Unseen Struggles
Connections helps Moyai in their quest to find lasting solutions to poverty in Japan.
Look closely as you make your way around Tokyo, and you may see something unexpected: poverty.
Despite being the capital of the world’s fourth-largest economy, prosperity is not as universal as it may seem at a glance.
That’s why the work of the Tokyo-based Moyai Support Centre for Independent Living, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting the homeless and underprivileged, is so critical. It’s also why Club Members are so keen to help its aims.
“Many people view Japan as a wealthy, safe country—an image I also held when living abroad,” says Lina Raffone, director of charities for the Club’s Connections group. However, after moving back to Japan and getting involved in various volunteer activities, I became aware of the hidden poverty and inequality that exist here.
“Homelessness often goes unseen, and societal expectations around self-reliance make it hard for people to seek help,” she adds. “This hidden reality contrasts with Japan’s prosperous image, highlighting the importance of awareness and community support for those facing hardship.”
Japan’s relative poverty rate stands at 15.4 percent, meaning that an alarming one in every 6.5 individuals lives below the poverty line, defined as earning less than ¥1.27 million a year. Others do not even earn that much and are left to fend for themselves, living rough on Tokyo’s streets.
The Moyai Food Pantry, one of the organization’s key outreach programs, aims to help this group. Thirteen Club Members volunteered at the event on October 26, handing out a bag containing face masks, instant rice, crackers, vegetables and snacks to 810 people—a figure that Moyai believes is a new record for a single-day event.
“Spending a day feeding the homeless was truly eye-opening and rewarding,” says Cristina Tyldum, who took part in the event with her husband, Svein Tyldum.
“Not only did it offer a chance to make a tangible difference in someone’s day, but it also allowed me to connect with individuals in a meaningful way,” she tells INTOUCH. “The simple act of offering a meal became an opportunity to share a smile and offer a moment of dignity.
“It was a humbling experience, and the gratitude expressed by the recipients was both moving and motivating,” she adds. “Every minute spent serving was a reminder of the importance of community and how small acts of kindness can ripple out in ways we may never fully understand.”
Contents of the bag given to recipients.
Janice Ishizaka and her 18-year-old son Julius also took part. The day served as a “reality check,” they say, on the lives of less fortunate residents of Tokyo, especially for younger participants.
“I volunteered with my son because I thought it would be an important lesson in caring for others and realizing that there is poverty in the city,” Janice says. “I never expected to see long and winding lines of over 800 people waiting for a small bag of food.
“I hope in the future that large multinational and local food companies can step up and donate a lot more via their CSR initiatives,” she adds. “It would be great if any Club Members who work in food or beverage companies could help the charity. I read that Japan is focusing on reducing food waste, so maybe the charity can connect with a local farm to accept any imperfect food as well.”
Moyai CEO Ren Ohnishi says that since Japan’s economic bubble burst in the early 1990s, there has been a surge in the number of homeless people in Tokyo.
“There are various challenges, but if I had to identify the largest issue it would be society’s understanding of poverty issues,” he explains. “Although awareness of poverty has gradually increased in Japan in recent years, the belief in personal responsibility remains strong and there is resistance to creating safety nets funded by taxes.
“Today, all members of the Diet, across party lines, recognize poverty as a pressing issue,” he says. “While this acknowledgment remains largely abstract, with few concrete policies or approaches implemented, our approach has become more specific over time. We now actively engage in policy proposals and drafting, identifying necessary changes in laws, systems and budgets to better address poverty.”
Still, much remains to be done on the streets, and Moyai is in urgent need of support and volunteers.
“We hope that many people will get involved in various ways,” Ohnishi shares. “Support can take many forms, including [financial] donations, contributing goods, volunteering and promoting our activities on social media. We believe that having as many people involved as possible in whatever way they can is the most important factor.”
Raffone, who organized this Member volunteer event for the first time, says that gathering participants was challenging and required extra effort. “But everyone who joined found it deeply rewarding, even humbling. I hope that more Members will join us and experience firsthand the positive impact we can make together.”
Visit the Connections page of the Club website for details on the group’s support of local charities.
Words: Julian Ryall
Top Image: Club Members at the October 26 Moyai Food Pantry event
December 2024
