Charles McJilton comments

I don't think homelessness is an issue in Japan if you compare numbers (7,500 nationally) and demographics (90% men, average age 57.2 and 60% former day-laborers) with the total number living below the poverty at one in six Japanese (about 19 million).

I first became involved with the homeless in Japan in 1991. At that time there were about 30,000 living on the streets. Even then the number of women was very small. I know how hard life on the streets can be having spent 15 months living in a cardboard box along the Sumida River.

My reaction to this story was based on what I have seen over the last 20 years: foreign journalist comes to Japan, "discovers that even Japan has homeless" and then writes a trite article overlooking the real issue of poverty.

Actually, some people do choose to be homeless for a wide variety of reasons. This does not make life on the streets any easier.

With only about 7,500 homeless in Japan, why is there this fascination with this small group of individuals? There are 19 million people in Japan who live below the poverty line (defined as having a disposable income of less than ¥100,000 per month). Would love to see a story about those people rather than the same, "Hey, did you know they have homeless in Japan?"