!

[@virginiabolt4725]

Excellent video thank you

[@sigalius]

not all countries have equal rates of homelessness. some countries have very little to no homelessness, such as socialist countries like Cuba

[@I_fuck_moms_of_CIA_trolls.]

Not true. Homelessness is not a major issue in "every" part of the world. For example, it is not a major issue in China.

[@majajackson777]

Thanks for raising awareness! It makes your channel even greater! Of course it's nice to see all the wonderful areas but every country, no matter how great it is and how much you love it, has its problems and it's important to talk about them as well to get the full picture. So thanks for doing this! ❤️🌻

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you so much. I'm really glad that you like the balance.

[@goyurigo]

This is top-notch content. Super insightful and very unique to see Japan shown in this light. Awesome work!

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you so much. I'm glad that you appreciate the extra effort I put into this video.

[@amazonsos4362]

いや結構間違った情報も多いですよ

[@suzunome47]

This video really reminds me of the game Yakuza 7. The main protagonist lived in the slums of Yokohama and the setting look almost exactly like this. Your description of Japan's homeless society just made me realize how sadly realistic that game's real-life depiction of homelessness in Japan really is, from the living conditions, the homeless population being hidden from mainstream society, to the random old men playing Chinese chess on the streets. 😅

[@mushu6928]

It's depressing knowing a video game company does better to acknowledge the homeless than their own government

[@LotoTheHero]

Yes, I had the same thoughts too! It struck me how similar the area in the game looked and how similar some things felt.

[@OrientalPearl]

There’s a real area like this in Yokohama too.

[@hmmmm636]

"Bleach Japan" 😬 The can collecting mini game, checking for change under the vending machines, and the girl giving free soup; I got some soup everytime I passed. Those guys wearing the trash bags dropped my jaw the first time I saw them lol, but yeah it was all shockingly accurate looking. The real life "gray zones".

[@naglfar6305]

Kasuga Ichiban

[@jimross7648]

Anming, This was very well done. Eye opening experience for certain. These type of areas have a certain amount of people with mental health issues because, those contribute to why some are homeless. You were mostly ignored and treated better than I expected to be honest. Your Japanese language skills made an impact, even in this area. Most of the people are just trying to get by as best they can, and are not bad or inherently dangerous. However, a dangerous element will be present due to substance and mental health issues. I like to see more on this issue, but only if you can do so in relative safety. I want to continue to enjoy the content of the Oriental Pearl channel for a long time to come.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you for watching Jim. I just sent you a personal message on Instagram. I’m flattered that you got up so early in the morning to watch this premier. Yeah I didn’t feel like this area was dangerous. Most of the issues with poverty in Japan come from the issues with the aging population.

[@amberallen4181]

Please keep showing these videos BUT please be safe

[@dominicdalton4346]

there's no social security in japan. no retirement plan in japan if you are not making alot of money then you are just an average worker. this is the fate that awaits you. kinda sucks honestly.

[@akita1934]

​@@dominicdalton4346 誤解や無知に基づいた意見です。日本には社会保障も正規社員の退職金制度もあります。第一にこの動画はほとんどが間違いです①日本にはSlumは存在しません。撮影された場所は｢Doya｣と言われる日銭を稼いでその日暮しをする人が大勢住むエリアです。また、日本の憲法(Constitution)で最低限の文化的生活の権利が明記されていますので｢生活保護｣という制度があり700$/month受け取る事が出来ます(制度を利用しない人やこの制度に批判的な人もたくさんいます)日本にもほかの国同様に仕事を失い住む場所を失いホームレスになる人はいますが、Slumがない理由はこの｢生活保護｣制度の存在が大きいと言えます。

[@amazonsos4362]

この街は危険ではない。貧しい人が多いだけ

[@egghead_felix]

Thank you for showing this part of Japan. People have a really romantic view of so many cities/countries across the world and forget that almost everywhere has these areas. I’m sorry you had to be treated the way you did though

[@JJ-mh4xd]

You did a amazing job on this video! Thank you for sharing

[@ernestestrada2461]

When I was a boy growing up in Japan I heard my grandmother, aunts and uncles talking about Sanya I really didn't know what they were talking about. My second aunt and uncle lived near Yokohama and I wants wanted to go through a neighborhood they said that neighborhood you don't walk through. Breaks my heart when I see homelessness on the street here in the US.

