Homeless magazine "Big Issue" to come to Japan

[Snapped]

"After more than a decade of fighting homelessness in Britain, the Big Issue magazine is preparing to introduce its radical solution to the problem in Japan."



"With an official homeless population of 25,700 and rising, the team behind the 11 September launch say the need for action is clear - but they concede success is far from guaranteed."

"The idea that you should buy something from someone on the street - let alone one of the homeless - will take some getting used to, says editor Miku Sano."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3175319.stm


Will it work?

[ramchop]

the team behind the 11 September launch say the need for action is clear - but they concede success is far from guaranteed.

Sounds sinister.

[Taro Toporific]

"After more than a decade of fighting homelessness in Britain, the Big Issue magazine is preparing to introduce its radical solution to the problem in Japan."
Will it work?

Hmmmm. Damn, if I know.
On one hand, Tokyo's homeless LOVE to work collecting cardboard and cans. On the other hand, they are VERY shy/ashamed and don't interact with the public. Aggressive street people selling newspapers is not something I would look forward in my daily life in Japan (even though my family and I have been supportive of Chicago's Streetwise paper, circulation of over 100,000).

[Captain Japan]

"After more than a decade of fighting homelessness in Britain, the Big Issue magazine is preparing to introduce its radical solution to the problem in Japan."
Will it work?

Hmmmm. Damn, if I know.
On one hand, Tokyo's homeless LOVE to work collecting cardboard and cans. On the other hand, they are VERY shy/ashamed and don't interact with the public. Aggressive street people selling newspapers is not something I would look forward in my daily life in Japan (even though my family and I have been supportive of Chicago's Streetwise paper, circulation of over 100,000).

People ignore the homeless in Tokyo. I can't imagine anyone ever wanting to interact with them for any reason. The other day I was in the SL park in Shimbashi and a nearly naked, rail-thin homeless guy came walking through. The place was packed and not a one even glanced at him. If he couldn't get anyone's attention, I doubt magazine peddlers will.

To me, most homeless are - as Taro said - comfortable collecting and selling things on their own. And they can find plenty of stuff in the trash to outfit their makeshift homes.

If the government cared, they'd step in and do something. I think the majority can make it by collecting stuff in the garbage, but I've walked through San'ya a couple of times and I really wonder what happens to the guys in severe trouble. Because a lot them seem like they aren't going to last more than a day or two more.

[Kurofune]

I often see Japanese chatting with homeless people, but it seems individual charity is as far as it goes. It'll be interesting to see how the Japanese react to the publication of this magazine.

[Snapped]

To be honest, I can't see it working very well here in Japan for the same reasons as in the above posts. I'm ashamed to say that I don't always buy the Big Issue when I'm home in the UK because I don't really read very much of the magazine. I can't really see many people buying it here, though I'd love to be proved wrong.

If the government cared, they'd step in and do something.

I do think the government should step in and do something, but I also think it is right that the homeless do something to help themselves.

[Captain Japan]

I do think the government should step in and do something, but I also think it is right that the homeless do something to help themselves.

Right. And most do help themselves. My comment about the gov was really aimed at the homeless I see who I can't imagine are going to live beyond a day or two.

[WarlocK]

All my interaction with homeless people so far here in Osaka has left me with a very bitter taste in my mouth.

For example, my last run-in with a homeless man was a few weeks ago. I was going with my girlfriend to the local Hello Work office in Namba. Outside of the building is a large sidewalk with several planters. Around all of these planters, people had parked their bicycles. Since my bike doesn't have a kickstand (damn bmx) I have to find places to lean my bike when I park it. So i bring it over to a nice empty spot *near* a quite large cardboard shack. I say "*near*" because it was still a few meters away from the man's carefully constructed home. This is when it starts getting ugly. The homeless guy comes over and tells me quite rudely to move my POS bike away from his shack. I pretend I don't understand japanese and continue to lock my bike down. At this point, he starts getting very indignant and actually yelling at me! I could not believe it. So now I just wanted to leave my bike there to spite him.

during this time my girlfriend, who is japanese, hears the comotion and comes over to tell me to move my bike. this made me even angrier, because there was no good reason why I should have to move my bike on public property.

anyway, I finally move my bike, thanks to the pleading from my girlfriend, and not before some choice words were said to the homeless guy.

this was not the first time I've had an experience with mean/illtempered homeless people in japan, only the most recent. I don't know if it's because I'm a fucked gaijin, or what, but if I ever saw one of these mean homeless guys selling magazines or something, I would proly do something very mean, like kick over their stand or something.

I'm usually a nice, likeable guy, but japanese homeless just rub me the wrong way for some reason.

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

Just before I came to Japan I was a student. One time an romanique looking woman came up to me and asked me to buy the Big Issue. I refused. Any student in the UK is very much in dept and I was particulary in dept and really couldnt afford just to give money away(especialy since there are rumerors that some big issue people are getting loke 300 quid a week(i was only living off 60)). Anyway this woman showed me her daughter that was standing a few feet away(she looked malnurshed). So I felt real guilty and I gave her a 5er. Then I asked if I could have a big issue and she said NO. This left me anoyed as how many people she could of dont this to. And I got roped in aswell.

