Jōhatsu (Japanese: 蒸発, Hepburn: jōhatsu, lit. "evaporation") or jouhatsu refers to the people in Japan who purposely vanish from their established lives without a trace.^[1] This phenomenon can be seen all over the world, such as the United States, China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Germany.^[1][2] However, it is likely more prevalent in Japan, given certain cultural factors.^[2][3]

It has been theorized that Japan's harsh work culture in combination with the lack of familial and community support has contributed to the prevalence of jōhatsu in Japan.^[2] Furthermore, quitting a company is seen as shameful in Japanese culture.^[2] Suicide, working to death (karoshi), and becoming jōhatsu are thus potential outcomes.^[2] It can also spare the family the high costs that can be associated with suicide (e.g. debts, cleanup fees, and disruption-of-service fees in the context of platform jumpers).^[2]

Similar societal pressures have been theorized to contribute to the prevalence of hikikomori and a relatively high suicide rate.^[3]

The term jōhatsu started being used in the 1960s.^[1] At that time, it was used in the context of people who decided to escape unhappy marriages rather than endure formal divorce proceedings.^[1] The Lost Decade of the 1990s led to a spike in jouhatsu and suicide as many salarymen lost their jobs or accumulated debt.^[4]

In Japan, the topic of jōhatsu is taboo in regular conversation, like the topic of suicide.^[2] It has been estimated that 100,000 Japanese people disappear annually.^[2] However, jōhatsu may be underreported in the official numbers.^[2] In 2015, Japan's National Police Agency had registered 82,000 missing persons, and 80,000 were found by the end of the year.^[2] In comparison, that same year, Britain had 300,000 calls to report a missing person, although it has about half of the population of Japan.^[2] Furthermore, a database of missing persons does not exist in Japan.^[3]

The Missing Persons Search Support Association of Japan, a non-profit dedicated to support families of the jōhatsu, estimates hundreds of thousands of people go missing each year.^[2]

People become jōhatsu for a number of reasons, including depression, addiction, sexual impropriety, and desire for isolation.^[2] Sometimes, it is used to escape domestic violence, gambling debt, religious cults, stalkers, employers, and difficult family situations.^[2][3] The shame of job loss, divorce, and even failing an exam can also motivate people to disappear.^[4][5]

In some cases, becoming jōhatsu is a way to just have a fresh start.^[2] When they disappear, they can abandon their former residences, jobs, families, names, and even appearances.^[2]

The businesses that assist the jōhatsu are called yonige-ya, which means “fly-by-night shops”.^[2] These establishments are relatively accessible and have their own websites.^[2] One particular yonige-ya could charge between ¥50,000 ($450) and ¥300,000 ($2,600) for its services, which depend on a number of factors.^[2] These factors include: the amount of possessions, the distance, if it is a nocturnal move, if children are included, and if the client is evading debt collectors.^[2] Sometimes, people disappear on their own without the aid of yonige-ya.^[2] There are published guides that can help assist people become jōhatsu.^[2]

Detective agencies are sometimes used to find people who have become jōhatsu.^[2] Sometimes, people can be found spending time at pachinko parlors and cheap hotel rooms, and other times, they can be found to have committed suicide.^[2] San'ya, a skid row in Tokyo that previously housed thousands of day laborers, is reported to be a place of hiding for the jōhatsu.^[2] Kamagasaki in Osaka is another neighborhood that it is possible to live without an ID and so is also favored.^[4]

These communities are yakuza strongholds, since they have jobs that pay cash.^[3][4] Many times, especially in the setting of Japan's strict privacy laws, the jōhatsu are unable to be found.^[2][4] Most jōhatsu court cases are civil cases, and personal data is not easily accessed.^[4] Police will not interfere unless there is a crime or accident.^[1]

• Hikikomori
• A Man Vanishes
• Missing person