[@OrientalPearl]

Yeah, back then it was much worse. They’ve cleaned the area up a lot since then.

[@ernestestrada2461]

@@OrientalPearl back then Japan was just starting to prosper the contrast didn't seem so bad.

[@lawrencenannes4260]

Really sad what is happening to the elderly in this world😢😮

[@kendrickkx]

Very informative and great video. Thank you so much for making the effort to show us this hidden community. Its so sad they write this place off, hopefully more ppl will come to know and help this community out.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you Kendrick. I hope this raises awareness and donations for the people in Sanya.

[@ThatOneSceneDude]

Ive been watching KZbinrs in Japan for almost a decade and have never seen any other channel talk about this. Thanks for shining light on this.

[@sigalius]

your videos are such a gift and treasure to youtube. thank you so much

[@nerd26373]

We appreciate your hard work and consistency on this channel. God bless you.

[@OrientalPearl]

I appreciate that! I'd like to make more videos just like this one.

[@peterwhitey4992]

We?

[@MxMoondoggie]

Very well done video on an issue that doesn't get a lot of spotlight even in Japan. It's not a place to go as a tourist and not a people to exploit for content but I think you did a good job of highlighting the issues homeless people are facing without harassing them or exploiting it. The main issue Japan has is that people work for a very long time, in most companies you have quite elderly people still working every day at the office or they have random jobs where they hold a light stick and stand somewhere to mark construction areas or parking areas. If you can no longer work for medical reasons it becomes a problem and often people get divorced, lose their homes and end up on the streets alone. Physical and mental disabilities can often be the course but becoming elderly and struggling to make money is another. I've heard stories of some who were ashamed they couldn't work and left to become alienated from their family because they felt they were better off without a man who can't work. I can see why tourists might look at it as a cheap option, but really don't recommend staying in an area like this or even going here to see it because it's not very safe. Japan is often hailed as a safe country and people take a lot of risks they wouldn't in a place like Thailand or even China for example and then they get robbed or scammed. Certain types of crime are not as low as you think they are. A lot of crime statistics are squashed by the fact many crimes are solved without a criminal conviction through mediation and compensation. My buddy got his phone stolen by a student at the school he worked at and tracked it down with GPS and when he got the police involved the school stepped in and if he pressed charges he probably would have lost his job because reputation is more important than punishment. Anyway my point is just because it's Japan doesn't mean you won't get robbed or sexually assaulted by taking risks to save a few bucks on a place to stay.

[@OrientalPearl]

Yeah KZbinrs don’t want to cover topics of poverty. It’s taboo. But you’re right, anything can happen anywhere even if the country is safe as a whole.

[@mwflanagan1]

Very nicely done, Anming. Good on you recommending ways to help at the end.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you Mike. I’d like to collab with this organization in the future.

[@truth.-]

I appreciate the effort you're putting into showing the part of Japan everybody try to hide. The only time I've ever seen this part of Japan being showed before was in the latest Yakuza game I believe. Every country has its benefits and bad sides no country is perfect and people outside Japan that idolize the country should look into this kind of content, especially since some of them decide to move in without ever visiting even a bit before.

[@OrientalPearl]

I’m really glad that you understood my intention behind making this video and that you like the variety.

[@ReneSpeak]

Great video! I hope you do more like this, showing the different sides of Japan!

[@OrientalPearl]

I’d like to make this into a series.

[@matthewraya4246]

Yes definitely glad you had someone with you. Wow, never heard of these types of locations in Japan before.

[@log7186]

12 hours ago exactly what I like to see I love exposure to unlooked at and forgotten issues within places that are not associated with the place ,great vid thanks pearl .