After this incident it has left me bitter twards the homeless and big issue sellers in the uk. Even I have heard of normal perple just booking into the salvation army for a few weeks to get a card to sell the big issue.
I know there is homeless out of circumstance, but what really gets to me is the fucking lazy ones. Working is not great in general. I have had some pretty shitty jobs in my life that I had to do as my family is by no means rich. I have worked cleaning out slurry from farm equipment. I bet no homeless would chose to do that. even to working in Mc Donnalds.

At least in japan the homeless that anrt lazy will pick up manga from the bins. and they often have stands with a load of cool manga just for 100 yen. If they bring the big issue to japan it is one thing, but if the bring the mentality of the arogant big issue fuckers from the Uk thats another.




>>> to big issue organisation. Why dont you include a sticker in the big issue that says you have bought it so you can wear it and dont have to be fucking accosted every 10 meters.

[Taro Toporific]

At least in japan the homeless that anrt lazy will pick up manga from the bins. and they often have stands with a load of cool manga just for 100 yen.

Some of them don't work...

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

At least in japan the homeless that anrt lazy will pick up manga from the bins. and they often have stands with a load of cool manga just for 100 yen.

Some of them don't work...

You are mistaken. That is the Que for the new kakkis released at Gap. Thoes kakkis are so fucking cool they had to sleep there for a week.

[japslapper]

At this point, he starts getting very indignant and actually yelling at me! I could not believe it. So now I just wanted to leave my bike there to spite him........
I'm usually a nice, likeable guy, but japanese homeless just rub me the wrong way for some reason.

Its very easy to feel like this but just remember a lot of these homeless people are mentally ill.

Japan has a very very poor record with physciatry. Statistically 1 in 2 of us(in a industrial country) will all suffer a bout of clinical depression (or so phrameceutical companies would like you to think...). In USA or UK etc - people are a lot more aware and tollerant - alot of people will get family support as well as medical support - here in Japan if you have psycotic schizoprenia your locked up never to see the light of day again - ever. anything else you are on your own.

Quiz an educated Japanese friend - they will know nothing or very little about mental health. If you end up on the colored pills dont expect your J-missu to run about and help .

Try and understand these bums - a irritaion they may, be but in fact their hell is worse than yours......

[Shibuya Me]

If I were poor and hungry, I would be a bit grumpy also....

What is wrong with you people? Finding a job, finding food,
finding family who cares...these are the things Japan is
short of. Not to mention finding a God in Japan!

Wise up all you smart well fed people! :P

Hunger hurts!

[Kurofune]

Japan has a very very poor record with physciatry.

I'm sure we've all seen plenty of it. At the train station near my apartment, there's a girl about 16 years old who's out there a few nights a week for an hour or two jumping up and down and making animal noises (kind of like my avatar). I've never seen her with a guardian. It's been about four years now, and nothing seems to have changed.

I live in a bucolic residential area in Kanagawa. I was surprised to see how many people linger around the train station at three in the morning. There's one homeless guy who sleeps under newspapers right in front of the ticket machines, and there's another one who occasionally sleeps on the train track overpass. There are also younger guys in suits squatting in the entrance areas of closed shops. I guess they missed the last train, or live in the nearby company dorm and can't get in after a certain time.

[Taro Toporific]

the team behind the 11 September launch say the need for action is clear - but they concede success is far from guaranteed.

Sounds sinister.

Magazine tackles the Big Issue of Japan's homeless
Friday, September 12, 2003

The Big Issue hit the streets of Osaka yesterday, shining a spotlight on the plight of the homeless that many in Japan have ignored for the past decade...few cities have been harder hit than working-class Osaka, which used to rely on its ports, heavy industry and the construction sector for a large pool of labourers.

"There simply aren't enough jobs in the city any more," said Miku Sano, editor of the magazine. ...

Many Japanese people are openly hostile towards the homeless because they think they are lazy or worthless. There have even been incidents of young people going "homeless hunting", assaulting and, in several cases killing people sleeping rough....

....People used to sales patters for the magazine in London and Sydney might be surprised at the more "shy" approach adopted in Japan.

"Again, I think it's a cultural problem, although even the shy ones are attracting some attention as they have set up boards explaining what they are doing," Ms Sano said.

The 32-page colour magazine has a cover price of 200 yen, of which the vendor keeps 110 yen.

[Taro Toporific]

the team behind the 11 September launch say the need for action is clear - but they concede success is far from guaranteed.

Sounds sinister.

Magazine tackles the Big Issue of Japan's homeless
Friday, September 12, 2003

The Big Issue hit the streets of Osaka yesterday, shining a spotlight on the plight of the homeless that many in Japan have ignored for the past decade...few cities have been harder hit than working-class Osaka, which used to rely on its ports, heavy industry and the construction sector for a large pool of labourers.

"There simply aren't enough jobs in the city any more," said Miku Sano, editor of the magazine. ...

Many Japanese people are openly hostile towards the homeless because they think they are lazy or worthless. There have even been incidents of young people going "homeless hunting", assaulting and, in several cases killing people sleeping rough....

....People used to sales patters for the magazine in London and Sydney might be surprised at the more "shy" approach adopted in Japan.

"Again, I think it's a cultural problem, although even the shy ones are attracting some attention as they have set up boards explaining what they are doing," Ms Sano said.

The 32-page colour magazine has a cover price of 200 yen, of which the vendor keeps 110 yen.