Japan’s 9 Million (And Growing) Abandoned Homes: The ‘Akiya’ Phenomenon | CNA Correspondent

japanhasabout9 millionemptyor abandonedhomesthe phenomenonis especiallyvisiblein ruralareaslikethis whicharehingoutdue toopulationi’m headingtovarious partsofJapantofind outthescaleofthe problemanditcanbe revers [音楽] Prefectureishometo Japan’sfirstcapital andwidelyseenasthe cradleofJapanese civilization [音楽] Ancienttemplesand shrinesstandasa reminderofrich historybutamodern blightisspreading throughthisvision aenom [音楽] meansemptyhousein Japanesehereincity andalmostoneinfive housesare akvetobiggercities tofindworkthefamily homefallsintoruin whentheirelderly relativespass onpopulation Akhasbecomethe manifestationofthis trendinrural Japaniaminfrontof thehomeof Mrheisthechairmanof thelocalcitydesign councilandhehas agreedtotakeme aroundtowntoshowme thesituationhereso whereisheohtherehe ですこんにちは あこんにちは 今日はよろしくお願いします いやいやいやどういたしましてあのMR isaleaderand歌 えこちらの方に一見元々昔旅館をやってたんですね商人宿って言われてたですね それから両土なりの向こう側ももう脇屋に なりますね月に1回だけ帰ってきてはると いうような状況です 75abandon hesitycommissions everyyearshegathers dataandgroupsvacant homesintowar levelsthebestbeing thosethatcanbe reusedandtheworst beingthoseabout toapseさんがこれ まであの秋屋の中で はい1 番ちょっとやばいよなと思ったのってどういう状態のものでしたか こうして古くなってしてきてるっていう秋もあれば元の住んでた方のその処分ができずにですねみたいな感じになっている秋屋もあります Thiswaswhere do medouch andでこのまですか そのオーナーの方の行こうというのもやっぱりありますのでね うんうんあのその後何回か訪れて あ何回かはねみに来られてるっていうのはあの聞いてます はい Weheadaddeeperinおお こんなさんあるの珍しいですねま未だに ガチャポンプって言って え昔なんかてよくここがねお風呂 なんですよね でお風呂の水をですね入れるのにこうやってこっちでこことやってお水を入れたと Connectingtheroomis a corpuntilmeasure renovationsare carriedoutthehouse is unablethe fornup for20 万ぐらい日本円の20 万ぐらいというお話だったんですが20 万ではとてもじゃない回層すら何もできないで でも売らないんですね そうなんですよねへえはい だけども口るばっかりですからね あのおばあさんが住んでましたけど40 年前に亡くなりましたのでま一応一応秋屋になったんですけども父親がそ私はそれはしな はいって言うてね貸してあの色々そのするのは嫌だって言ってお墓があるもんだからまあ年に 2 回ですねお墓参りとかしてましたのでそれも大変まならかなったので私たちの子 子供たちも住むつもりもないし使うつもりもないのでもうそしたらま考え方としてはもう売るしかないなということになったんです うん手放すしかないと havetotakeover vacantheswithout permissionbutifthe houseposesahazard theycantearitdown andordertheownerto thebilliftheowner cannbefoundthehouse couldundergoa processtobecome nationalpropert ちょっと身が乗ってきてます まあんまり何も考えてないんですけれどね考えてもなかなか解決のつく話ではありませんのでね Ito cィbeeninvitedtosit onthealofficial monまで暮らしの高齢者まあの今後秋屋になる恐れのあるところですねところを対象にさせてもらってます もし秋屋になった場合え今の所有者の方の 意思ですねこういうのでしたよというの そういうのを登録を始めたいなというので そのチラしですね もうで行ってダメな場合はまま危険悪と 見してま小と国の方で危機悪の認定を受け たらま行政が処分しなさいという風になっ てるんですけどもただ利活用できるはま国 の中で法律はできてないんです auornearlyhalfof populationisaged65 oroldermuchhigher thanthenational averageofbelow 30%thehousesthey wereonedayleave behindthreatento worsentheexential crisisfacing [音楽] prodalmostallthede lethersoldinJapan buttheexofyoung peoplemeansthereis Nonew bloodthetraditional industryisatriskof dyingoutmuchlike itselfexpertswarn morethan40%of Japan’s municipalitiescould vanishdueto population declinelikeneedto revenatethemselves andattractresident yettheyarestrugby thegrowingnumberof whichisreducing availablefor developmentandhous 土地の利用する 規制があって田舎行けば行くほど土地は開いてるんですけどもなかなかそこに家を立てれないというのはこれ国のルールで決まってましてねはい 農業に充実するはダメとshow about300morethan yearsagmedia attentiononthe country’sakiawars thoughisluring unlikelygroupforign buyerseertotake advantageofthe fallingyenandthe promiseoftheirown propertyinjapan advertisednextto nothing onlineswebmarketing akforeignershave sproutedupinrecent yearspicturesonreal estatelistinglet frenchphotographer colineartoapproach herselfandmoveto sleepy こんにちはこんにちはお邪魔します どうぞ はいじゃあまずこんにちはIdid chosebecauseitwasI choosethehouse becauseIjustfellin separate areas buildingandhowmuch housefor4.9 millionthat’s about3000roughly halfthemarketprice butitwasn’t connectedtowateror seagthisisthekimono storageroombuys recyc secondonlinedoing productshootsinher homestudioand fashionphotography inher