[@OrientalPearl]

I’m glad that you liked this topic.

[@Razboynik69]

Thank you for making such an informative video.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you for watching.

[@mihaelaclaudiap..2]

Very interesting documentary, I love people who go out there and explore beyond the fabulous tourist attractions! Great idea!

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you Mihaela. I like doing documentary style videos.

[@sammydavis8722]

Thank you for doing a video on this subject. I knew somewhere, somehow there was a slum, but kept hushed up.

[@LailaHepburnandmarleysdit]

This is actually fascinating, really well made as well ❤

[@fool4766]

its so strange that about a year ago i started watching your videos before i even knew i was moving to japan and now in watching them from japan😂

[@OrientalPearl]

Wow, that’s awesome! How has life been over here for you? Enjoying it?

[@fool4766]

@@OrientalPearl its been super good! were living in kanagawa and im working on learning japanese, your videos always help keep me motivated to keep learning when it get super hard to keep track of everything in my head lol

[@OrientalPearl]

@@fool4766 That makes me so happy to hear! I wish you all the best in Kanagawa.

[@fool4766]

@@OrientalPearl Thank you!!

[@ZoeMuller80]

Maybe one day you stumble upon Oriental Pear and do video together

[@PatriciaSigaki]

I can't count how many people I heard saying "there are no slums in Tokyo/Japan". I didn't know this place, but working around Shinjuku every now and then, it's quite hard to miss that there are quite a few homeless people here. When I mentioned that I saw a slum in Osaka people usually look at me as if I were lying (because, apparently, that's impossible in Japan) 🙄

[@OrientalPearl]

It always amazes me that people don’t notice.

[@0wnter1d1ck]

but those in the video are not slums 😅, they're just low budget hostels.

[@asherbeal8357]

Thank you! I always watch your content, thank you again for shedding light on this. 🤘🤘

[@OrientalPearl]

Thanks for watching Asher.

[@gregpastuszko6207]

Wow! What a great topic! It’s eye opening and refreshing to see something that shows the other side of the postcard.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you so much Greg. I had been thinking about doing this topic for about 2 months. I'm glad it was well received.

[@Brian-sky61]

Love all your videos...glad you had someone with you . Hope you and Tommy are doing well. Take Care 😇

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you so much! Tommy and I are doing well. Sending love from Japan.

[@cyb3rgu3erri11a]

BAH HA! She only worth $150 to him LOL. This was entertaining, she was so acted so dramatic about this slum when she from detroit.

[@ericonishi3147]

Great job! Good content and informative

[@aquaken00]

Most content was removed a few years ago. I'm glad you update it with up-to-date one

[@brianofmoore]

You did such a great job on this. Most people may not know just how clean Japan is and how surprising it is to see trash like that just piled up all over. Sorry that guy decided to be so crude, but thanks for shedding light on this side of Japan.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you so much. I put a lot of extra effort into this video.

[@LotoTheHero]

I like the fact that you have a lot of varied content. Very interesting video. I know this goes without saying, but please, please be careful when going to anywhere like this. There was a video game I played that took place in Japan and had an area much like this. It's strange to see it in real life even though we know places like this actually exist.

[@OrientalPearl]

I’m so glad that you like the variety. I’d like to make more videos like that.

[@Curly3373]

This video is more up your alley! Well done! 👏🏼 👍

[@megacheeseheadmegacheesehe2889]

Thank You. Very informative.

[@cameronwoodring5063]

culturally speaking videos like these are so damn important It shows REAL actual life because Japan isnt just takoyaki, maids, internet cafes, and anime it's full of real people with lives and many stories similar to our own countries Thank you for putting this video out there

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you Cameron. I feel the same way as you. People tend to romanticize Japan.

[@cameronwoodring5063]

@@OrientalPearl I hope maybe one day to live/work there finding some way to bridge cultural exchange

[@nazaharin]

This is eye opening exposure. I never expected Tokyo (Japan) has such thing. Btw, you are also good news anchors..

