A 33-year-old man posts a sign on the street every night saying, “Please let me sleep overnight.”
After choosing a place in a crowded area, I stand there without talking to anyone.
500 successes over 5 years, mostly single-person households
We eat and talk, but there is no reciprocation.
Upload video photos to social media such as YouTube
Schraf Ishida, a 33-year-old Japanese man, stands on the street every night holding a sign that reads, “Please let me sleep overnight.” A man in his 30s whom I have never met before asks me to sleep on the street? When asked who would let him sleep, this man succeeded in ‘staying overnight’ as many as 500 times over the past five years.
Mr. Schraf Ishida and the landlord who stayed at the house of a single woman. Fuji TV capture
On the 17th, Fuji TV’s ‘The Nonfiction’ and Yahoo News Documentary published a joint article about Mr. Schraf.
According to reports, surprisingly, people appear every day to let him sleep at home. And it is said that he confides his worries and loneliness to Mr. Schraff, whom he met for the first time that day. It’s not easy to talk to a stranger like Mr. Schraff. I know it well. In order to be noticed by more people, he thoroughly inspects crowded downtown areas and in front of stations used by more than 30,000 people a day and then puts up signs. They do not speak directly to passers-by, and sometimes stand for over four hours. He enjoys this situation, feeling “the excitement of casting a fishing line and waiting for a fish.” Every day, someone appeared to take him into their home. About 90% of them are single-person households, and although there are many men, women are also invited two or three times a month.
Mr. Schraff calls them “housekeepers” and they have a great time eating dinner together and playing games. For him, the biggest attraction of staying at someone else’s house is listening to strangers’ stories. He says that listening to the life stories of homeowners of various ages and occupations, including students, nurses, and company executives, is not boring at all, saying, “It’s like reading a different novel every night.”
Mr. Schraff recalls that he was a timid and shy person until high school. What changed him was a trip he took alone during college. I left for Taiwan and fell in love with the charm of traveling, where I could be myself without having to dress up, chatting with the people I met there and being served food. After graduating from college, I decided to travel around the world, so I got a job at a large company, saved about 5 million yen over 5 years, and retired from the company at the age of 28. I decided to travel around the country first before traveling around the world, so I became a ‘stay-one-night sign guy.’
Mr. Schraf Ishida is standing holding a sign saying ‘Please let me sleep overnight’. The sign says, ‘Sleeping bags are available’ and ‘Total number of accommodations exceeds 300.’ Mr. Schraff’s account
There are nights when no one gives up their homes on the streets. At such times, Mr. Schraff visits the landlord who had let him sleep in the past. The person Mr. Schraff visited during the time the media was reporting was Mr. Hiroko (81 years old at the time), who lived in a single-person household. This was our fourth visit, and it was our first time meeting in half a year. Hiroko prepared dinner with homemade vegetables and grilled fish. “I made it with ingredients I had at home,” he said, and even offered beer he had purchased in advance to unexpected visitors. The two seemed like they had a perfect relationship. Despite Mr. Schraff’s somewhat shameless joke, “I think it’s a house you can come to anytime,” Hiroko smiled and said, “I’m alone, but I’m actually glad to see you.”
Schraff Ishida looking for a place to sleep in Halloween cosplay. Mr. Schraff’s account
Mr. Schraf creates social networking service (SNS) accounts such as YouTube and After his story became known through broadcasts and newspapers, it became controversial among netizens. Criticism poured in, saying, “They are not working and relying on the good will of others,” and “If there are more people like this, society will be in trouble.” Even though he is provided with a house for free, he does not give anything special in return. When asked, “Do you have any thoughts of doing anything for the landlords?” he answered firmly, “No.” “I want to stay, and the landlords want to provide accommodation, right? Aren’t we equal? For me, as long as I’m happy, that’s enough.” The landlords also said, “I like his honesty. I can talk to him without worrying too much.”
The media said, “Against the background of loneliness and lack of human relationships faced by modern Japanese society, the story of Mr. Schraff, who chose a unique way of life, sheds light on the increase in single-person households and new aspects of human relationships.” “It may be a bit unconventional and controversial from his point of view, but he provides interesting implications that make us think about the problems of modern society by connecting with people living with loneliness.”
Reporter Kyung-ho Lee [email protected]
In awareness about homelessness and social isolation, his unique approach brings attention to the importance of human connection in our fast-paced world. We explored how his actions challenge societal norms and offer a different perspective on hospitality and community.
As the website editor of world-today-news.com, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Schraf Ishida, the man who stands on the street every night holding a sign that reads “Please let me sleep overnight,” and a homeowner who has welcomed him into their home several times.
Firstly, we spoke with Mr. Ishida about his motivation behind his unique lifestyle choice. He shared that he was changed by a trip he took during college when he felt comfortable being himself without having to dress up or worry about appearances. He decided to become a “stay-one-night sign guy” after retiring from his job at a large company. We asked how he decides which homes to stay at and if he has ever faced any safety concerns. He explained that he meticulously chooses crowded areas with high foot traffic and has had no major safety incidents in the past 5 years. His biggest goal is to simply connect with people and listen to their stories.
Next, we spoke with one of the homeowners, Mr. Hiroko, who has welcomed Mr. Ishida into his home multiple times. He shared that he finds comfort in having company and enjoys hearing about Mr. Ishida’s travels. When asked if he is worried about the potential stigma attached to hosting a stranger, he said he doesn’t mind and considers them friends. We also asked if they ever engage in reciprocal activities or conversations beyond dinner and games. They both laughed and said they are satisfied with their current arrangement, as it allows them to maintain their personal space while still enjoying each other’s company.
As social media has brought attention to Mr. Ishida’s story, there have been mixed reactions from netizens. Some criticize his lack of contribution to society since he doesn’t work or give anything in return. In response, we asked Mr. Ishida how he views his role in society and if he plans to start contributing more. He firmly believes he is providing a valuable service by connecting with people who might be lonely or isolated. He also shared that the landlords view him as a friend and don’t expect anything more from him.
we discussed the broader societal implications of Mr. Ishida’s story. With an increase