neighborhoodwhenshe isfinallydonewith renovationsshewants toopenuppartofthe homeasaguesthouseso farIhaveinvestedup to60kusllarbutI’m planningtoinvest probablythesame amountonthenext threeyearstheywant tocorrectalittlebit that misunderstanding thathousesinJapan aresupercheapthey willhavetoinvesta lotoftimeandenergy intotherenovation processthevast majorityofAkia requirerepairswith only60andidentified assuitableforreuse asisdespitethis authoritiessaythey areseeingmore interestfrom foreignerslikeCol more numberasfever upamonglocalthereis alsogrowing acceptanceofthe valueofemptyhomes thiswasinuntil3 years agesthatwepurposein cangetasmuchas3 beattractionanda centralpartoftheir revenation strategysomelocal governmentsinJapan renovateabanded homestoaccommodate nonresidentsfor shorttermstaysinthe caseofUDAandNada prefectureit’sfor subsidizedrateof 2500yenabout17US dollarsapersona night in2020for about00those contemplatingamove tocanstayforuptoa weekandexperience lifeinthe ruralwowtheentrance isso hugerenovathenearly 50yearold anotherworldfrom theagespaceto apartmentwithseven bedroomsincludinga playroomforyoung familiesthedownside theoldwoodenwalls don’tkeepoutthe espciallylate at timegoodはい [音楽] ナイスデイグモニンCity officialsayonlyone personhasrelocated toafteratrialdayout ofsome180bookings overthepastandyears to gowhetherthe blossominginterest inAkiacanhavea snowballeffectonthe fortunesofrural townsormelts どうしても若い方がね外に出ていくのでやっぱりなんとかその若い方をま出ていかれてもまた帰ってくれるような街づりをねしていく必要があるのかなと Thecentral governmenthaslefty planstorevitalrural areasandattract workersand industriesby creatingjobs innovationand enhancingof lifeoverintownand prefectureistrying todiversifyfromrice fieldstogrowth sectorsabandoned buildingssuchas schoolsnowhouse businesseslikedata centersです [音楽] 秋アバンク制度を使ってそしてあの秋屋に対するリフォーム補助金そよそからま提重促進補助金とかもありましたけど解体補助金で今後立てるっていうような風な利用の仕方の方が今後は増えてくるのかな Theoutlookremains bleakfor nowasoutward migrationpicksapace officialfigureshow thenumberofpeople whomovedtoTrosefor thethirdstraight yearlastyear [音楽] [拍手] [音楽] 温泉isayearhotswing resortthisareawas floodedinJuly 2020theriverwentup to FLreach 2prefectureonthe soul oftherebuilt 災害の関係で言うとですねあのま当然その え利用されなくなったえええカオだったり とか建物だったりとかそういったものは 発生してますえそれについてはあのまこれ から観光地としてえ最高を目指していく中 でですねその秋屋を活用できるようなえ 取り組みをですねあのまお声いかけ継続し てあの今後も続けていこうと思ってます [音楽] Earthquakescanbuild property inflowofpopulation thatmightnever recoverelseinthe castleofin国penula strongthrough naturaldisastersand thepassageof [音楽] presedquartersonthe hillsoverasmall merchantdistrictby the baythecastlethough islosingitsvitality asthepopulationslid from34000to26000 overthe pこのえ1年でほんの100mの中で8人 の高齢者の方々がも落年でなくなりました そうするともうそれに伴い秋屋になって しまうんですね 150storedhisory almostas ne私はもう壊すしかないって思ってたん ですねところがこれを壊すと地域の人の 思い出までもがみんな寂しい思いになって しまう だからなんとかして残そうっていう風に考えるようになりましたオーs そのお金で修理台とか維持費なんかが出るといいなという風に思ってますお金の儲かりよりも心の豊かさを大事にしてます [音楽] suele for [音楽] 年ぐらい前までしてたんですけど今 brewing 秋屋をですね使ってこう本当にあの民宿とかもね増やしていけたらなとかいうちょっと夢はあります はい 相続についてはあの高齢者サロンもやっていますのでその中で話題に登ったり将来どうするのとかゴミ打ちの方遠くにいらっしゃるあのゴミ打ちの方の連絡先などももう聞いてリストを作ってえおります [音楽] Thesupportoflocal communitiesis crucialindealing withtheAkia problemcitygives residupto1.8million insubsidiesor about000 USfamilieswho relocatehereandbuya homecangetmore than000 USruraltownsare bankingonthese incentivestobringin newresidentsand freshide 戻る時に秋アを活用して何かを始めるっていう方とかも年々まているのでそういう秋アを使った取り組みをされる方のネットワークがまより狂人になってくるとより良いあの秋屋の活用が生まれてくるんじゃないかなと思ってます [音楽] 検してる方はもらっていて最初は1 ぐらいしたらもう地元に戻ろうと思っててでも 1 [音楽] [音楽] 年経った頃に大分県ものすごい好きになっちゃってarent canal [音楽] 都会的な服では全然ないって感じですけどでも楽しく暮らせてるかなっていう [音楽] Byyear2038some expertspredictthe numberofAkiaacross Japanmorethandouble to23milliononein three housesitremainstobe seeniftheeffortsby Japan’svillages resonatewiththe youngcity fkorifmorehouses willayemptyasymbof dec [音楽]