[@OrientalPearl]

I’m glad that more people know about this now.

[@Patrick_H.]

I really appreciate your attitude - it's why I'm subbed. Just keep being you.

[@ashleys.9927]

What a crazy experience! I am glad you had a friend with you. How interesting, thank you for sharing.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thanks for watching Ashely. I didn't expect this to happen visiting there.

[@jarethozb07]

Thanks for showing this, people need to see it !

[@jarethozb07]

Also next time (If there is a next time) you do something like this, please travel in a bigger group with at least 3 - 4 men. That's not sexist either I've seen what nasty, violent people are capable of and most people are too naive to realize.

[@OrientalPearl]

I was thinking of going to a similar slum in Yokohama. Maybe I’ll bring a second friend.

[@whushaw]

This was very intriguing. It's a shame you were even asked such a thing but I guess it comes with the territory. It's a real eye opener to me as I've never really thought of this subject in Japan before.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thanks for always supporting the channel Wushaw. I like researching and introducing different places. Getting harassed a little happens, but I’m nobody’s victim. Most people have been quiet cool to me here.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

@@OrientalPearlYou handled yourself very well.

[@gtrboy318]

Great video! I only saw a few homeless during my short stay but I was in the heavily tourist locations. The police in those areas seemed very on top of getting them out of the public eye or preventing them from panhandling.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you Craig

[@hoboeyjobi7020]

hey thanks for shedding some light on this issue 🙏

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you for watching!

[@bnj4566]

One of my favourite videos! Thanks so much for showing things we're not really shown!👍🎶

[@OrientalPearl]

I’m so glad that you enjoyed it so much.

[@bnj4566]

@@OrientalPearl I usually watch your videos and I really enjoy them. But regarding this one, it was amazing because you dared to go in such "places" and let us know about another aspect of Tokyo 🗼. So thumbs up my friend,👍👍😍, keep on surprising us! これからもよろしくお願いします🙇‍♂️

[@davidedwards4489]

Thank you for this video. I knew this problem existed but not to this extent.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thanks for watching David. I’m glad this is spreading awareness.

[@user-rp3jb1jk7p]

こう言う動画は否定しませんが、このようなところも観光としていいのでは？と言っていたように思いますが、それは非常識と思います。すんでる人の気持ちを考えてあげてください。そんなことして外人達がひっきりなしに見に来たときの状況とそのときの彼らの気持ちを考えてあげてください。彼らの生活は落ち着きませんよね？一度彼らを自分の立場に置き換えて考えてあげてください。

[@ciyum704]

心に土足で踏み込んでハラスメントしてるのはどっちだ、ですよね。おじさん笑ってたけど多分怒ってたと思います。皆さんの顔の撮影許可取ったのか疑問です。

[@zengrath]

wow, after all the youtube channels I follow and everything, I didn't know this existed as well. I have wondered on occasion however how poor people or homeless lived in Japan. This was a very good video. Different then the typical reaction videos to speaking their language and look forward to more videos like this!

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you. I’m really glad that you like the variety.

[@Arizona9001]

This is the video I want to see! Excited!

[@muku_2689]

Sanya, Nishinari in Osaka, and Kotobukicho in Yokohama are said to be Japan's three largest yoseba. I am a Japanese who has visited those areas several times, and they are surprisingly interesting. Above all, the food is cheap. Before Corona, there were many foreign backpackers due to the low cost of accommodation. I think it takes a lot of courage to go there at night alone as a woman, but it might be surprisingly fun for foreigners to go there!

[@OrientalPearl]

Yeah we saw a few foreigners in the area. It looked like they stayed in the hostels. I was surprised.

[@rickyp6815]

@@OrientalPearl i spent a night in a sketchy part of Yokohama many years back. I cant remember how I found the place i stayed in. Mustve been in a guidebook. The hotel itself was very basic and not that pleasant but doable for a night. When i went for a walk around the area I was quite shocked. I had just finished a three month contract in Tokyo but had never seen anything as depressed there. Nobody gave me a hard time though and despite the poverty i felt quite safe. Much more so than in poorer parts of the UK anyway.

