Covid-19: they lived in manga cafes in Tokyo, they are now on the street

Text by: Bruno Duval

In Japan, the number of homeless people has soared since the state of health emergency was declared in early April. Before the coronavirus epidemic, poor workers who could not afford rent slept year-round in cyber or manga cafes open 24 hours a day. But, one by one, these establishments were often confined and crowded are closing at the request of the authorities.

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From our correspondent in Tokyo , 

Before the state of emergency, at least 4,000 Tokyoites slept every night in cyber or manga cafes. For ten euros a night, they could take a shower and wash their clothes. These working poor who have become homeless due to the epidemic feel stigmatized.

"  For the first time in my life, I don't know where I'm going to sleep tonight ...
I can't afford a hotel room. However, the manga cafe where I lived closes its doors at midnight ... "

"  I have nowhere to go. I do not have an apartment and nobody can accommodate me. It is really not nice: I was asked to clear off overnight while I have been sleeping here for years  ”.

"  People who sleep in internet cafes don't do it for fun, to play video games all night long, but because, like me, they have nowhere else to go  ."

Some accommodation facilities have been set up for these “  cyber cafe refugees  ”. “  I had to struggle, but I ended up being accepted into the gymnasium of a school where a temporary dormitory was built for people like us. I'm happy, I sleep a lot better here on a camp bed than in the chair of my internet cafe ... "

But many are not so lucky, the associations that help the homeless are swamped with calls for help from people who have found no alternative accommodation.

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• Japan
• Poverty
• Coronavirus
• Containment
• Employment and Work