Inside the Ghost Investigation Company Specializing in Stigmatized Properties

“I believe that the concept of psychological defects is related to the unique sense of emotional distance that Japanese people have. If the emotional distance is that of a complete stranger, it only evokes fear and disgust. However, if the distance becomes too great—such as with celebrities or historical figures—the fear diminishes and transforms into curiosity, making people want to see it. On the other hand, if the person was a close family member or a good friend, the feeling changes to ‘I want them to appear’ or ‘I want to see them again.'”

The realization of this came from an experience investigating an incident property in August 2024.

How to shorten the emotional distance

“During the investigation of a room where a woman had taken her own life, I had the opportunity to speak with her family. When I called her father, he abruptly said, ‘Let me know immediately if she appears,’ and then hung up.

After the investigation, I found nothing unusual. I reported this to the property owner and also informed the father, saying, ‘There were no abnormalities.’ To my surprise, he responded with, ‘Thank you.’

When I asked, ‘What are you thanking me for?’ he explained that he had been visiting the apartment every month on his daughter’s death anniversary to pay his respects. He said, ‘Just knowing that my daughter isn’t in that apartment is a relief. From now on, I’ll only pray for her at our family altar at home.’

The impression of the deceased from the property owner’s perspective and from the father’s perspective were completely different.”

This experience led Mr. Kodama to reconsider his ghost investigations as a way to shift the emotional distance, potentially offering a solution to psychological defects.

“If we can respectfully listen to the bereaved families and understand why the person passed away, it can bring them emotionally closer to the deceased. From the perspective of a property management company, if we can ensure through complete renovations and cleaning that nothing from that time remains, and if we can communicate this clearly to potential tenants through investigation reports and certifications, then I believe the concept of psychological defects can be resolved.”