In Japan, there’s a mysterious trend called Johatsu, which means “evaporation.” Every year, many people - often stressed, ashamed, or unhappy - quietly leave their homes, jobs, and families to start a new life, as if they disappeared into thin air.
These people are not kidnapped or harmed - they choose to vanish. Some do it because of money problems, job pressure, domestic violence, or simply because they feel they’ve failed in life.
To disappear, many hire special moving companies called “night movers” who help them escape secretly at night. These companies pack their things and even help them create new identities.
Once gone, people often move to hidden parts of cities or faraway villages, living simple lives and working cash jobs. Japanese police usually don’t search for them unless a crime is involved, making it easy to stay hidden.
For families left behind, the pain of not knowing what happened is heartbreaking. Johatsu shows how hard life can be for some people - and how, sometimes, the only escape they see is to disappear completely.
