Around the summer of 2021, when the existence of “Toyo-Yoko Kids” started receiving media attention, there has been a rampant trend of drug overdoses among these kids. The drug that has become popular among these Toyo-Yoko Kids is called “Saireesu (or roofies),” a sleeping pill commonly used in date raping cases.
This sleeping medication is one of the drugs used in the incident involving Ichikawa Sarunokosuke in May of this year and has spread among the trend-sensitive Toyo-Yoko Kids.
Saireesu (roofies), due to its side effects and potential for addiction, should only be prescribed to individuals diagnosed with insomnia. However, it is being bought and sold among friends through platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, causing many Toyo-Yoko Kids to obtain the drug.
We spoke to A, a 17-year-old individual in Toyo-Yoko, to understand why this is happening.
“Many of the people here don’t have a place anywhere else, and they have problems at home and at school, which makes them anxious and leads to insomnia. I get the drugs from one of those people. Also, I don’t have much money, so some people sell the drugs they are currently taking to have money for leisure,” explained A.
Toyo-Yoko is a place where people with problems at home or school come, and many of them have been diagnosed by doctors and prescribed medication. Behind the online buying and selling of Saireesu, there is a situation where many are not financially stable, and they try to make pocket money by selling the prescribed medication.
In Toyo-Yoko, people often make friends not by real names but through connections on social media, and they have a wide circle of anonymous friends. Therefore, it is relatively easy to approach someone who has medication, and many have the ability to obtain or buy the drugs. As a result, drugs used to alleviate anxiety and are widely available for the purpose of OD.
But why is there such a trend of OD with Saireesu? The reason is said to be due to a specific characteristic of this drug.
Saireesu (roofies), when taken concurrently with alcohol, allegedly creates a strong feeling of intoxication. Of course, simultaneous consumption of medication and alcohol is very dangerous. Nevertheless, Toyo-Yoko Kids like A explain their reasons for wanting to use it.
“Because you stop caring about everything, that’s why it’s good. Tomorrow, your home, school, everything. It’s all fun if you’re having fun right now. When you’re ‘paki’ (intoxicated), everything is enjoyable, and you can forget about all your worries. Also, when you take Saireesu, your tongue turns blue, so some think its cute. We all stick our tongues out and laugh,” A said.
One reason the Toyo-Yoko Kids might have been drawn to Saireesu is the fact that it turns their tongues blue. This allows them to easily obtain a sense of ‘cuteness’ in their own perception, which becomes a source of pleasure.
The Toyo-Yoko Kids, who have ventured into reselling sleeping pills in addition to underage drinking, might be seeking a feeling of intoxication to divert attention away from the fact that they are engaged in illicit activities.
Related: Drinking in public on the rise in Shibuya as trend gains traction through social media
