The Other Side of Japan: Life in Kamagasaki's Informal Settlements.

Japan is known for its strong emphasis on cleanliness, efficiency, and tidiness. It is not common to see slums in Japan as in other countries, due to strict zoning laws and building regulations. However, there have been instances of informal settlements or poor living conditions in some parts of Japan.

One example is the Kamagasaki district, located in the southern part of Osaka. This area is known as a gathering place for day laborers, mostly men, who work in construction, factories, or other low-paid jobs. Kamagasaki, is considered one of the poorest areas in Japan, with a high rate of unemployment, homelessness, and social isolation.
This episode has been filmed in September 2019.
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[douglasammirati]

Those "slums" are like fifty times cleaner than every single place I've ever been to in Brazil (and that's in 36 years living here).

[andriod]

man..these slums are cleaner than my neighbors backyard

[mokanaman]

Every time I visit I stay here, everybody is so friendly and inclusive. Many of the older guys speak great English and helpful for advice or directions. They are even willing to share food and drink if your up for a chat but will never accept money or beg. Helped one guy out and was made an honorary resident. Most nights meeting random foreigners and locals for a meal is always fun.

[Konim]

3:34 "I live in a mansion" I think this might be a mistranslation. The word he used, マンション (Manshon), though does come from the english "mansion", it actually means "condo", "apartment" or "flat" in Japanese

[oranuchchatsrinopakun]

Japan always has a high standard, this homeless town is cleaner than most neighborhoods in USA west coast. 😢

[ShiryouOni]

As an american watching this, based on only what I can visually see from this video. The areas in which the homeless live is far cleaner than most places I have lived in within the US.

[netrunner.]

“even though the people have nothing to eat the animals are fat” incredible display of how thoughtful and full of care these people are. i hope they find prosperity soon enough

[ngel]

Something that blows my mind is that even homeless people have style in Japan, they’re very advanced in that sense

[StevenRayW]

As someone who's lived in the Kansai area, I can tell you that the reason most young Japanese people who were interviewed did not know Kamagasaki is because it is an older name that's no longer in popular use. Kamagasaki was officially renamed Airin District in 1966, so only the older generation would still call it by its old name.

[KMontagne]

I was there and walked in that neighborhood almost every day for 10 days. I never felt it as a slum.

[DaBossIsHere]

As a French person I am struck by the fact these people are in such a difficult situation in retirement, despite having worked hard in the past, and also by how clean the area seems to be.
But well, it's Japan, it's Osaka. So it's not so surprizing that this place is much cleaner than let's say, Paris.

[marvelfoxmorty]

The fact that they don't blame anyone or anything why they are poor & homeless it's already shows how much these people are kind at their souls. May Good things happen to them, 😢
... It's fortunate that there's less to none of the children living in these area

[SunSunShine]

I like the fact that the streets in Kamagasaki, one of the most notorious slum districts in Japan, is much cleaner than streets in Shibuya, one of the most popular tourist destinations.

[huntress]

My friends and I booked our very first AirBnB back in 2014 in Nishinari without knowing its reputation. I did notice the number of homeless old people. And there was a lot of sirens. Every single night you'd hear an ambulance or a firetruck. We actually witnessed one firetruck responding to an old guy slumped in the street. But I did not ever feel unsafe. Cheerful random old people would actually greet us good morning/good evening whenever we passed by.

[KAJAMAJA]

Thank you . That was one the most respectful documentaries on homelessness that I’ve ever watched . Most tend to forget that these souls are human, have generally worked hard all their life and many are victims of circumstance .

[tortoisesoup]

When I went to Kansai, I stayed in Kamagasaki, very near Shinsekai. I didn't even know it was a slum, I only learned months after. I took some walks in the area, and I noticed it was less look after than the other parts of the city but I live in a remote place in Niigata where most things are neglected because of the population decline. I'm so used to slums in my home country that I can't notice slums in Japan. Honestly, it was better than most normal neighbourhoods in Turkey, and hundreds of times better than an actual slum in Turkey.

[TatsumiOga]

That one picture of his wife and daughter was such a powerful one. Really makes you wonder what his life story is, to go from having a beautiful family to alone on the streets...

[Sliverbane]

While visiting Tokyo in 2001, I encountered a articulate elder Japanese man who served in WW2. He was fascinating. His English was impeccable. But we were interrupted by Japanese police who thought he was harassing us. I really liked talking to him. I wish I had more time to tell him how much he impressed me.

[hearthatbird]

When their slums look better than the average neighborhood in your country.

[chonkymonster]

That Japanese slum is actually cleaner than a lot of neighborhoods in other countries