Cover image via South China Morning Post
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A mother and daughter in Tokyo, Japan, have drawn attention after revealing they live in a home overrun with rubbish despite earning a significant income as landlords
The story of Nachiko Tanaka, 83, and her 47-year-old daughter, Akane, was featured on the Japanese variety show, Can I Come to Your House?, which interviews people who have missed the last bus and are stranded for the night.
According to South China Morning Post, the pair own a block of seven flats and earn over 400,000 yen (approximately RM11,400) a month from rent, yet their own living space is buried under years of clutter.
The entrance to their home is blocked by unopened delivery boxes, and the living room is piled high with books, shopping bags, and empty cans
Their kitchen is filled with expired food and unused condiments, while their bedroom doors can only be opened slightly due to the mess. Nachiko explained that they simply sleep on top of the piles of their belongings.
"We buy what we like but never use it in time, so it just keeps piling up. When we start cleaning, we get too tired and give up," Nachiko said on the show.
The duo revealed their lives changed drastically after Akane's father died
Before his death, they lived a happy life with a maid handling all the household chores.
"My father was very family-oriented; he cooked for us… our family was very happy," Akane recalled. After he died, however, she and her mother lost their direction and struggled to care for themselves.
Their story has since gone viral, with many online observers expressing hope that the pair will find the help they need.
"It is not that we do not want to change, we just do not know where to begin," Akane admitted.
