IT'S WAR! Osaka homeless evicted

[Taro Toporific]

[SIZE="2"]Japan homeless resist removal from tent homes[/SIZE]
Reuters.com, Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:18 AM ET10
TOKYO --Hundreds of Japanese police and security guards sought to forcibly evict a group of homeless people from their tents in two parks in the western city of Osaka on Monday, just days after an Osaka court ruled that a homeless man could register a park as his legal residence.
TV footage showed police, guards and city workers pushing and shoving with homeless people and their supporters in one of the parks, where 17 homeless were refusing to leave their tent homes.
More than 750 city employees, guards and transport workers had been sent to dismantle 28 tent homes in the two parks...more...

Also see the previous FG thread: "Homeless Man Gets Park Address".

[Taro Toporific]

Watch the video of the War Against the Homeless at ANN's evenining news. View the video in any of the following formats:
Windows Media Player [url=http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/ann/news/web/index_w4.html?now=20060130172620_56k / [url=http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/ann/news/web/index4.html?now=20060130172620_300k]300k[/url])
Real Player (56k / 300k

[emperor]

where do they expect them to go?

they should build some kind of compound for them outside the city (could be sponsored by eg. hitachi) - for them to live in and they could pay for 'rent' & recieve some kind of renumeration for basic manual labor - growing vegetables or ... what kind of stuff do the folks in prison do?

...and if its not working out: then one day the place could accidentally get napalmed...

[Greji]

[jingai]

[SIZE="2"]Japan homeless resist removal from tent homes[/SIZE]
Reuters.com, Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:18 AM ET10
TOKYO --Hundreds of Japanese police and security guards sought to forcibly evict a group of homeless people from their tents in two parks in the western city of Osaka on Monday, just days after an Osaka court ruled that a homeless man could register a park as his legal residence.
TV footage showed police, guards and city workers pushing and shoving with homeless people and their supporters in one of the parks, where 17 homeless were refusing to leave their tent homes.
More than 750 city employees, guards and transport workers had been sent to dismantle 28 tent homes in the two parks...more...

Also see the previous FG thread: "Homeless Man Gets Park Address".

This is really sad. Without the parks for community and protection they'll be vulnerable like the homeless are in the US to street crime, unprovoked assaults by youth, etc. Evicting them does nothing to solve the problem.

Some of these guys work pretty hard collecting cans all day- that ain't easy as each can's not worth too much.

[Greji]

This is really sad. Without the parks for community and protection they'll be vulnerable like the homeless are in the US to street crime, unprovoked assaults by youth, etc. Evicting them does nothing to solve the problem.

Obviously they are vulnerable, but as to what I posted (i.e. Shinjukueki), they built shelters and made them available, but they wouldn't go to them. They were forcibly moved, with their belongings to these apartment type shelters and with in 2-3 days most of them had run off back to the parks and to different parts of Shinjukueki.

There obviously are sad cases, but the bums out number these by 50-1, which exacerbates the problem. A bum is a bum. They don't want to work and refuse to be move to anywhere, where they might be exposed to any kind of responsibility. The NGO's try to treat them all the same and that only strengthens the bums resolve, because they can get more for nothing and the NGO's end up as "do-gooders" that make other people mad trying to defend the truly needy homeless and just end up catering to the bums.

Some of these guys work pretty hard collecting cans all day- that ain't easy as each can's not worth too much.

A lot of them are six-pacs they've emptied themselves.

[dimwit]

Its funny that in places where they actually enforce vagrancy laws surprise! surprise! there are fewer bums. A few years ago the do gooders in Toronto stop enforcing the laws and now the square outside city hall is full of cardboard boxes and piss. For most bums, pity is something to be manipulated.

[Greji]

For most bums, pity is something to be manipulated.

You got it! Why is it that the NGO's can't see this? They explode if you identify a homeless person as a bum! Why not? The bums are identifying as homeless!

