24 Comments

Another great post, Mark. Thank you. I didn't know that hoarding is a problem in Japan. I guess it's global. In the UK, there have been whole television series drawing attention to the issue, eg:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=britain%27s+biggest+hoarders

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+hoarder+next+door

My take on the issue is that hoarding, rather than being inconsiderate or anti-social behavior, is a cry for help that requires active but sensitive interventions from suitably-qualified professionals that address the cause rather than the symptoms of the behavior - rather like addiction.

Expand full comment

Thanks for your positive feedback and sharing the link. 1.25 million compulsive hoarders in the UK? That's a lot. That video is shocking.

Expand full comment

If we take away the laundry and a few other things from the room in the last photo, that could actually be a typical small bachelor pad anywhere in Japan.

On a lighter note, my wife says I'm a book hoarder... just because you'll find small piles of books everywhere, on the floor, in dark corners, and even inside drawers.

PS Even Marie Kondo's house is not as clean and uncluttered as before, now that she is busy raising children.

Expand full comment

How true about a bachelor's apartment. Back in the day my old bachelor pad probably looked worse!

You had better watch that book habit!

Yes, I bet KonMari's own home is not quite so tidy anymore!

Joking aside, the need to help people who let their homes turn into a gomi yashiki is a serious issue, as I know that you can appreciate. The associated legal limitations for implementing a forced intervention can be difficult to overcome.

Expand full comment

Thanks for shining a light on this issue. I have the impression that it got a lot worse in the past two decades or so.

It is closely related to people dying alone at home, an issue that first got attention in Japan after the 1995 earthquake that devastated Kobe and surroundings. There were lots of people who ended up living alone and isolated from their original social support system.

I lived in one of the areas worst hit by the quake so was very aware of what was happening. It was heartbreaking.

In case of the quake it was the disaster that broke the social cohesion, but what we are seeing now is a breakdown of society because of the structural social changes that have taken place since the end of WWII.

This problem will likely get a lot worse over the next two decades and include other issues that are as yet invisible.

I just turned 64 and live alone so am one of those at greatest immediate risk. I often wonder what I have to do in terms of preventive measures.

That question seems to suggest that education and prevention needs to be at the very heart of the governmental response to this social issue.

Expand full comment

Thank you for reading and sharing your insightful perspective. Yes, that terrible earthquake not only caused many deaths, but it also led to many discoveries about various social issues. I have a feeling that you are correct about its impact on some of the underlying issues that can sometimes lead to gomi yashiki. There is no doubt that there is no quick fix to the problem and, as you mention, it is likely to get worse before it gets better. Simply gathering accurate data on this phenomenon is very difficult.

I have a feeling that you are not at risk, given how involved you are in your research, which must involve a fair amount of interaction with a wide range of people. I, for one, look forward to reading your next post, as I suspect many others do.

Expand full comment

I thought this was an interesting article. Do neighbors ever offer to help the people who are hoarding?

Expand full comment

Thanks. Yes, but it tends to be a delicate topic.

Expand full comment

Wow, what a terribly judgemental article on such a sensitive topic that you described! This may just be culture clashing in humor, but statements such as "Marie Kondo would be displeased by this" was not only untrue, but also shame inducing. While it's true a good perctange of trashhouses are by elderly, it affects many hikikomori and workers in their 20s~30s. Depression is also a large reason for how the self-neglect can get that far. I'm sure anyone who finds themselves in this situation doesn't need any more shame from foreigners who aren't part of the culture, looking upon it like goldfish in a fish bowl. However, I do understand the article is focusing on elderly themselves so I will lighten up. I do want to add though that there are many ゴミ屋敷 cleaners and interventions that people have begun turning to. It can be as little as 8,000 yen, but can rack up depending on the size of the building or apartment. I'm incredibly moved by these companies that exist and their message of non-judgement. Because even if it becomes 180,000 yen in the end, it's worth it for mental health and (general) health to live.

Expand full comment

Thank you for reading and providing constructive criticism on my use of language. The intention was not to shame, but I realize from your explanation that I may have given that impression to some. One goal was to provide a counterpoint to the conventional wisdom regarding the traditional Japanese aesthetic of minimalism.

In any case, yes, the services that perform interventions and cleanings do serve a useful purpose — although often at a premium.

Expand full comment

Oh my goodness! Great article.

What a fascinating but also sad account of what’s going on in Japan. Part of me was shocked. On the other hand, I’m a great believer in physicist sir Issac’s newtons third law - every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

I wonder, with Japanese society generally being much more orderly to the point of neurosis, was an outburst of tardiness and mess inevitable somewhere?

I wonder if this is a sign of things to come elsewhere for example in extremely tidy Singapore?

Unfortunately this law of physics only seems to work one way, I haven’t yet heard an account of an extremely messy culture becoming orderly? 😂

That’s a shame, because I live in the UK where all aspects of society and order seem to be breaking down, including our messy streets full of litter and rats, and our rivers overflowing with raw sewage.

This epidemic of messiness will be the end of human civilisation far before AI takes over, indeed AI will probably be left to tidy up after our mess!

Expand full comment

Thank you for reading and sharing your perspective.

