After living homeless in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward for seven years, a 53-year-old former leather tanner was finally helped off the street last year with public livelihood assistance.
It was not his homelessness or long-term unemployment that made him qualified for assistance, but rather the possible consequences of such a life: he was taken to a hospital after passing out from hypertension.
"I am lucky to be hypertensive," he said. "My friends from my homeless period still live on the street, collecting garbage."
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.