[emperor]

there are the lazy, self-destructive types & then...

of course there are those genuine cases too:

-people with mental problems (i wonder why more japanese people arent homeless...)
-kids running away from home because of abuse (sexual, physical etc)
-arent alot of these guys the middle-management types who lost their jobs during the recession, pretended to go to work and then one day just disappeared. if you want a job now dont you need some kind of fixed abode to apply for one even gigs like the niteshift at 7.11?

[Greji]

there are the lazy, self-destructive types & then...

of course there are those genuine cases too:-snip-

That is what I was saying and the problem is the Bums vastly out-number the "genuines". There was a documentary on TV the other day (one of the hundreds), where a social worker was interviewing a former white collar worker who was now homeless and true, the story was sad and the guy was unfortunate. But, these are the extreme and these stories are used for the impact in the media. The social worker also identified the location (Shinjuku park right across the street from the Hyatt and the Hilton) as a homeless community spawned by the bubble. This is pure, unadultrated BS, that "homeless village" has been there since the 1960's. I know they need to use extremes for shock and attempts to draw support and money, but the efforts are mis-directed. It is the Bums that are the pros at using the system and only take from it. You cannot help them because they don't want help. The problem is the people running the programs lack the training (common sense?) to know when they are being used by the bums. It shouldn't be that hard to determine by the actions of an individual if he needs help and is willing to try to help himself recover. There seems to be some sort of a Taboo for calling a bum a bum and these are the ones who are making the whole government and volunteer programs fall flat on its ass.

Another big problem for these programs, volunteer and otherwise, is the use of them as a vehicle by groups and agencies that are not actually involved, to further their own agenda of rights, or other goals. These are student activist groups, anti-war groups, etc. They do produce coverage by the media, but the damage the cause through bad publicity from their "demos", which can and sometimes do include major confrontations and violence with authorities, hurts the actual cause. Once the "big incident", such as the forced moving, or whatever, is over, they go on their way to another area, or cause and the homeless issue disappears from their agenda, leaving the actual concerned workers stranded at square one or worse.

[kurohinge1]

The least those NGO's could do is round up some of the mountains of working computers that are being discarded everyday and distribute them to the homeless so that they can participate in online discussions about themselves.

[Buraku]

the Japanese leaders look down on this people like fucking dirt, just check the UN reports
their 'eta-ainu' cast system treats dogs better than homeless in Nippon

[jingai]

Its funny that in places where they actually enforce vagrancy laws surprise! surprise! there are fewer bums. A few years ago the do gooders in Toronto stop enforcing the laws and now the square outside city hall is full of cardboard boxes and piss.

And where do the "bums" go? Are you reducing the number or just displacing them? If you are displacing them, what good does that do?

I don't know about the Japanese equivalents (in part because there are almost none and homelessness is a more recent phenomenon) but shelters in the States are pretty rotten and undesirable places. They also do nothing to deal with the underlying causes of homelessness- high housing prices, joblessness, and to a lesser extent mental illness- but merely make homeless people less visible, which is the goal of the policy makers.
Let's just sweep the problems under the rug and declare mission accomplished.

If the homeless are inferior people and society has always had dregs and incompetents, why has homelessness only appeared recently in Japan (and on a large scale only since the 1980s in the US?) Has the gene pool deteriorated so rapidly?

And gboothe, I know you're just a provocateur but at least you don't pretend to be Christian. Apparently, the weak are weak because they are inferior. Christianity is the religion of the weak because it preaches charity and pity and redemption, and these are just ploys to undermine the will of the strong.
I think you'd appreciate Nietzsche's "The Anti-Christ," if you haven't read it already, as it elaborates on these themes.
"There cannot be a God because if there were one, I could not believe that I was not He."- Nietzsche.
but then again he also said
"Extreme positions are not succeeded by moderate ones, but by contrary extreme positions," which I think sums up your posts well.

