Event: Ryo Hanamori

Ryo Hanamori speaks about his experience of suffering from compulsive buying disorder. | Fukushima Minpo “I knew I had to stop buying things.” The thought was always lingering in the back of his mind. But for Ryo Hanamori, a man in his 30s from Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, that awareness was never enough.Once consumed by compulsive buying disorder, Hanamori’s life spiraled into debt and crime. While the buying urges have since subsided, he recalls himself in that period as being “truly out of control.”Hanamori’s father died when he was just 2 years old, and his mother, emotionally unstable, would sometimes lash out at him without explanation. As a child, he found joy in the same pastimes as his peers — video games and fishing — but even those small pleasures were often criticized or dismissed at home. He recalls that he felt as if his very existence was being denied. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. SUBSCRIBE NOW