How TV Shows Abroad Explore the Psychology Behind Extreme Clutter
In many Western countries, “Hoarder Houses” have become a familiar topic through reality TV shows.
A hoarder is someone who cannot throw things away, often filling their entire home with items and garbage.
In Japan, we might call this a “gomi-yashiki,” or a cluttered home filled with unwanted items.
However, unlike simple cleaning shows, these foreign programs focus on the emotional and psychological side of hoarding.
In the United States, hoarding is officially recognized as a mental health condition, called Hoarding Disorder.
People with this condition feel strong emotional attachment or anxiety about throwing things away.
For many, clutter is not about laziness — it’s about fear, trauma, or loneliness.
That’s why many shows feature therapy sessions alongside the cleanup process.
I plan to delve deeper into my thoughts about Japan’s hoarder houses at a later date.
