Ep. 24 The 0.5

Written by Cordelia, edited by Grace

In this episode, we'll be delving into a TV show that aired this year, titled "The 0.5" (0.5の男). It's a touching story about the struggle to stay alive.

Listen to the full episode :

About the Show

"The 0.5" aired from May to June 2023 on WOWOW. Directed by Shuichi Okita and Kyohei Tamazawa, and written by Shuichi Okita and Maki Iwone, the show stars Ryuhei Matsuda as the main character, Masaharu Tachibana.

The story revolves around Masaharu Tachibana and his family. The Tachibana family decides to renovate their old family house into a two-family-style home due to its age, inviting their daughter's family to move in. Masaharu is the son of the family, a 40-year-old jobless stay-at-home individual, who is a Hikikomori—a person who withdraws from society. Despite his younger sister's desire for him to move out, their parents insist on keeping Masaharu at home, labeling him as "0.5" due to his single status.

The show narrates the journey of a Hikikomori and his family while implicitly portraying a story of reconciliation and healing.

Hikikomori

Hikikomori, or social withdrawal leading to extreme isolation, is a phenomenon frequently observed in contemporary Japanese society. It's characterized by young individuals, typically adolescents and young adults, who retreat to their parents' homes, unable to attend school or work for extended periods.

Is this a common occurrence, you may wonder?

Unfortunately, it is quite common. According to a survey conducted in 2019, there were 613,000 individuals aged 40 to 64 categorized as adult Hikikomori in Japan. This number continues to rise. The withdrawal process usually starts slowly and is often triggered by external pressures such as school bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Affected individuals may display signs of unhappiness, lose social connections, and become increasingly introverted.

In the TV show, Masaharu was once a leader at his job, excelling in his roles. However, he gradually began taking more frequent leaves and eventually locked himself in his room, quitting his job without explanation.

Focusing on marginalized characters is a common theme in many recent Japanese dramas, making this portrayal of a Hikikomori not the first to appear in novels or TV shows.

About Masaharu

Masaharu was a diligent worker in the past, leaving his job to become a stay-at-home gamer. His daily routine differs from that of his family, and he prefers solitude.

He was once a hardworking individual, but his fear of societal expectations overwhelmed him. He became mechanical, indifferent, and silent. Cutting off external interactions and refraining from putting on a façade to communicate with society became his method of self-preservation.

Although there are only five episodes in this series, it tells a profound story. Masaharu's journey includes speaking to someone outside the family, venturing outside in the morning, riding an electric bike, buying someone else an ice cream, and finally, securing a job.

I find Masaharu remarkably relatable. Whenever I see him sitting alone at the dining table or walking on the street, I can't help but laugh aloud. It's not laughter directed at him, but rather a recognition of his kindness, helplessness, and his steps toward interacting with the outside world.

Intruders and Reconciliation

Do not tell those who withdraw, those who are hurting, and those who are exhausted that they can make it or try harder.

Their exhaustion can be as heavy as a mountain. When Masaharu left his job, he messaged his supervisor, "My heart is suddenly tightened. When I'm around others at work, I'm always filled with fear. I don't believe I can navigate real life well. Despite my desire to put in more effort, my anxiety leaves me in a state of helplessness. Living is incredibly tough, and I fear I'll only burden everyone."

In the TV show, Masaharu's parents firmly believe that having their daughter's family move in will bring positive changes. Their belief proves to be true. Masaharu's interactions with his niece and nephew provide evidence to those who question his value and experiences.

Masaharu, as an adult still dependent on his elderly parents, staying in his room, and gaming all day, and being seen as "disgusting" by his niece at the beginning of the story, Emma. However, it takes someone like Masaharu, innately kind and empathetic, who has experienced their own share of sadness, to lend an umbrella to others caught in the rain.

When Emma reveals that she left school early, Masaharu is the only one who doesn't question her. Instead, he says, "Sometimes we all feel like leaving early, so don't worry."

When Emma feels lonely at school and wants to stay home, Masaharu is the only one who doesn't knock on her door. Instead, he suggests, "Let's give Emma some space and prepare her favorite food."

When Ren, his nephew, expresses his dislike for the daycare's rice, Masaharu is the only one who doesn't insist he finish it. Instead, he reassures him, "It's okay not to finish food you don't like, Ren."

Masaharu understands not to say "you've got this" or "try harder" because he knows they are already trying a thousand times harder to stay alive and do so in front of you. They don't need encouragement; they need compassion and understanding.

Masaharu's parents, who endlessly love and tolerate him, are truly remarkable in the TV show. By observing the details, the audience can sense their efforts. The sticky notes in Masaharu's room and his father's lower back pain reflect their shared journey. They take pride in Masaharu stepping outside during the day, speaking to strangers. Their eyes brim with emotion when Masaharu and his sister's family share a meal together.

Good things indeed follow reconciliation.

Healing

Every ordinary person, earnest individual, hard worker, and gentle soul has the potential to become a person like Masaharu.

Masaharu was once a diligent workaholic, enduring immense stress and striving for perfection before burning out. Then, in a moment, he wanted nothing more than to lay down and breathe.

But how to heal? How to move on after enduring so much sadness?

The answer lies in learning about ourselves and reconciling with who we are.

After a four-hour car ride, the newly purchased bottle of sake shatters on the ground due to Masaharu's careless mistake. Similar to how he worked hard in the past, all his hard work went to pieces. But this time, Masaharu's dad astonishingly laughs instead of scolding him. Masaharu starts laughing with his dad as well. At that moment, with the sake on the ground, we learn that, Masaharu know that's just  life, isn't it? 

In this chaotic world, Masaharu learns to be kind to himself, love himself, and pursue what truly matters to him, ultimately leading to positive outcomes.

But what if we get hurt again? What if we encounter those people again?

It's bound to happen. Those people are everywhere, but this time, we'll handle it better. We've grown stronger from those experiences.

Ending

Last year, after enduring years of harassment, discrimination, and racism in this country, my heart was shattered with no path to healing. My mental well-being suffered with no way to repair it. My physical body was drained, and recovery seemed impossible.

Seeking answers, I consulted a tarot card reader who advised me to return home. I packed my things and was ready to move back to my parents. Although I could've settled into the same situation as Masaharu, I chose to accept my current job offer and enroll at a school. Instead of leaving the country entirely to return home, I decided to continue my education, study data science, and start this podcast.

I'm doing well—better than anyone could imagine. There was a moment when I realized I've been a winner from the start. My life experience, my role, my skin color, and the challenges I've faced—they wouldn't be surmountable for just anyone. Looking in the mirror, I appreciate myself for trying hard to stay alive and striving to create the life I desire.

As Masaharu's mother once said, when his younger sister challenged his living situation, his mom stated that Masaharu is working hard to stay alive.

Living is distinct from merely existing. One must be alive first; without that, there is no life.

To all those struggling minorities, who fight to get out of bed in the morning, strive at work, yearn to be heard, and endeavor to live—you've done remarkable things and come so far. If you're tired, take a break, but if you can, recognize your efforts and keep moving forward.

I hope you enjoyed this episode. Currently, the TV show is unavailable in English. I personally translated any dialogue mentioned in this episode, which will be included in the references section. This episode was edited by Grace and written by me, Cordelia.

See you soon in our next episode!