[@user-mf2pm5sl6z]

コリアンエリアだと教えてあげて下さいw　日本における凄惨なイジメや残酷な事件の大半が日本で産まれ日本人に囲まれ日本で育った韓国血統だとゆう事！！　何処で育とうが人間性が変わらないのが韓国血統なんだとゆう事！　大げさではなく事実です

[@tobysettle8595]

Thanks for this one! Not surprising, but mostly unknown and not talked about.

[@OrientalPearl]

I'm glad you liked the video Toby.

[@BookNerd4Music]

Thank you for all your information and enlightenment Anming.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you for watching.

[@CarolO2023]

Fascinating. This is something I was always curious about. I figured such an area existed in Tokyo, but never saw it until now. Thanks for the informative content. I especially appreciate your inclusion of the demographics of the area.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you Carol. I’m glad that you appreciate a new perspective.

[@mrmatz408]

This is in stark contrast to your usual videos, but I appreciate what you've shown us, as this is something that I think few people know about. I'm no exception! Thank you!

[@OrientalPearl]

Thanks Dave. I wanted to add some more balance to the channel.

[@JoaquinTazabi]

When you said harassed.....I still wasn't prepared 😣 Edit: Thank you for giving time to this issue, I was homeless in my teens and early 20's, so the homeless population, regardless of Race/Nationality, is always important and dear to me.

[@OrientalPearl]

Yeah, I didn’t expect that conversation to happen. I’m glad to hear from you.

[@superpanda3857]

She will not get harassed if she didn't entertain that guy but guess what she still keep talking to it 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄😂

[@JoaquinTazabi]

@@superpanda3857 She was having a conversation with a man who seemed harmless at first. How are you doing logical backflips to blame her? You should be ashamed of yourself and I hope you don't treat the women around you like this.

[@emeksb4823]

Wow even the slum areas are even clean! I just subscribed. Thanks for the video.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you for subscribing.

[@fernandoscrenci4874]

Very Shocking For Sure!!! Thanks for Sharing !!!

[@gobrr705]

Girl. I was so relieved to know you weren't traveling alone when the clip of the man rolled. Stay safe. I love your content!

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you Anna.

[@bkk-boy]

Hi Anming, That’s an excellent piece of work on Sanya! I lived and worked in Tokyo for 2 years in the early 80s and have never heard of it until now. It’s shocking to see the homeless area and to learn the welfare system does exist in Japan. I hope the government has reasonable plan to manage the aging population. Thanks for sharing ❤.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you so much. I've lived here for 4 years and also haven't heard of it until recently.

[@No_Rice_No_Power]

I like this new direction. Fantastic video, looking forward to another similar style production.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you, I’m filming a similar place in Osaka tomorrow.

[@ginger24155]

Anming this video is very well made!

[@RespectOthers1]

Even when you show us a poorer part of Tokyo the experience still enrich our knowledge of Japan.🙏

[@OrientalPearl]

That's right. Well said friend. You always have the best quotations.

[@whateveritsnoyes]

Great great video Anming. Though not exactly portraying the homeless, have you seen the film 万引き家族 or “Shoplifters”? Directed by Hirozaku Kore-eda, it does a great job of telling a heart-wrenching story of poverty in Tokyo. Thank you for showing us this side of the city.

[@OrientalPearl]

I haven't seen that one, but it sounds really interesting.

[@929Finn]

Shoplifters was so good. That and Parasite are some of my favorite films outta Japan/Korea

[@dinghonkim1069]

Very good video giving more information and understanding of Japan .

[@snowqueen_8958]

I like watching videos that show more of places than the glitz and glam i like seeing whats hidden and this made my day Please make more of these videos i live in Missouri and the homeless situation is just sad

[@pinecrossing1200]

Great video Anming. It's important to show, discuss, and bring awareness to the real even if it's not glamorous. Glad you weren't alone, although most people are harmless, you never know.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you for watching. I’m glad you appreciate the importance of this topic.

