All over the world, from the US to Germany to the UK, some people decide to disappear from their own lives without a trace – leaving their homes, jobs and families in the middle of the night to start a second life, often without ever looking back.
In Japan, these people are sometimes referred to as “jouhatsu”. That’s the Japanese word for “evaporation”, but it also refers to people who vanish on purpose into thin air, and continue to conceal their whereabouts – potentially for years, even decades.
From inescapable debt to loveless marriages, the motivations that push jouhatsu to “evaporate” can vary. Regardless of their reasons, they turn to companies that help them through the process. These operations are called “night moving” services, a nod to the secretive nature of becoming a jouhatsu. They help people who want to disappear discreetly remove themselves from their lives, and can provide lodging for them in secret whereabouts.
I – Word Understanding
Vanish – to disappear suddenly and completely
Nod – a recognition
Whereabout – the place where a person is
I – Word Understanding
Vanish – to disappear suddenly and completely
Nod – a recognition
Whereabout – the place where a person is
II – Have Your Say
1, What have you heard about “jouhatsu”? Have you ever heard of these “night moving” services? How do you imagine they operate?
2, Have you ever “wildly” imagined about disappearing (for a while or forever)? What would make you think of doing so?
3, Divorce is legal in Japan. Why do you think some people disappear because of loveless marriage? How difficult is it to get a divorce in your country?
4, One of the jobs of private detectives is to trace people who disappear without a trace. How familiar are you with private detectives? What do you think are the most common reasons for hiring private detectives in your country?
