What to Do If You Become a Victim of Murahachibu (Ostracism)
“Murahachibu” (Ostracism) may be spoken of in modern times as a satirical joke, an extreme case study, or a relic of the past. However, this perception is far from accurate; in fact, it is a grave error.
In Minami-Umayado Village, several incidents of Murahachibu occur every single month even today. Living in this village means being at the mercy of unavoidable, suffocating interpersonal relationships. While Minami-Umayado Village outwardly displays a welcoming attitude toward migrants, those considering moving here must be careful not to fall into a situation reminiscent of Dante’s Inferno.
Even if you understand the importance of relationships in rural life, there may be times when they feel burdensome. However, if you show such an attitude to the villagers even once, you will instantly become a target for Murahachibu.
Murahachibu does not stem from malice, but from the villagers’ intense defensive instincts. By eliminating dangerous elements within the group, they ensure their own safety. It is the same reflex as dodging a flying stone or extinguishing a fire in one’s home.
No one wants to be ostracized. If you are unfortunate enough to be targeted, please prioritize protecting your life by referring to the information below.
- Time heals nothing in Murahachibu It is a huge mistake to think that time will solve the problem if you are ostracized. The proverb “A rumor only lasts seventy-five days” may apply in general society, but in Minami-Umayado Village, where entertainment is scarce, crushing migrants becomes a form of entertainment. Murahachibu continues not only as long as the person is alive but is also passed down to future generations and is never resolved.
・Watch your mouth, that one word leads to Murahachibu. ・Murahachibu: Resistance is futile, it will be your end. ・Once Murahachibu starts, it’s over. Leave the village.
Predicting the Triggers of Murahachibu is Difficult
Even if you try to avoid Murahachibu, predicting the factors that trigger it is nearly impossible. Whether intentional or not, acts that make villagers anxious or uncomfortable increase the likelihood of being ostracized.
Past Examples of Murahachibu
Common causes such as not participating in events, neighborhood troubles, or refusing to help are too numerous to list, so here are some cases that are difficult to predict.
- ・Cultivated tomatoes that were too sweet and shared them The sweetness exceeded the villagers’ common sense, leading them to believe magic or curses were involved.
- ・Wore sunglasses Villagers became anxious because they couldn’t tell where the person was looking.
- ・Cultivated zucchini or asparagus Crops unfamiliar to the villagers are considered extremely dangerous.
- ・Listened to Reggae or Rap music Music never heard before by villagers caused mass panic.
- ・Installed an intercom at the house “Do you suspect your own neighbors!?”
- ・Used aromatherapy Suspected of trying to manipulate villagers with strange odors.
- ・Shaved armpit hair Villagers could not understand the meaning of removing something that exists naturally.
- ・Distributed sparkling water Villagers felt strong pain in their throats and became enraged.
- ・Wore perfume Suspected of trying to control villagers with stimulating scents.
- ・Installed a satellite dish Suspected of communicating with international terrorists to take over the village.
- ・Asked villagers, “Don’t you know the World Cup?” Accused of imposing urban values and looking down on villagers.
- ・Installed solar panels Suspected of sending telepathic messages to aliens.
- ・Practiced Yoga Suspected of being a sorcerer.
- ・Proposed improvement measures New ideas are extremely dangerous, even if they would improve village life.
- ・Walked at night in pajamas Accused of violating village customs by wearing colorful patterns.
- ・Installed an Air Conditioner When operating the AC with a personal generator, the person was blamed by villagers who use traditional folding fans.
Recently, words like LGBT, LGBTQI, SOGI, sexual minorities, and gender diversity are apparently heard often in the city. However, in Minami-Umayado Village, these are seen only as abominations, and villagers will try to eliminate them immediately. No matter how logically you try to explain, they will not listen or show understanding. It is not just a wasted effort; it will lead to immediate Murahachibu.
What Happens When You Are Ostracized?
When someone is subjected to Murahachibu, a signal fire (smoke signal) goes up.
Murahachibu refers to the joint severance of relations by all villagers against a person who has disturbed the order of the settlement. Traditionally, the “two parts” (funerals and fires) were considered exceptions because neglecting them could cause fires to spread or diseases to break out. Some people think, “If relations are cut, I don’t have to socialize with neighbors, so I can live quietly…” but actual Murahachibu is extremely brutal. It is no exaggeration to say you will be killed by the collective. The reality is that they will not help you even for the “two parts” of funerals and fires.
