As Japan’s population ages, an increasing number of people are facing their final days alone. Known as kodokushi or “solitary death,” this phenomenon refers to individuals who pass away without any family or support network, often in states of poor physical or mental health. In some cases, weeks or even months can pass before their deaths are discovered. These individuals are often isolated in their homes, with no one to notice their absence. According to the national police agency, between January and June of 2024, 37,227 people died alone in their homes. Among them, 28,330 were 65 or over. Across the country, small teams are employed by local governments, building managers, or relatives to remove belongings and clean the apartments of the deceased. This project aims to shine a light on the hidden crisis of kodokushi, highlighting the lonely ends that so many elderly and vulnerable people face in a society increasingly defined by isolation. Through images of the spaces left behind and the workers who handle these grim aftermaths, this series explores the quiet and sobering reality of a country struggling to keep up with societal change. *This series was published as a long-form photo essay by The Japan Times on 2025/03/31.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/03/31/lifestyle/kodokushi-elderly-death-cleaners/