Tokyo Homeless

[Captain Japan]

World Homelessness: Seeking work, not aid
UPI

Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Nestled between the national art museum and the city zoo, it's not easy to spot the dozen or so blue tents fairly well-hidden among shady trees and bushes.

But it's obvious that the men sitting on the benches of Tokyo's Ueno Park have no job or no home, as they sit staring blankly, often with big bags filled with all their belongings sitting at their feet.

According to government estimates, there are about 30,000 homeless people across Japan, and Ueno is home to one of the biggest community of the downtrodden, with about 500 people calling it home.

While pitching tents and starting makeshift fires are technically banned in the public park, the authorities turn a blind eye when it comes to the homeless, who are surprisingly orderly, neat, and even hard-working....the rest...

See also:
As the Economy Wanes Tokyo Homelessness Grows

[FG Lurkor]

While pitching tents and starting makeshift fires are technically banned in the public park, the authorities turn a blind eye when it comes to the homeless, who are surprisingly orderly, neat, and even hard-working.

What a Joke.

Most are Lazy and don't want to work.

If they really wanted to work, They could find a clean shirt and a clean pair of pants and go get a job at the local 7-11 or McDonalds. but the truth is they don't want to work.

[Captain Japan]

What a Joke.

Most are Lazy and don't want to work.

If they really wanted to work, They could find a clean shirt and a clean pair of pants and go get a job at the local 7-11 or McDonalds. but the truth is they don't want to work.

I don't think it is quite that simple. What is the average age of a homeless person? I'd guess somewhere over 50. Those folks aren't hired at McDonald's. Maybe a convenience store. But even then it'd be tough to find a place to live on 700 yen an hour.

Mental illness is part of it. Severe alcoholism (beyond salaryman level) is part of it. But as well, I really think that a lot people have lost their family support (for whatever reason) and see ignoring the Japanese system as being a legitimate option. To many old people, why strive to get back to the packed trains, the lousy housing, the cigarettes, and the senseless overtime work in return for a lousy salary?

I really think that a lot of people are choosing to be homeless because it really isn't that bad of an option. Go down to the Sumida River bank and check it out. That area has become a homeless city. Accomodations aren't all that much worse than a 30-year old mansion.

And because of this I also think this is why so many people absolutely hate the homeless. Most Japanese slog through their day dutifully putting up with a lot of garbage but the homeless don't (well, aside from that which they sift through looking for things); so they are seen as traitors.

[FG Lurker]

o[/b]r]

While pitching tents and starting makeshift fires are technically banned in the public park, the authorities turn a blind eye when it comes to the homeless, who are surprisingly orderly, neat, and even hard-working.

What a Joke.

Most are Lazy and don't want to work.

If they really wanted to work, They could find a clean shirt and a clean pair of pants and go get a job at the local 7-11 or McDonalds. but the truth is they don't want to work.

Fuckin' pussy. As I said before, don't be such a pussy and hide behind my identity.

IPs are probably logged here as with most every other phpBB system. Figuring out who you are will not be difficult.

[AssKissinger]

While pitching tents and starting makeshift fires are technically banned in the public park, the authorities turn a blind eye when it comes to the homeless, who are surprisingly orderly, neat, and even hard-working.

What a Joke.

Most are Lazy and don't want to work.

If they really wanted to work, They could find a clean shirt and a clean pair of pants and go get a job at the local 7-11 or McDonalds. but the truth is they don't want to work.

Fuckin' pussy. As I said before, don't be such a pussy and hide behind my identity.

IPs are probably logged here as with most every other phpBB system. Figuring out who you are will not be difficult.

Who the fuck are you talking to? Yourself?

Anyway, the homeless here are in a fucking trap. It's almost impossible to escape and it's a hard hard life. I'm definitely in favor of doing more for the homeless. I think anyone who wants one should get a basic little studio apt for free. They got the funds for that.

[FG Lurker]

Who the fuck are you talking to? Yourself?

No, but it certainly could look that way. "This is a pen", a total tool unable to stand up for himself, decided it would be entertaining to create an account that looked a lot like mine.

Only someone with less intellectual ability than a retarded monkey would need to do such a thing... But he calls himself a pen and I've yet to meet a pen with any intelligence at all.

Anyway, the homeless here are in a fucking trap. It's almost impossible to escape and it's a hard hard life. I'm definitely in favor of doing more for the homeless.

I agree.

I think anyone who wants one should get a basic little studio apt for free. They got the funds for that.

I don't know if I would go quite that far. But certainly dormitories with showers and food should be much more available than they are now.

[GuyJean]

Who the fuck are you talking to? Yourself?

GJ

[FG Lurker]

Who the fuck are you talking to? Yourself?

GJ

Yah, it is kinda funny, isn't it.

Maybe next time Mr. "I am a retarded monkey" Pen will create an account as "GuyJeen" or "GuyJeon", copy your avatar, and post as you...

[AssKissinger]

No, but it certainly could look that way. "This is a pen", a total tool unable to stand up for himself, decided it would be entertaining to create an account that looked a lot like mine

Oh I see, he replaced the 'e' with an 'o'. What an ass. No wait I'm the Ass. Mods can you do something about that? That's a cheap move.

[FG Lurker]

No, but it certainly could look that way. "This is a pen", a total tool unable to stand up for himself, decided it would be entertaining to create an account that looked a lot like mine

Oh I see, he replaced the 'e' with an 'o'. What an ass. No wait I'm the Ass. Mods can you do something about that? That's a cheap move.

Ultra has disabled the account and removed the avatar. It still looks kinda like me though, and the account shows 3 posts -- I've only found two of them so far.