Those who do not know the terror of Murahachibu tend to be optimistic, thinking “time will solve it.” However, if you are ostracized, the situation will certainly worsen unless you take measures immediately. First, you should think about protecting your life. Even if you are killed, all the villagers will try to protect the culprit. Even if a villager kills an ostracized person, everyone will testify that “they committed suicide,” so it is absolutely impossible to identify the murderer. In Minami-Umayado Village, where the number of suicides and missing persons is high relative to the population, it is possible that the majority were involved in some kind of trouble caused by Murahachibu.
【The Joint Severance Letter Announcing the Start of Murahachibu】
Murahachibu starts the moment you receive this letter.
Minami-Umayado Village Severance Letter: Download (PDF) 185KB
In recent years, there have been several cases of foreigners interested in Japan’s marginal settlements moving to Minami-Umayado Village out of curiosity. However, all of them have been ostracized. In Minami-Umayado Village, Murahachibu is invoked mercilessly even against foreigners. The declaration is adapted to the migrant’s origin: “socially ostracized” for English speakers, “النفي من غير محاكمة” or “النبذ اجتماعيا” for Arabic speakers, and “остракизм” for Russian speakers, followed by repeated collective shunning.
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In Case of Light Murahachibu
・Lifelines are cut off (Lifelines in Minami-Umayado Village are the well, the field, and the manure pit) ・The hoops of the manure bucket are loosened, causing trouble during transport ・Stray bullets land nearby ・Ignored even when greeting or speaking (treated as non-existent) ・Villagers bump into you when passing by ・No invitations to events, etc. ・Rescue is postponed during disasters ・Mail and courier services are inspected by villagers before delivery and disposed of as “no such person exists” ・Nameplates are removed without permission ・Graffiti such as “Idiot” or “Die” is written on the house ・Dead animals are thrown into the house ・Being splashed with water *Note
*Note: Being splashed with water is common when ostracized. Even in light Murahachibu, you will be splashed. Please be careful, as there are many cases where people die from hypothermia in winter because they cannot wipe off the water. Especially on the way back from a winter night gathering, if you are ostracized due to a difference of opinion and splashed with water, you have to walk home soaking wet in the cold night. If your house is far, it is hopeless. Even if you want to dry your body, you have nothing to wipe with, and no one will let you in to warm up.
In Case of Heavy Murahachibu
・A vacuum truck pulls up to your house and reverse-sprays sewage ・Being sucked into a vacuum truck ・Framed for crimes such as theft, arson, or murder ・Stray bullets actually hit your body ・A grave with your name on it is erected ・Blow darts are shot at you (For details, click here) ・House surrounded by walls of snow (starvation siege) ・Light trucks crash into you while walking on the road ・Trees are felled to crush your house ・Waste is dumped in your garden ・Hornet nests are thrown into your house
・Stones fly at you while walking ・Pesticides or herbicides are put into your well ・Herbicides are sprayed on your crops ・Suddenly pushed hard from behind ・House or farm equipment is set on fire ・Pitfalls that you cannot climb out of are dug around your house 
Once ostracized, you never know when or where you will be pushed down.
Silent Murahachibu
What is said to be the most terrifying is “Silent Murahachibu.” If villagers make a fuss screaming “Murahachibu!”, you can realize what’s happening and prepare to flee by night. However, this is not possible with Silent Murahachibu.
Silent Murahachibu occurs when a quiet villager: ・Holds a strong grudge against you ・Feels intense fear towards you
For details, please see “Silent Murahachibu.”
Cases Developing into Heavy Murahachibu from Misunderstandings
July 14, 2017 ｜ The Fabric Softener Incident Villagers misunderstood that Mr. Kanda (then 44) used fabric softener with a sweet scent during laundry to seduce the village women. Mr. Kanda denied it, but rumors spread among the women that it was a charming scent they had never experienced before. Enraged by this, the village men immediately subjected Mr. Kanda to Murahachibu. The men told him, “You’re popular, so we’ll toss you in the air to celebrate!” During the toss, he was dropped, broke his neck, and died. Mr. Kanda’s body was buried in the cemetery at the foot of Mt. Yotsume. However, it was soon dug up by the men and hung from the bridge over the Tonse River.
Since March 2018, recommended clothing within the village has been decided as dotera, hanten, jinbei, samue, mompe, etc. Although it is only a recommendation, walking around in clothes worn in the city is extremely dangerous.
