“Suitcases” are being left abandoned in various places in the residential area of Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Security cameras in the area also captured a woman dumping one at a garbage collection point. We investigated why this is happening in Ikebukuro.
■A surge in abandoned suitcases in Ikebukuro Around 9 p.m. on the 5th, a person carrying luggage in both hands was seen in a residential area of Ikebukuro… Then, they put down the luggage in their right hand and left the scene. It only took 5 seconds from the time they appeared on screen until they disappeared. When we went to the scene on the 7th, the suitcase had a sticker that read “Cannot be collected”… It appears to be illegal dumping. Further on, two more suitcases were found abandoned at the garbage collection point of an apartment complex. One appears to be empty. The other has something that looks like a key attached. Suitcases are also being dumped along the main street.
When we investigated the area around the west exit of Ikebukuro Station on the 6th and 7th, we found abandoned suitcases in 7 different locations. Who on earth is dumping them? A local resident said, “(Q. Have you ever seen illegally dumped suitcases?) Yes.” “(Q. What kind of people leave them there?) I think it’s foreigners.” “Probably foreigners. There are a lot of them around here. There’s a house (Airbnb) there too, and lots of foreigners stay there.” In fact, when the logo on the suitcase that was examined was checked, it appeared to be an overseas brand. If it is foreigners who are abandoning them, why Ikebukuro? One possible reason is the “inbound tourism boom.” More than 2 million foreigners visit Toshima Ward, where Ikebukuro is located, every year. One survey even showed that one in four foreigners who come to Tokyo for sightseeing visit Ikebukuro… A tourist from Poland said, “Ikebukuro has cheap hotels and it’s a big city, so it was good because it had both conditions.”
Ikebukuro has many places to sightsee and shop, and hotels and Airbnb facilities are densely packed around the station. As a result, it was left hidden behind a hotel vending machine. The words “No illegal dumping” can also be seen above it. Furthermore, an abandoned suitcase was also found in front of an Airbnb facility. As the number of tourists in the city increases, so does the number of unwanted suitcases.
Furthermore, Ikebukuro has many discount stores and mass retailers, making it easy to buy a new suitcase. A tourist from the Philippines said, “(Q. A new suitcase?) Yes. I’ve always had a very good impression of Japanese products.” A tourist from Poland said, “I have two (suitcases), but they are a little cheaper in Japan than in Poland. I decided to buy another one. I have one that I bought in Japan, so I need it to take back to Poland on the plane.” According to stores, the number of foreign customers has increased rapidly in recent years.
Hiroyuki Hoshina, chief of the travel corner at Bic Camera Ikebukuro Main Store, said, “Many people who are looking for Japanese-made suitcases buy them for their sturdiness, durability, and reliability.” However, according to local residents, there are also cases where people leave behind old suitcases that they no longer need after buying a new one. A local resident said, “It’s a never-ending battle. When someone leaves one, a crowd of people leave theirs too, as if they’ve bought a new one and don’t need it anymore. It’s a nuisance.” On the other hand, there is a hurdle for foreign travelers… According to Toshima Ward, residents need to apply to have their suitcases disposed of as bulky waste.
However… Toshima Ward says, “We have not envisioned a system for foreign tourists.” In other words, foreign tourists cannot abandon their suitcases. Signs urging proper disposal are posted on abandoned suitcases. Even so, if they are not collected within about a week, the ward will dispose of them using taxpayer money as illegal dumping. Meanwhile, at a mass retailer we interviewed…
Hiroyuki Hoshina, chief of the travel corner at Bic Camera Ikebukuro Main Store, said, “At our company, we take one old suitcase for free as a trade-in for customers who buy a new suitcase for 5,500 yen or more.” [TV Asahi NEWS]