[GuyJean]

Maybe next time Mr. "I am a retarded monkey" Pen will create an account as "GuyJeen" or "GuyJeon", copy your avatar, and post as you...

It probably would be 'GayJean'.. And I change my avatar too frequently...

GJ

[FG Lurker]

Maybe next time Mr. "I am a retarded monkey" Pen will create an account as "GuyJeen" or "GuyJeon", copy your avatar, and post as you...

It probably would be 'GayJean'.. ]It only takes 10 minutes to copy an avatar, make an account, and spam the message board with a few inane messages. Even someone with the amazingly low intellectual wattage of 'This is a pen' managed to do it.

[goldenboy_ge]

While pitching tents and starting makeshift fires are technically banned in the public park, the authorities turn a blind eye when it comes to the homeless, who are surprisingly orderly, neat, and even hard-working.

What a Joke.

Most are Lazy and don't want to work.

If they really wanted to work, They could find a clean shirt and a clean pair of pants and go get a job at the local 7-11 or McDonalds. but the truth is they don't want to work.

Who's FG Lurkor and what's the purpose to copy FG Lurker

[FG Lurker]

Who's FG Lurkor

It seems that 'This is a pen' decided his life was pathetic and that he would spice it up by registering with a name looking like mine.

and what's the purpose to copy FG Lurker

That's a good question... So far 'This is a pen' has not commented. Personally I think it's due him lacking the intellectual wattage to stand up for himself, but I'm sure he'll come up with some idiotic reason.

Previously he had copied my avatar too, but that has been taken care of and the account is now disabled.

[goldenboy_ge]

Previously he had copied my avatar too, but that has been taken care of and the account is now disabled.

Ha ha :P Maybe it was somebody you know or whoever..
I don't know, this give's me a reason to worry about my possible 'clone'. Maybe somebody will end up with goldenboy_us or goldenboy_jp or something similiar

[FG Lurker]

Previously he had copied my avatar too, but that has been taken care of and the account is now disabled.

Ha ha :P Maybe it was somebody you know or whoever..
I don't know, this give's me a reason to worry about my possible 'clone'. Maybe somebody will end up with goldenboy_us or goldenboy_jp or something similiar

It was the (l)user 'This is a pen'.

Probably because of this thread. He couldn't answer using his limited reason and/or intellect so he decided to extract revenge by signing up with an account of nearly the same name.

[goldenboy_ge]

I just read the thread, and I have to say that this is a case of 'topping each other' again. C'mon you're all matured man. If somebody want's to show off with his money, business and whatever, just let them do. Secondly I think the tone plays a vital role.
Nevertheless I don't want to get into that, just because I could be the next target

Here are my fave quotes:

.....of idiotic posts by a tool who calls himself a pen.

and

Quack

[Buraku]

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/news/nn04-2005/nn20050430f2.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/wa/stories/s1431460.htm
Two men were arrested on suspicion of beating a homeless man to death in a park in Tokyo's Sumida Ward, police said.
Naoto Yoshida, 20, and a 19-year-old man whose name is withheld because he is a minor, are suspected of kicking a man believed to be Masamitsu Katori, 64, in the head and chest while he was sleeping in the park at around 3:30 a.m.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20050805p2a00m0na010000c.html

[IkemenTommy]

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/news/nn04-2005/nn20050430f2.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/wa/stories/s1431460.htm
Two men were arrested on suspicion of beating a homeless man to death in a park in Tokyo's Sumida Ward, police said.
Naoto Yoshida, 20, and a 19-year-old man whose name is withheld because he is a minor, are suspected of kicking a man believed to be Masamitsu Katori, 64, in the head and chest while he was sleeping in the park at around 3:30 a.m.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20050805p2a00m0na010000c.html

Something tells me that the J-rental cops won't do a damn thing about this.

[Mulboyne]

Washington Times via Peace Herald: Japan's homelessness tied to age
TOKYO -- When Hisaume Kushibiki came to this capital 45 years ago from north- ern Japan, the country was at the dawn of its era of high-speed growth. "There used to be a lot of jobs around here," recalled Mr. Kushibiki, who took a variety of jobs, including as a carpenter or construction worker, and often toiled late into the night. But he found that the older he got, the fewer jobs he could take on, despite decades of experience. "I've been looking for a part-time job for years now, but I cannot get hired because of my age," said the soft-spoken 63-year-old with a weathered face. "Even if there are jobs, they only go to youngsters, who lack job skills." Lacking even a part-time income, Mr. Kushibiki moved to a tarp-covered rectangular box near the river three years ago. The only work he can find is cleaning at a cemetery three times a month, which pays 7,500 yen or about $70 each time.
... The Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced last year that 2,000 one-room apartments would be rented at low prices to park dwellers for the next two years. The metropolitan government employs them for six months in jobs such as cleaning or guarding public spaces. After that, they have to find work to pay their rent. A government official said 714 persons have moved into the cheap rooms. Some welcomed Tokyo's initiatives and said other big cities should follow suit. But Mitsuo Nakamura, a leader of a support group for the homeless, said renting rooms to the homeless is not the answer. "Many of the homeless are desperate for a job. But there are no jobs available to them because of age ceilings," Mr. Nakamura said. "We should respect their willingness to work." Many homeless people get meager earnings by collecting empty cans or magazines. They rarely beg or even ask for a cigarette, because such behavior is seen in Japan as shameful. "What I need most is not a place to stay but a job," Tetsuya said. "I often go to the employment office, but there are no jobs for a 58-year-old man."