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.
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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. I originally intended to only make this story about Sanya, but after learning about yakuza (gangster) culture, I went on a separate mission to meet a real yakuza member in Fukuoka. I couldn't believe the things he told me which you will find out in the second half of this video! I'd love to get your thoughts on this darker side of Japan - did you know that homelessness and gangster life existed here? Or is all of this news for you?