[Greji]

I don't know about the Japanese equivalents (in part because there are almost none and homelessness is a more recent phenomenon) but shelters in the States are pretty rotten and undesirable places. They also do nothing to deal with the underlying causes of homelessness- high housing prices, joblessness, and to a lesser extent mental illness- but merely make homeless people less visible, which is the goal of the policy makers.
Let's just sweep the problems under the rug and declare mission accomplished.

This is accurate from an idealistic, but totally unrealistic point of view. The majority (which is not all, repeat not all) of the so-called homeless in Japan are simply bums. They do not wish to work beyond what is necessary to live, be it one day labor, collecting cans or panhandling. The project for Shinjuku (and other places), included building temporary housing, abeit pre-fab, but brand new buildings and the bums wouldn't stay there. There were social workers available to help, identifying job skills and/or placement where possible. Volunteer physicians and health workers, and the bums couldn't take it. Maybe this was because that it meant surrendering to the society they wish to avoid. At any rate, the majority of those forced in to the new residences were gone within days. How many of the truly mis-fortunates, this project was able to help is probably an unknown figure because these stories don't sell newspapers.

If the homeless are inferior people and society has always had dregs and incompetents, why has homelessness only appeared recently in Japan (and on a large scale only since the 1980s in the US?) Has the gene pool deteriorated so rapidly?

I don't know who you are quoting as saying that the homeless are inferior. The bums are in fact the dregs. True homelessness is relatively new to Japan, but the bums have been here for eternity. As I said, the "homeless" village in Shinjuku park has been there since the 1960's. It was pointed out by a city official as an "unsolveable" problem to a group that I was with at during a tour the new-at-that time Keio Plaza hotel. I have no idea how long it had been there before that, but it was obviously not a new phenomenon and it's still there!

And gboothe, I know you're just a provocateur but at least you don't pretend to be Christian. Apparently, the weak are weak because they are inferior. Christianity is the religion of the weak because it preaches charity and pity and redemption, and these are just ploys to undermine the will of the strong.

If calling a bum a bum qualifies as being a provocateur, color me provocateur. The Christian thing to do is to help a person who is down. Nobody is faulting that fact. But, what I am pointing out is it is the bums that are beating the system. Have you every talked to any of these people here? They have stories for every occasion. You will never meet so many ex-shacho's, bucho's, kacho's and what ever position you want, who have been relegated to this horrible life style by the bubble, government action, the war, you name it. If they sense you as a do-gooder and can be of any use, i.e. money, food or provisions, or even news coverage, they have a story for you. If they don't think you have any merit, they won't bother with you. These are bums. They just milk the system and hamper, or prevent the actual needy from being reached. The homeless problem is a boom for the bums and they certainly don't want anyone to solve the problem for them!

"Extreme positions are not succeeded by moderate ones, but by contrary extreme positions," which I think sums up your posts well.

There is nothing extreme about pointing out that the system in Japan as exists is an absolute failure, which is what I am trying to point out if you read my posts in detail. Extreme is to napalm these places (which might be a possible system solution). The fact of the matter is that the very dedicated people involved who are trying to help, be they "Christian", or otherwise, are poorly equipped to handle the situation. They see the bums as a equal unfortunates to the true homeless and buy their stories that they have been cast-off by society, when in fact the largest portion of them have chosen this life style of their own volition. The social workers, NGO volunteers in a lot of cases, just do not have the education, training, maturity or maybe even common sense to determine when they are being had by people who have no intention of re-joining society, who detest work, and any sort of responsibility. They are bums and the ones, because they have the system figured out, who end up getting the attention and any goodies the system offers, while the truly needy go on just being that. These side line "support" groups that joint any cause, have their own agenda and just want to advertise their own causes. They could give a shit about solving the problem

These points are not apparent from an Ivory tower, you need to get out among them to see the con that is being conducted!

