Asked why he became homeless, he said he was a victim of the current economic trend.

A former corporate worker, he was laid off in May at the age of 41. By September, his savings depleted, he was forced out of his home and had moved onto the streets of Taito Ward.

"I couldn't get a single job, although I am physically strong and had 10 years' experience as a debt collector," he said. "What pushed me into homelessness is the current scarcity of jobs for people in my age bracket."