New manga ‘Kaigo to Hyena’ exposes dark realities of Japanese elderly care

The new manga series ‘Kaigo to Hyena’ (Care and Hyenas), published by Shinchosha, explores the dark realities of the elderly care industry in Japan. The work is based on the investigative findings of former Weekly Bunshun reporter Hironori Jinno and features composition by manga artist Masakazu Suzuki.

Jinno explains that the manga format allows for a deeper exploration of social issues than traditional non-fiction. By using fictionalized characters, the creators can depict the complex backgrounds and personal struggles of elderly individuals while protecting their identities. The story aims to expose how some facilities exploit the vulnerable for profit.

Suzuki, who contributed to the project following his own personal experience searching for nursing homes for his father, highlights the gap between public perception and reality. He notes the extreme difficulty in finding affordable care, citing instances where even low-cost, minimal facilities had long waiting lists, underscoring the systemic challenges facing families navigating the care system.