[Buraku]

And gboothe, I know you're just a provocateur but at least you don't pretend to be Christian.

when some poor J-fucker hits the floor in Nippon its much harder to get back up lack of groups, social stigma, lack of support, and their is also the ainu-kuronbo-eta cast system to deal with.

gboothe is just a fucking tight-ass and doesn't want to help anyone who is down, he likely looks down on the tsumami orphans aswell. The fact is majority of these homeless aren't just bums trying to leech off others, this has come to light when the homeless numbers sky rocketed during Japan's economic recessions, during the bubble years most of these folks had jobs.

[Greji]

when some poor J-fucker hits the floor in Nippon its much harder to get back up lack of groups, social stigma, lack of support, and their is also the ainu-kuronbo-eta cast system to deal with.

Buraku, this thread has nothing to do with an ainu-kuronbo-eta cast (?) system. If you'd get off your ass and do some real research into this, you'd find that there are any number of programs going on for the homeless. My point is those that are not mis-managed are run by well-meaning people who haven't the foggiest what and who they are dealing with. Hence the problems.

gboothe is just a fucking tight-ass and doesn't want to help anyone who is down, he likely looks down on the tsumami orphans aswell.

How do you know my ass is tight? Just don't come around looking to find out, unless you want to wear your's home.

Please give me your reference to the tsunami orphans. I assume it is hidden in one of your informative Korean posts.

The fact is majority of these homeless aren't just bums trying to leech off others, this has come to light when the homeless numbers sky rocketed during Japan's economic recessions, during the bubble years most of these folks had jobs.

The fact is the majority are and the majority have never had a job, nor have they wanted one. Where the fuck do you live? Wakanai? Look around slick, there's a world going on outside!

[Buraku]

[rooboy]

But I`ve been reading fg`s website for a while and it`s been clear that there are a few posters I wouldn`t call people I`d buy a beer for in an izakaya. This thread tells me why.

I`m of the Buraku school of thought on the Osaka homeless. I don`t live in Osaka but I`ve visited that park on a trip to Osaka. I understand even ordinary residents near that park are getting pissed off at the way the homeless people`s tents are covering the park (inc where they go to the toilet etc) rather than being around the edges like in other cities. The park is meant to be a space for everybody to relax etc. In other cities homeless people`s tents are around the borders, making it easy to walk thru.

BUT I belong to the Buraku school of thought on this. The bloke (gboothe I think) who has an answer for everything and everybody who doesn`t subscribe to his view of Japan and the Japanese, did his usual `Rome has spoke` act and dismissed the homeless there and elsewhere by implication in Japan as `bums`. I find it hard to believe this bloke has lived in Japan as long as he appears to judging from his other posts - yep, I`m well acquainted with the posters and their views/prejudices.

Japanese society has a variety of stigmas for any no of people who buck the system in any way. It doesn`t have to be a person who`s fallen on hard times (yeah, those `bums`). It can be the young mother who prefers to spend time more doing her own things than joining the neighbourhood mums in their petty gossip/bullshit sessions. It can be the neighbourhood gaijin who doesn`t feel the need to tell their neighbours all about his schedule and private life. These are small examples compared to the very real harshness of the way this society treats those who don`t want to follow sometimes pathetic unspoken rules or spoken rules/unlegislated or legislated rules on just about everything.

Unlike my homecountry (Oz) which has a homeless allowance, does so much to reintegrate the homeless into the mainstream by the use of non-judgemental, open-minded social workers etc, I can say the so called `help` the homeless get here is very much in keeping with Jp norms. Ie - you are a meiwaku, why don`t you be like everybody else, etc. This is a very rigid society, this is a society that tolerates old people living in parks because they owe the very Jp Yakuza thugs money. This is not an extreme example - some of the homeless are in those parks because they are vulnerable and afraid to go back to their former addresses. In Oz those same loan sharks would be in court as far as their nasty, lower than life asses could utter one threatening word.

There are many reasons why Jp neglects its homeless. Yes, a few are `bums` but many more don`t fit into the very narrow categories of social groups that this society permits. Some of them need help with issues that would require Japanese society to look at its very ugly, very disturbing huge homegrown criminal problem - shown in the amazingly high no of scams that are part of Jp daily life. Do you really think the system is going to tackle just why an old lady has to live in a blue tent in sub zero temperatures because she can`t pay off a loan to a criminal whose ass would be in jail elsewhere?