While you're absolutely right that Japanese society is generally very orderly, I have a feeling that there have always been elements of disorder behind the scenes. However, there is no doubt that this latest trend, which can ultimately lead to obsessive-compulsive behavior resulting in a gomi-yashiki, is likely to get a lot worse before it gets better.

Your description of what is happening in the UK sounds pretty dire. It must be very disturbing and could be more than a little dangerous.

Expand full comment

Thanks and I look forward to reading more of your reports.

Yes the UK in a bad state socially, I don’t think that’s an unusual view, I’m planning to leave in next couple of years perhaps somewhere in Asia that’s a happier country.

Recent survey put the UK as the second most miserable country in the world, we can’t even win at that! 😂

https://www.ladbible.com/news/uk-news/uk-most-miserable-country-world-cost-of-living-crisis-010058-20240308

Expand full comment

Thank you for sharing this eye-opening report. It certainly correlates with your personal experience. So I am not surprised that you are considering moving to another place.

Assuming you are a British citizen, I suppose it would be relatively easy to immigrate to another Commonwealth nation, right? Perhaps Malaysia would be a good option, given your interest in Asia.

Expand full comment

Yes Malaysia is definitely on the list, I’m also thinking about Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan. I understand Japan while generally being harder to get longer term residency is making some small moves at least on short term digital nomad visas? I’m fascinated by Japan tbh!

Expand full comment

I have an elderly friend who lives like this on his family’s estate in a guest house. He’s in the hospital now - only because his two adult kids were at his place when he collapsed. He will be moved to a rest home for 30 days tomorrow and my guess is this will become his permanent home. I don’t think you can manage taking care of himself any longer.

Expand full comment

Thank you for reading and sharing your friend's story. Yes, it sounds like this person is no longer able to live alone without some kind of assistance.

As you may have noticed, another reader shared a link to a popular TV show in the UK about extreme hoarding. It included the statistic that about 1.25 million people in the UK are estimated to live this way, which is about 1.9% of the total population. Such a number is much higher than I would have expected. If the same percentage were applied to Japan's population, it would mean that about 2.3 million Japanese people are living this way, which is staggering. If that is the case, or even if the actual number is half that, then the statistics cited in the source I used for the original article are vastly undercounted.

Expand full comment

It’s difficult to understand that reality. My ex husband suffered from serious OCD. He had since he was a kid. But found relief went as a teenager practicing stunt work with his best friend how to jump off a building into a pile of bird poop. He would’ve rather of died. Anyway it was the only way off the roof of the building so he went for it. According to him the most amazing thing happened. It relieved about 90% of his OCD fears. Something expensive psychologists couldn’t treat. Back then, OCD did not have a name. So in the late 80s I was watching a TV show about people with OCD, a condition which was identified in the 80s and they put a name to it. On the program they talked about how hoarding is a symptom of OCD. I know my own mother suffered a mild case of hoarding and she also exhibited signs of being a recluse. I think caused by several tragedies in her life.

Again thank you for a great article. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this type of mental illness. 💜💫✨

Expand full comment

Yes, I can see how OCD would be related to extreme hoarding.

In the same way your former husband was probably able to find temporary relief from the adrenaline rush he must have gotten from performing stunts, perhaps there would be a way to "bottle" that feeling into a drug to treat the OCD of extreme hoarders.

Expand full comment

Years later in the late 90’s he received an award from The Lab School in Washington DC - a learning facility for the those with learning disabilities. It’s supported by a a lot of DC money. The award is given to those who have excelled in their fields despite the challenges of learning disabilities. Jonathan received it for overcoming his OCD obstacles which practically destroyed his life when he was younger.

Anyway, the reason I’m telling this story is because at an intimate dinner honoring the recipients the night before tge award show we sat next to a world leading psychologist know for her work in OCD. We told Jonathan‘s story about the bird poop. She responded in shock by telling us that was one of the techniques that is used to overcome those suffering from OCD. The person immerses themselves in their fear and in doing so they overcome that fear. You can be a process where your OCD is pretty much cured and just a few moments. But not entirely because Jonathan continued throughout her marriage to display traits of OCD. In fact he is OCD according to him was more focused on me which became very dangerous. This is why we divorced.

I am not sure how you would help extreme hoarders using this technique? I wish she was here so I could ask her. Anyway great to talk to you and have a fabulous day! 🤗✨💖

Expand full comment

Thanks for closing the loop to that story. There must be some research devoted to this approach.

Expand full comment

Thank you, there’s more… but that’s the gist of it. I’m not sure based on my limited knowledge if hoarding and lack of self care and isolation is a form of OCD. I sure hope for help for them. 😞

Expand full comment
Comment removed
Mar 8
Comment removed
Expand full comment

Yes, exactly. Thank you for reading and sharing this perspective.

As you can imagine, the Japanese seem to be particularly sensitive about garbage disposal. I can never seem to remember which items should be thrown out on which particular day (even though I have a detailed schedule from the local city hall posted in our kitchen). So gomi yashiki just seems like the antithesis of how to live in Japan.

By the way, while I have seen the American TV show "Extreme Hoarders" a few times, one of the other comments has a link to a show called "Britain's Biggest Hoarders" that is fascinating.

Expand full comment
Error