[@cimajeenvet]

山谷は日本三大ドヤ街（他の2つは大阪の西成、横浜の「寿町」）の一つです。「ドヤ」とは「宿（ヤド）」の逆さことばであり、簡易宿所が多く立ち並んでいることに起因するそうです。"Sanya山谷" is one of the three largest "doya-gai" areas in Japan, along with Nishinari in Osaka and "Kotobukicho" in Yokohama. "Doya" is the reverse of "yado" which means "lodging," and it is said to originate from the many simple lodgings that are lined up in the area.

[@jamesensley3906]

Thanks for honesty insights.

[@stevensacks6869]

There is more to this story than you know. Dig deep. Hoping for better future will not help. I am subscribing because I feel you have promise to be very good at what you are doing. Good luck to you in all sincereness. I have have lives in Japan for over 30 yrs. and I notice , myself included, have a tendency to over do politenss, feeling we must talk less than straight , and hand out compliments.

[@jaclynconti6461]

I never knew this place existed 😢it’s so heartbreaking to see the elderly here forgotten and left to fend for themselves. Thank you for sharing this ❤ I’m glad you didn’t go alone!

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you for watching Jaclyn. I’m glad this spreads awareness.

[@JohnSmith-nh2xl]

That’s quite a scary place to be in, especially with someone who doesn’t fully understand the language. I suppose the age of the homeless help in your corner, but a mob could form. Be careful out there. But, it’s important to see these places and understand the gravity of the situation. Such a shame that we as a society can’t do more or haven’t done enough.

[@OrientalPearl]

I didn’t feel in danger, but I have seen some sketchy stuff in Japan in other areas. I remember seeing gangsters kicking a guy on the ground outside once. That was a lot scarier.

[@michelleslifeonrepeat]

Thank you for sharing

[@groundsfordivorce4378]

Kick ass video, first of its kind, I've seen among the polyglot type videos I've watched Probably every city and town in the world has a spot like it, so much respect to you for takin a chance and crossing the tracks 👍

[@denmaakujin9161]

Wow very good video 👍 Haven't seen this side of Japan, but I know it's there.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you very much! I know most people won't talk about this on youtube.

[@denmaakujin9161]

@@OrientalPearl any plans for what's next? Red lights? Scams? Japanese loop holes like gambling? 😏

[@marcbayarea1980]

This is great content!

[@earthsign7568]

kudos for your courage. Thanks for the reveal.

[@hubrisnaut]

Wow, I was curious about Asia and enjoyed your ability to speak with people in their native languages. Now you are bringing us this reality content. Well done. This could help us all understand the nature of human society everywhere. I am worried for the elderly and poor people who suffer. Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. This depravation is everywhere in our world. I support and protect my elderly family, also physically and mentally ill people in my life. I try to make small differences where I can. To look at this is overwhelming but it needs to be shown.

[@OrientalPearl]

I’m so glad that you like this kind of variety in the content. I’d like to make more like these, maybe a series.

[@ianpyang]

Wow… I never even gave it a thought that such a place could exist in such a modern country. 😢 Thank you for sharing young lady.

[@robertthomas6127]

There isn't a modern day country that doesn't have this situation. It's just that possibly it is not that obvious because it is more spread out than shown here.

[@conniew295]

So very interesting- great video!

[@viktoreordogh786]

Thank you for your work! お疲れ様でした。

[@-Rosieanna-]

This is a fantastic video, I've never seen this side of Japan before and it's really eye-opening! Thank you

[@wiladorm2439]

I just got back from Japan and didn't even know there were homeless areas. Thank you making the video and showing these places.

[@OrientalPearl]

I'm glad that this raised awareness.

[@coffeedonutsandhomer653]

Thanks for posting. As a social worker I find this interesting.

