Buddhist Homeless Man in Nagoya
Several years ago, a homeless man was arrested and indicted for violence on a public official in Nagoya City, Japan.
When the homeless man was preparing a meal in a public park, city officials came to him, requesting evacuation from the place. As the homeless man got angry, he allegedly poured soup on one of officials and grab and locked his head with the arms.
The homeless man was put in a house of custody for one year and five months till a court ruled the case. He was sentenced to pay a fine of 300,000 yen ($2,500). But as his term in custody before the verdict translated into 5,000 yen per day, he was immediately released after the judgment without paying the fine.
In some public parks in big cities, such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya , in Japan, homeless people can be sometimes spotted. Most of them live in very humble tents built using timbers and blue sheets on corners or among bushes of public parks. But, public administration often tries to drive them out. Especially when a big official event is held, such as a Summit Meeting, homeless people living in public parks are forced to evacuate the places for a security reason.
The above stated homeless person in Nagoya may be unique in his statement in the court. He claimed that people in the world were brainwashed. People are taught to believe in war and wealth as God. And there is competition in the society on how much one believes in this God. Those who are disqualified in this competition are forced to become lambs to be simply controlled by winners in society.
He further argued: To fight against this evil brainwashing people have to live as homeless persons like the Buddha. His living as a homeless man is the very practice of this principle. So, it is a right thing for him to live in a public park; and in terms of his case, he didn't harm the public servant in real.
Of course, a judge in charge was not moved by his statement. Usually, in such a case as this involving a homeless person, judges simply accept assertion by public prosecutors, the police, and public officers.
However, there are some organizations who support homeless people in big cities in Japan. Most of members are humanitarians, religious activists, or politically leftists. But, it is unthinkable today that any radical extremist group mobilizes homeless people to cause social unrest or a riot in Japan.
According to a survey by the Japanese Government, the numbers of homeless persons in big cities are as follows as of January 2012:
Tokyo..... 2,069
Yokohama..... 595
Kawasaki..... 502
Nagoya..... 249
Osaka..... 2,132
Fukuoka..... 211
(http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/houdou/2r98520000027ptf.html)
Nonetheless, these figures seem to be underestimated.
Anyway, Christ Jesus and His disciples were homeless, too.
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Mar 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;