[Great Response in Newsweek Japan Edition] Under the blue tarp: despair, freedom, or quiet pride? A compelling reportage on homeless people living on riverbanks depicts Japan's "invisible reality" --

"The Reality of Reiwa Homeless: The 'Indigenous People' of the Riverbanks"

How do people live in the forgotten corners of the city? And can their way of life truly be dismissed as "personal responsibility"?

This is a compelling reportage that depicts the "invisible reality" of Reiwa Japan, based on a series that garnered significant attention on Newsweek Japan Online.

For over three years, the author has been closely following the lives of homeless individuals living on the riverbanks of Tokyo.

As a foreigner deeply involved in Japanese society, the author's dual perspective sharply illuminates the "quiet indifference" towards the homeless that Japanese people have unconsciously turned away from.

Their daily lives, past setbacks, and philosophies are meticulously documented over time through the series, amidst harsh environments of floods, cold waves, heatwaves, infectious diseases, and crime.

"From the day I became homeless, I have treated this choice as an adventure in life."

This statement from a homeless person who calls outdoor living an "adventure" fundamentally shakes the simplistic narrative of "poverty is personal responsibility." It reveals a strong will to take ownership of one's life, even while living alongside danger and uncertainty.

Another world unfolds in the shadows of the prosperity of the megacity, Tokyo. This book does not sensationalize that reality; instead, with words backed by solid reporting, it quietly but surely challenges the reader's values.

After finishing this book, your "perception of society, which you took for granted," will surely change a little.

[Table of Contents]

From "Chapter 1: Brothers." Mr. Katsura (right) and Mr. Saito (left, pseudonyms for both) help each other like brothers.