Metropolitan Rat Patrol

Overview

We followed a rat extermination company in Tokyo. In early spring, they receive as many as 1,000 requests per month and work around the clock to exterminate rats. Calls come in from restaurants in bustling areas, apartments, schools, hospitals, and even temples and embassies. In severe cases, rats chewing on wires can cause phone and internet outages. The “rat problem” is said to be exacerbated by redevelopment projects and vacant housing issues. This report follows the exterminators as they work to address the issue, offering a glimpse into “Tokyo today.”