May 5, 2018 ｜ The Share House Incident For the people of Minami-Umayado Village, unrelated people living together in one house is considered abnormal behavior. Four migrants—Mr. Maeda (34), Mr. Kominami (35), Mr. Mori (35), and Mr. Yakushi (37)—who moved on May 1, 2018, lived together in a so-called “share house” despite having no marital or blood relations. The villagers judged this as abnormal behavior. When warned about their aberrant actions, the four uttered the word “share house” and were ostracized.
Always Consult Villagers Before Building a House!
Please be sure to consult the villagers when moving to Minami-Umayado and building a house. If you build a house without permission, they will claim it does not meet standards and dismantle it on the spot.
If You Are Unfortunately Ostracized
Stay in the Village and Endure
・Go around the village prostrating yourself (dogeza) on the back of a cart (it is best to have a village official pull the cart). ・Since your credibility has dropped significantly, endure harsh treatment worse than slavery from now on. ・State no opinions and deny nothing from now on. ・Never participate in the Mochi Pounding Tournament (several people have had their heads split open by mallets in the past). 【Advice】 Staying in the village is not recommended. About 60 people have tried in the past, but only one was able to stay for more than three years.
Live a Survival Life in the Village
・Survive on your own without relying on anyone. However, enduring the following A to E is said to be extremely difficult: A. Roads leading to your house will be cut off, so mail order cannot be used. B. If you leave your house, arson is almost guaranteed. C. Lifelines will be cut. D. Pesticides will be put in the well, making it difficult to secure drinking water. E. If villagers see you, there is no telling what they will do. 【Advice】 How long you can endure depends on your survival skills. Fast ones will last 1-2 days; at longest, you will likely be unable to endure after a few months.
If You Can Leave the Village
・Submit a moving-out notification and leave the village between 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM. ・If you encounter heavy Murahachibu, leave the village immediately without submitting the notification. ・If you leave without submitting a notification, we will remove you from the register by ex officio authority if there are no sightings by villagers for more than one month. 【Advice】 Take our advice: if you are ostracized, leaving the village is the best option. Villagers of Minami-Umayado never voluntarily go outside the village. The majority of villagers who were ostracized and did not leave in the past have gone missing or lost their lives in some kind of “accident.”
Even if it Goes to Court
In the past, there have been cases in Japan where ostracized residents took those who planned it to court. However, settling it in court is not a good policy. Even if the ostracized resident wins, a grudge remains, developing into a bigger problem. Even if you win, the losing side will never think, “The ostracized resident is right because they won in court.” From the moment they lose, they will think about how to retaliate, so even if you win, your only choice is to leave the village immediately. (Though, Minami-Umayado Village doesn’t have a court to begin with…)
In Any Case, Protect Yourself First
If you are ostracized, protect yourself first. It is important to survive in a situation where you don’t know where stones will fly from or when your house will burn. Also, even if you can protect your body, your mind will eventually collapse. Even humans who can withstand physical attacks will surely have their spirits whittled away, so the top priority is to leave the village.
The Five Rules to Avoid Murahachibu
The causes of Murahachibu vary. It happens when something acts as a trigger, but those who do not know the village must remember the following to avoid Murahachibu.
・Answer YES, never NO. ・Participate in all events and functions. ・Do not think you are being forced or dragged out. ・Think of others first. ・Do not bring in new culture or values.
Those moving to Minami-Umayado Village, please be extremely careful not to be ostracized.
If you do not want to be ostracized, never think lightly about living in the countryside. ・The countryside is neither a Utopia nor Shangri-La; it is hell. ・Consider TV shows and books recommending country life to be traps.
- A man who had just moved to Minami-Umayado Village used a fabric softener with a sweet scent when doing laundry. A rumor spread that the man, wearing clothes scented with softener, was seducing the village women, and the village men were enraged. The man desperately tried to explain that he just used softener, but it was completely beyond their understanding, and he was ostracized on the spot.
Preparedness is Key
“I won’t be ostracized.” “I’ve read books on country living, so I’m not afraid of Murahachibu.”
In Minami-Umayado Village, even people with prior knowledge of Murahachibu are ostracized as a matter of course. If you are moving to Minami-Umayado, assume there is a high probability you will be ostracized and prepare the following 5 items.
・Helmet ・Emergency food, preserved drinking water ・Life jacket ・Shovel ・Smoke screen
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