Posted on May 08, 2025
Japan NPO Center (JNPOC) has a news & commentary site called NPO CROSS that discusses the role of NPOs/NGOs and civil society as well as social issues in Japan and abroad. We post articles contributed by various stakeholders, including NPOs, foundations, corporations, and volunteer writers.
For this JNPOC’s English site, we select some translated articles from NPO CROSS to introduce to our English-speaking readers.
The increasing prevalence of overdoses (ODs) among youth and “To-yoko Kids*” gathering in Tokyo’s Kabukicho area become a serious social issue. Although both public and private organizations are working to provide support, some of these young individuals choose to avoid or reject such “support.” Actually, it is a fact that many youths who have experienced hardships, such as abuse and bullying, may have those experiences affect their reactions. To explore the reasons behind this rejection and identify more effective ways to help, a seminar was held on February 16, 2025, at Tower Hall Funabori. The event was organized by the nonprofit organization Kodomo no Koe kara Hajimeyo, which roughly translates to “Let’s Start from the Voices of Children.”
*Translator’s note: “To-yoko kids” refers to marginalized and often homeless youth who congregate in the Kabukicho area of Shinjuku, specifically near the Toho Cinema building. The term “Toh-yoko” is derived from “next to Toho.”
The seminar, titled “Why Do Children and Youth Reject ‘Support’?: Listening to the Voices of Youth Who Have Been the Target of ‘Supportive’ Attention,” featured Ms. Akatsuki Kazama from the NPO ASK as a guest speaker. Having personally experienced abuse and rejecting “support,” Ms. Kazama shared her perspective. The session also included Mr. Shinichi Kawase, the Representative Director of Kodomo no Koe kara Hajimeyo, along with youths with a background in social care.
Ms. Kazama began by recounting her early life and the emotional journey that led her to reject “support.” Having endured horrific abuse and the stigma of being labeled as the child of criminals, she internalized the belief that “I’m better off not existing.” Later, after forming bonds with “friends” at a new school, she became a rebellious youth, lashing out at adults. When adults attempted to “guide” her, Ms. Kazama refused, driven by distrust and anger, “It’s your fault. You never helped me,” and “We will be self-sufficient.” Her father’s betrayal of her plea for help solidified her resolve: “I’ll never rely on adults again.” In contrast, drugs provided the reliability and relief she sought. She turned to substance use and ODs as a way to protect herself, and was taken to the hospital in an emergency after a suicide attempt.
Against the odds, Ms. Kazama survived and regained consciousness several weeks later. But her initial reaction was: “Why the hell did you save me?” She was furious that she had not asked to be saved and that she cannot even take control of her own death. Supporters tried to encourage her to live. On the contrary, these well-meaning words seemingly had the “opposite effect.” Phrases like “Don’t harm yourself” and “You can talk to me about anything” didn’t align with her wish to die. Those were not the words she wanted to hear.
Instead, the words that resonated with Ms. Kazama were, “Thank you for staying alive using drugs.” Her primary doctor, who said this to her his first consultation, did not attempt to stop her drug use or OD. This approach was novel to her, and she thought to herself, “So, such a world exists within this society.” Later, after becoming pregnant, Ms. Kazama gained a sense of time and decided to stop using drugs. She says, “Because the need arises from within, it holds meaning. Goals given by others have no meaning.”
Ms. Kazama’s approach to support stands apart from that of others. She does not try to force people to stop overdosing. Drawing on her own experiences, she acts as a senior, educating them about the harmful effects of substance use. She openly discusses the pros and cons of different drugs, working collaboratively with the individual. Ms. Kazama’s philosophy remains consistent.
Following this, a session was held with Mr. Shinichi Kawase and the youth participants. Regarding their initial distrust of adults, they expressed feelings such as, ” When adults didn’t listen to what I had to say, I realized that sharing my opinion—no matter how much I wanted to—would feel meaningless,” “Even when I mustered the courage to confide in them, they would just listen and say, “‘That must be tough,’ and “I get irritated with counseling techniques like active listening; it doesn’t feel like I’m talking to a real person.” As for what triggered positive change, they shared experiences like, “At the youth residential treatment facilities, they gave me a choice by asking, ‘What would you like for dinner?'” “Seeing someone get angry made me realize it was okay for me to get angry too,” and “Meeting various adults helped me understand what I wanted to become.”
Finally, regarding what they wanted to convey to supporters, they offered insights such as, “There is a purpose for them in refusing support, so please acknowledge their act of refusing,” “Please take the time to listen to various stories and learn from them,” “Even a simple greeting can be a form of prevention,” and “Please treat children as individual human beings.”
We often, perhaps unknowingly, impose our ideals of how others should be. This tendency can be especially strong when dealing with children and youth. However, those subjected to such treatments not only feel displeasure at being forced into a mold, but also despair and resignation at not being valued for who they are, and they close their hearts. Children who have closed their hearts are forced to live with that distortion, which can sometimes lead to difficulties in life and various problem behaviors. Genuine respect for others as individuals is essential in any relationship. By being more aware of this in our daily interactions, I believe we can foster a more inclusive and livable society for everyone.
Original text by Megumu Tanaka, JNPOC’s volunteer writer, originally posted on March 17, 2025; translated by JNPOC.