[@marksoliva2332]

I dig these videos showing the other side of Japan that people don't see. It's kinds like dark tourism/news reporting. Plus you still get to expertly use your quadralingual skills! Keep it up but keep safe!

[@lautreamontg]

It's good to see a video about Japan that shows some of the more troublesome aspects of life there that isn't talked about much. There's certainly no shortage of youtube videos about gaikokujin complaining about the negative parts of living in Japan, but so much of that is really focused on stuff that relates to the foreign experience in Japan, and not so much on the darker aspects of it experienced by native Japanese, such as this. I had the unfortunate experience of being in emotionally abusive workplace in Japan during my time there. It was hellish and humiliating, far worse than anything I experienced at home. My Japanese co-workers were like "Yeah, it sucks, but eh, I've worked worse jobs." A lot of my clients would often gripe about their jobs as well, either the ridiculous hours they put in, or just how their bosses were gigantic assholes (not that they said that, but I mean, that's what we'd call it here). They just kind of sucked it up and endured it for years, decades even, at the cost of their own and their family's mental health and happiness. That's certainly something people don't talk about publicly, just after work with people you know over beers and tempura.

[@OrientalPearl]

I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I agree that there are very few videos on problems in Japan like this. People don’t really want to talk about it. Thanks for sharing your story too.

[@m2se858]

日本人が隠そうとする場所 とコメントしている人が居るが日本人なら誰もが知ってる超有名な場所だよlol

[@Getonchu]

西成もそう、ネガキャンはもう腹一杯だぜ😭

[@user-ql7yw7ue5j]

同意です。全く隠してないのにね。

[@betterworldtobe]

海外向け情報からは隔離されてるっていってるね。まあ当たり前だけど

[@Hongsebaoshi]

渋谷が？

[@donnaosuch5210]

Thanks for the information, so sad. I really enjoy all your videos. From California.

[@grop66]

Wow 😮 thanks for sharing this

[@KimiChanJapan]

Oh wow, I didn't know these places were around. I heard about "bad areas" but I didn't know. I have been in Japan for almost 4 months now and haven't had any bad experiences. The hardest part is the language barrier as I haven't been able to start a language class yet and have only done self teaching for reading and basic words. Then japanese friends will teach me a few words, but that is it. I wish I knew someone who could do weird stuff like this with me. I would go and do something like this with a friend, but I couldn't ever do this alone.

[@OrientalPearl]

There isn’t much physical danger here, but there are very poor areas and people in need.

[@JoseSanchez-fp3mp]

Hi, you are amazing each time I fall in love with Japan the thing I like the most is when you interact with people is beautiful all what you do in Japan. I enjoyed it so much have a nice day.

[@OrientalPearl]

I appreciate that. Maybe todays video wasn’t the bright side of Japan, but there certainly are a lot of bright sides here.

[@psiga]

Thank you for this view into the shadowy corner of Tokyo. I had wondered what the city's "solution" looked like, and now I know!

[@OrientalPearl]

I'm glad this video was an eye-opener for you.

[@_MIKIMOTO_]

Thank you for showing this side of Tokyo I’ve been trying to tell people Tokyo it’s not all that it seems I’ve been living in Japan for 30 years now I’ve heard of these kind of places thanks for sharing

[@glennoc8585]

Blue tents were starting to pop up in 1998 when I was an English conversation teacher. The 97 crash hit Japan hard and many lost jobs and marriages collapsed. I went to Minami Senju in 2016 the last time I visited friends. If you visited Japan in the early 90s it was relatively expensive to the west but completely reserved now it's quite shocking how such a tech powerhouse can slide so much

[@danni6257]

Thank you for showing us the parts of Japan that people rarely see or talk about

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you Danni. I'm glad that this helps to raise awareness.

[@danni6257]

@@OrientalPearl I'm just sorry you got harassed 😢

[@laughingclairvoyant5201]

Thankyou so much ma'am for showing us the another side of japan because I've never seen this side of japan ever

[@Nirupama108]

Thank you for making this important video.

[@OrientalPearl]

Thank you Rena!