Oct 15, 2024 (Drew Binsky) - Japan has one of the lowest homelessness rates in the world, with less than 0.003% of its population living on the streets. This is a testament to the country's robust social programs and unique cultural approach to addressing homelessness.
But there is one slum, called Sanya, where you can find almost all of Tokyo's homeless - and my mission in this video was to go there to learn about why this place still exists, who lives on these streets, and what the future holds for such a contrasting place.
Japan is truly one of my favorite countries on earth, and after 11 trips to this island nation, I have to admit that I've never seen streets like what I just saw in Sanya. It's a gritty neighborhood historically known as a hangout for day laborers and marginalized communities. Nowadays, you can find hundreds of homeless men wandering around a dilapidated park, playing board games, and sleeping in makeshift tents. The surrounding alleyways are dotted with ultra-budget hostels for $10/night (the cheapest rooms in the city, but not a place I'd recommend to sleep).
The overall experience of walking around Sanya is just bizarre, and I think it's important that we don't turn a blind eye on the homeless -- even in a country like Japan.
