In this country, 100,000 people “evaporate” every year
Leaving and never looking back? If this life project seems rare in our countries, in this country, it represents a real social phenomenon.
In Japan, they are called “johatsu”, or “evaporated” in English. These are people who decide to disappear voluntarily with the aim of starting their lives again, elsewhere, differently. Here, 100,000 of them evaporate every year.
A phenomenon that was born in the 1990s at a time when Japan was facing major finincial problems, it can be explained by too much social pressure, reports Demotivateur. Divorce, failed union, debts, job loss…, all these situations cause such shame that it pushes those who are confronted with them to disappear.
Just like suicide, voluntary disappearance is taboo in Japanese society. There, if you run away, you don't honor society. The shame is growing, impacting entire families, and never stops. The craziest thing? Companies specializing in disappearances have even emerged organizing “night removals,” a cover to help people discreetly disappear. For this service, they charge about 3,200 euros, according to the New York Post.
(MH with AsD - Source: Demotivateur - Illustration: Unsplash)