In Oz and other countries I have never seen the old, especially old ladies who are not alcholics or drug addicts on the streets. Never. Yet here they`re a regular sight. This society`s attitudes are more disgusting than those blue tents crowding that park in Osaka and the numerous ones all over Japan.

[Mike Oxlong]

Come on now, 'Roo Shooter, boothey isn' t all grinch...just 'cause he read one too many O. Henry stories about happy tramps riding boxcars all over the US of A living a carefree life doesn't mean he has no feelings. I rather enjoy most of what he posts.

[GomiGirl]

It is interesting though as I have spoken to a few Japanese ladies (housewife type with kids in private schools) who claim that there are no homeless in Japan so no need for charitable donations of clothes. I have offered to take them on visits to the parks to see the tent cities but they just don't want to think about it and just prefer to deny it even exists.

I don't want to get into the reasons for the homeless but you have to be wearing some serious blinkers to not even acknowledge the existence of homeless.

[drpepper]

Recent my ass... as gboothe points out this shit has been here forever and the Japanese pretty much have the 3 monkey philosophy on it. I came in here in 90' and was told categorically there were virtually no homeless in Osaka. I was off the plane and with in 3 hours had seen more homeless walking the streets then I ever did back home in Los Angeles. I'd ask "what about that guy?", response? He is not homeless but rather just a weird guy who wants to be that way. I was shocked and appalled, the Japanese were living in denial. Forward ahead 16 years and you know what? They were fucking right the whole time. There are any number of social projects that will place true homeless people into shleters and get them help. The people you see in tents at the park down the street from my house that leave garbage by my house and piss and shit where ever they want are not homeless, they are exactly what they want to be and they get away with whatever they fucking want to and I am sick of it. Perhaps some of wanna-be's who don't know nearly half of what the fuck you are talking about need to go and live by these bums, talk to the police about getting them to not sleep in your apartment lobby or not have their dogs attack your family and see that they cannot or will not do anything because these bums have no desire to go or do anything else other than what they are doing right now.
You wanna give people attitude about shit you don't know anything about? Fine, do so from the safety of your keyboard far from the realities of the real world or come on down to my place and I will give you some reality real up close and personal like.

[Greji]

You wanna give people attitude about shit you don't know anything about? Fine, do so from the safety of your keyboard far from the realities of the real world or come on down to my place and I will give you some reality real up close and personal like.

Welcome to Rome Doc!

[blackcat]

"It is interesting though as I have spoken to a few Japanese ladies (housewife type with kids in private schools) who claim that there are no homeless in Japan so no need for charitable donations of clothes. I have offered to take them on visits to the parks to see the tent cities but they just don't want to think about it and just prefer to deny it even exists"

that because the JAPANESE ARE FUCKING DENIALIST CUNTS!!!!!

NOTHING.. NOT A FUCKING BAD THING HAS EVER HAPPENED IN JAPAN...THEY HAVE NEVER DONE WRONG NEVER

NOPE NOT US NOPE!!
NO
LOLITAS
RAPES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
IDYLING
CORRUPTION
OVERFISHING
OVERSMOKING
SEXUAL HARRASMENT
SEX TOURS
CRIMES
BAG SNATCHING
ORGANIZED CRIME
NOPE NOT NEVER FUCKING NEVER NONONONONONONONO

UNTHINKABLE IN JAPAN.

or is it that people just dont fucking think! in japan

[rooboy]

Been drinking too much of the fizzy drink lately? How do you know how long I`ve lived here, how do you know where I live? How do you know there are no homeless where I live in Japan?

As for the safety of keyboards, little wankers uttering threats to come and see you or whatever - you`re really sad. I`m new here but I`m not going to let you and the likes of gboothe try to get me out of here cause I don`t agree with you.

