Napster

Good man, not visible in govt unemployment records.

Have a good nap, but someone should work as a volunteer for him!

I think he's waiting for the next shinkansen to Niigata.

awwww, that's cute.

K, I don't understand why this picture, its title or this sight is trying to making a humorous comment about a homeless man sleeping on the street. Did the person snapping the picture think to ask him why he was there or how they could help?

I saw this many many times when working in Omiya. Never thought of taking his photo and uploading it to Japan Today.

Would a little compassion be out of line?

I wouldn't take this photo. But if there is any good that comes of it then so be it.

How could any good possibly come of this? It's callous and tasteless and nothing else.

K, I don't understand why this picture, its title or this sight is trying to making a humorous comment about a homeless man sleeping on the street. Did the person snapping the picture think to ask him why he was there or how they could help?

@Matthew Simon I fully agree.

This seems very unprofessional and callous of a news organization to attach a humorous headline to a picture depicting the obvious plight of a fellow human being. I would expect this sort of content from 2 channel, not from JT.

How could any good possibly come of this?

It might motivate some who read this to extend a helping hand next time they see a homeless on the street. Or is that asking too much? And it is much easier to simply fire away from the keyboard?

I have often stopped and tried to help (well, at least by just giving some money or, in some cases foo, to) the few homeless people around my neighbourhood. They always seem amazed and a couple of times very reluctant to take anything. If I am with any of my Japanese friends they are horrified. Dirty, dangerous, horrible are all comments that have been made about street people...... Don't think compassion for the less fortunate is a big thing in Japanese mentality.

Napster? Really? No one remembers Napster?

Giving money/food is good. Talking is good, also to the local city office.

Don't think compassion for the less fortunate is a big thing in Japanese mentality.

I like to avoid these sweeping statements. The more people you talk to the more you will find opinion is varied.

But, to borrow the trend of painting the brush over everyone, the reluctancy to get involved with people they don't know, homeless or otherwise, comes before that.

A homeless person 'takes a nap' is rather making light of the real situation - and more accurately should read 'A homeless person is LIVING...'.

Using the photo as part of a piece on homelessness would've been better. Simply using it as 'Picture of the Day' with a pun of a title and a quirky throw away comment is tasteless and quite unnecessary.

Using the photo as part of a piece on homelessness would've been better

I don't know about that. How would it have been better? And for whom? Would it make interesting reading?

The photo is sufficient. I hope those complaining about it get up and do something to help them, rather than doing nothing other than spewing discontent, which is very easy and convenient.

I still get Japanese people telling me that Japan has no homeless people.

Sorry for the braod brush ststement - should have said in my experience based on the 10 or so times I have had to observe. It is sad to see these poor people with nothing but a blue sheet and some odds and ends in the middle of the more proseperous areas of Tokyo,

But I thought that 2-1/2 months of Abenomics have solved all of Japan's problems? :-/

The homeless need a helping hand to get up

Complaining about it here will achieve nothing. Although for many here that is about the extent of their carefactor. It is just so easy to be a keyboard warrior.

Stop pretending you care.

Living on the street is no easy and only smart people can survive such living, Many homeless are intelligent human being end could easily turn their life around and drive BMW in short time if they like. But the problem is they like where they are because they adopted street as their home.

He looks pretty happy. not all homeless people are miserable, you know. also the photo is a clever juxtaposition of the relative poverty of this poor guy with the relative wealth of the society in which he lives (as shown by the bicycles behind him and the high qulity security fence). also, Omiya in Saitama is a brilliant place where I am suere this guy gets lots of sympathy and handouts and so on. So stop ripping on JT - plenty else to read into this picture.

Readers, please stop bickering.

if we don't count the numbers from the Fukushima evacuation, (150,000), and from the Tokoku disasters, (350,000).

These people have got it made compared to homeless on the streets. Ever seen what their temporary accomodation looks like? They are decked out. Complaints from residents concern the small size of the place, being able to hear their neighbour's washing machine, and other matters which pale into insignificance when compared to a sleeping bag in a cardboard box positioned where there is minimal wind.

I would agree that living in temporary accommodation is better than being homeless on the streets.

Concur.

he is in peace with himself! better off than some salary slave worker.