He left for work one morning, just as he always did. Dressed in a crisp shirt and tie, he kissed his wife goodbye, grabbed his briefcase, and drove off in the direction of his office. But that evening, he didn’t return.
At first, his wife assumed he was working late, perhaps pulling another all-nighter. By the second night, worry set in. She called his company, only to be told the unthinkable: her husband had been laid off a month earlier.
For weeks, he had maintained the facade of employment, leaving home each morning, spending his days in his car, and returning late to give the impression of overtime or after-work drinks. But with no salary forthcoming, the lie became unsustainable. Rather than confess his failure, he vanished, leaving behind a family who would likely never understand why.
Who Are Japan’s Johatsu?
This man is one of Japan’s johatsu—literally, the “evaporated.” Every year, an estimated 80,000 people disappear in Japan, a portion of whom choose to vanish deliberately. Unlike missing persons cases in other countries, Japan’s johatsu often leave no trace, as if they have dissolved into the air itself. And uniquely, Japan has developed an entire underground industry to facilitate these disappearances.
The Shadow Industry That Helps People Disappear
At the heart of this industry are the yami shūkōya, or “night movers,” specialized relocation services that help clients vanish without a trace. Operating in the shadows, these companies move clients’ belongings under cover of darkness, relocate them to new cities, and even provide discreet accommodations and employment.
For a fee ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, the johatsu can start anew, leaving behind debts, abusive relationships, or the crushing weight of societal expectations.
How Japan’s ‘Night Movers’ Emerged
The origins of the night movers trace back to the 1990s, when the collapse of Japan’s economic bubble plunged many into debt and despair. As people sought to escape financial ruin, the demand for discreet relocation services grew. Today, the industry thrives, with thousands of companies operating across the country. While some skirt the edges of legality, most are registered businesses, offering a service that, on paper, is perfectly legal: helping people move.
Why Do People Choose to Disappear?
The reasons are as varied as the individuals themselves. For some, it’s external pressures—escaping debt collectors, fleeing the yakuza, or breaking free from abusive partners. For others, the reasons are internal, rooted in a deep sense of shame.
In Japan, where societal expectations are rigid and failure is often stigmatized, the weight of shame can be unbearable. Historically, this cultural ethos was embodied in the practice of seppuku, ritual suicide by samurai who could not bear the dishonor of defeat. While seppuku is no longer practiced, the fear of shame persists. Losing a job, failing an exam, or falling short in any way can trigger a profound sense of unworthiness. For some, the only way out is to vanish.
Disappearing for a Fresh Start
Yet not all johatsu are driven by shame. Some simply yearn for a fresh start, a chance to escape the suffocating pressure of conformity. In a society that prizes collectivism and social harmony, individuality is often suppressed. From a young age, many are taught to conform, to play a role that aligns with societal expectations. Over time, the dissonance between one’s authentic self and the persona they must project can become unbearable.
“Imagine living your entire life as a performance,” says one former johatsu who asked to remain anonymous. “You’re constantly pretending to be someone you’re not. Eventually, the weight of that performance becomes too much to bear.”
The Pain of Those Left Behind
For those left behind, the disappearance of a loved one is a profound and lasting trauma. Families are often left with no explanation, no closure, and no way of knowing whether their loved one is alive or dead. The pain of not knowing can haunt them for years, even decades.
Vanishing as a Form of Survival
Yet for some johatsu, the decision to vanish is not an act of cowardice but one of survival. For those fleeing abuse or exploitation, disappearing may be the only way to reclaim their lives. In these cases, the night movers are not facilitators of escape but lifelines to freedom.
A Stark Reflection of Societal Pressures
The johatsu phenomenon raises difficult questions about the pressures of modern life and the lengths to which people will go to escape them. It is a stark reminder of the human cost of societal expectations and the fragility of identity in a world that often values conformity over individuality.
As for the young husband who vanished, his story remains unresolved. His family continues to search for answers, clinging to the hope that one day he will return. But for now, he remains one of Japan’s many johatsu—a man who evaporated into the ether, leaving behind only questions and a void that may never be filled.
In a country where the pressure to conform can be suffocating, the johatsu are a poignant reminder of the human need for authenticity, freedom, and the courage to start anew—even if it means leaving everything behind.