And take a look at Japan - this society is so rigidly structured and so dismissive of those who don`t fit in. That explains the homeless problem as well as the economic realities here. And no - you`re not going to do your little hitler trick on me. This is not your forum - it`s taro`s and the man is far more balanced and accepting of different opinions than you and your ilk will ever be. You are sucks - keep sucking, the Japanese just laugh at gaijin like you.

[Greji]

-snip-I`m new here but I`m not going to let you and the likes of gboothe try to get me out of here cause I don`t agree with you.
-snip-

What's up Rooboy? Sounds like the paranoids are nipping at your bloomers. I personally don't give a flying fuck whether you are on the board or not, so dozo, do what ever strokes your turnip.

I stated several facts about the bums (abeit long windedly), that pose as homeless and that there is a problem with the system, volunteer and government, that is supposed to help the real homeless (not the bums), that the bums were milking the system and you go orbital. Doc has the bums shitting in his yard and is not happy. I'm not pleased having them in my neighborhood where I live and also where I work. How do you explain that they are given apartments free to live in when they were rounded up (at least on the grab they made near my office) and within a week they had left the new places and I found them back in the same place ( a park) when I go to work). I suppose that might make Doc P and I the little wankers, but I am no too sure?

Your shot!

[drpepper]

How do you know how long I`ve lived here, how do you know where I live? How do you know there are no homeless where I live in Japan?

And take a look at Japan - this society is so rigidly structured and so dismissive of those who don`t fit in. That explains the homeless problem as well as the economic realities here. And no - you`re not going to do your little hitler trick on me. This is not your forum - it`s taro`s and the man is far more balanced and accepting of different opinions than you and your ilk will ever be. You are sucks - keep sucking, the Japanese just laugh at gaijin like you.

I didn't say I knew where you lived nor how long you have lived here. I said you don't know wtf you are talking about. You give no evidence of anything even anecdotal, and merely postulate assumptions... based on ???? I have no idea wtf you are talking about with a hitler trick either, again you seem to like to make assumptions based on nothing. You seem to think you have an opinion but sounds more like typical westernized social farting noises from someone you has not actually lived the life or walked the walk. So, rooter boy, back your shit up. Where, when, why, and how long and whatever. You wanna make a case, then make it or stfu.

As for the safety of keyboards, little wankers uttering threats to come and see you or whatever - you`re really sad. I`m new here but I`m not going to let you and the likes of gboothe try to get me out of here cause I don`t agree with you.

As for being a wanker, well lol on that. Every man enjoys a little pull now and again but that is neither here nor there. I issued no threat, I simply offered to show you up close and personal how the bums around here are, I'd take you right into the dirty, shitty, smelling lot of them. If you wanna call me out though, that's fine too mr. armchair cowboy.

BTW it really doesn't matter what you say at this point as by internet default standards you have lost all credibility, first by throwing the first unveiled insult/namecalling (i.e. wanker) and then followed that with a mention of Hitler which ends all doubt as too whom the bigger loser is.

[rooboy]

maybe you are the kind of bloke I would buy a beer for in an izkaya! Thanks for the reply. You gave concrete examples to back up your viewpoint so I aint going to argue with them.

As for Dr Pepper - look at your initial post to me. It still looks like you`d been imbibing too much of the fizzy drink and it was making you hyper in your response. Yes, Osaka has a homeless problem and so do many places in Japan. Obviously the dirtiness and discomfort some of these people are causing is becoming a problem that`s too big to be ignored anymore.

But I still think that generalisations aren`t in order about the homeless in Japan. Everywhere I go and see them one thing strikes me - these people for the most aren`t beggars unlike any no. of people (not everybody of course - some of the homeless outside Japan have genuine hardship) on the streets outside Japan who expect money from people so that they can go and buy drugs. Or expect people who pay taxes to subsidise them even if these people don`t earn much.

The Jp homeless stand in stark contrast to those kind of homeless people outside Japan. You also have to consider the lawlessness of this society - yes lawlessness that still allows so many scams to flourish yet there`s no attempt made to stop them.

There are homeless people out there because they fell on hard times and couldn`t reply ursurious loans to loan sharks - read Yakuza. Japanese society`s persistent ignoring of its own very high homegrown crime rate in this area alone makes it look hypocritical, especially when it comes to those who prey this way on their fellow Japanese.

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: Homeless sue Osaka over tent removal

Seventeen homeless people whose tents were removed by the Osaka municipal government from two parks in January have filed a lawsuit against the city, demanding compensation of 1.1 million yen each for what they claim is an infringement of their residency rights. The plaintiffs said the forcible removal violated the Law for the Support of Self-Reliance by the Homeless. A counsel for the plaintiffs said it is the first time administrative responsibility has been sought based on the law. According to the suit, the municipal government removed 28 tents from Utsubo Park in Nishi Ward and Osaka Castle Park in Chuo Ward on Jan. 30, based on the administrative subrogation law, to clear the way for maintenance work on the two parks' promenades and other facilities.

The support law stipulates that necessary measures should be taken when homeless people interfere with the appropriate use of public facilities, but it also says that support for the homeless must be provided at the same time. The plaintiffs, however, claim that they have not received a sufficient explanation nor been provided adequate living quarters. They also insist that they were deprived of their home base and have suffered mental distress. The plaintiffs filed a provisional disposition to suspend the removal of the tents with the Osaka District Court before the city implemented the removal. However, the claim was dismissed on Jan. 13. They therefore filed a suit to stop the removal, but altered the contents of the lawsuit to demand compensation for the damage.

Six months after the removal, seven of 19 people whose tents were taken away moved to other parks, while two others have no home base, according to a support group. Five others rented apartments using welfare benefits. Two others entered city government temporary evacuation centers, but have no prospects of getting jobs. Three others live in unknown locations. The plaintiffs said the forcible removal of their tents was the city's way of getting rid of the homeless.

"I can't trust the way the municipal government has handled the issue, and I'll fight it," said Noriyoshi Fujita, 55, one of the plaintiffs who moved from Osaka Castle Park to Nagai Park in Higashi-Sumiyoshi Ward. Fujita lived in a lodging house in Nishinari Ward for nearly 30 years while working as a day laborer. However, he lost the job in the recession after the bubble economy burst and became homeless eight years ago. His monthly income of about 40,000 yen comes from collecting aluminum cans around the city. "We're like refugees. We can't live in an apartment because we have no jobs," he said. "Even if I'm removed from here, I'll just have to find another place outside."

[Mulboyne]

Mainichi: Osaka tears down homeless people's tents ahead of world athletics meet

Homeless people and their supporters clashed with Osaka Municipal Government workers and hired guards Monday as the city began forcibly removing tents and huts set up by homeless people in Nagai Park. A total of about 550 people, including some 260 municipal government workers, moved in on Monday morning to remove tents belonging to nine homeless people remaining in the park in Higashisumiyoshi-ku, as over 100 supporters of the homeless protested.

In August this year, the world athletics championships are due to be held in Nagai Stadium in Osaka, and the municipal government had ordered the park to be cleared so that work such as installing street lights could be performed. At about 8:30 a.m. on Monday city workers and guards set up a barricade around the southwest end of the park where a group of tents were located. At 9 a.m., they read out a notice declaring the removal of objects illegally occupying space in the park, and began forcibly removing the tents.

As workers moved in, the homeless people and supporters tried to resist the workers by forming a human chain, but by noon the removal was nearly completed. In January last year city officials had forcibly removed tents in Osaka-jo Park in the city's Chuo-ku and Ustubo Park in Nishi-ku. In October the same year, the municipal government started recommending that the homeless people in Nagai Park leave the park and move into facilities operated by the municipal government...more...

[amdg]

What they gon' do with all my junk?
All my junk inside my trunk?
I'ma go, get, get, get, me drunk,
Get me fucked up off my hump.