Japan has an unusual housing problem – more vacant homes than people wanting to move in. In fact, as many as 9 million of them. As young people move to the big cities to find work, their family homes are left to fall into ruin after their elderly owners die. But these empty houses – known as ‘akiya’ in Japanese – can pose safety hazards and impede redevelopment plans in crumbling rural towns. Increased media spotlight on Japan’s akiya woes is leading to growing interest in akiya – drawing foreign buyers eager to take advantage of the falling yen.

Threatened by dwindling populations, more locals are also seeking to rejuvenate their communities by turning akiya into guesthouses, eateries and stores – often with generous government subsidies. CNA travels across rural Japan to find out how the country is trying to find solutions for akiya and restore its towns to their former glory. Are these vacant homes truly devoid of value, or are they an unexpected treasure trove?

0:00 Japan’s 9 million empty houses
0:36 The shrinking rural town of Uda
3:09 Inside an abandoned clinic
6:28 Why Japan’s struggling to reduce akiya
8:59 Impact of rural depopulation
10:02 Sold on akiya: Rising foreign, local interest
12:59 A night’s stay in a refurbished akiya
14:45 Japan’s push for rural revitalisation
16:33 Post-disaster reconstruction: Amagase Onsen
17:59 Tourism and community efforts in Kitsuki Castle Town’s revival

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29 Comments

  1. Japan has a problem in the Asian world, why, because of the way it treated its neighboring countries before and during WW2.

  2. Japan should accept controlled immigration. They should culturally orient the foreigners to japanese culture before giving citizenships. Or if they continue with the current downspiralling trend they will one day have to accept hordes of immigrants en masse, who will not no anything about japanese culture. And hense it will be disruptive immigration. Time is running hurry up

  3. The way I see it remote work can solve a lot of Japan's problems. People moving back to the country side where land is cheapers. A cheaper cost of life will allow enough headroom to start a family. You cannot move to the country side if there are no high paying jobs there. This is a problem everywhere. Urban life is becoming unaffordable

  4. I think it’s always expensive to live in the big cities and metropolis anywhere and everywhere. The same in the Philippines. Filipinos, young and old flock to Manila in search for a better paying jobs. Everything is expensive there. Manila is so congested and expensive. I’m sure, the same holds true to other mega cities in the world.

  5. Japan has a problem with pigs. In areas where the human populations are in decline, the boars are becoming a nuisance.

    Due to crop damage and overpopulation, the Japanese government actively encourages the hunting and culling of wild boars, even offering financial incentives for each animal culled. There are detailed regulations on hunting methods, seasons, and the number of animals that can be taken, and certain prohibited hunting methods are specified by law

  6. old people just need to get out of the way and stop being in charge in japan, retire already and let the younger generation fix all the bullsh

  7. Any community far away from worshipping the creator it will be vanish God said that in the quran the community will has no blessing and it will vanish away .

  8. So many naiive and often childish comments. The fact is that the vast majority of empty houses in Japan are in very poor condition and cannot be lived in. And a foreigner cannot simply come here and buy a house and live there. It is not possible to do so in other countries so why do you think you can do it in Japan ? And even if you manage it, do you want to live in a place surrounded by derelict houses ? And many local governments now disallow refurbishment of old houses because they lack earthquake resistance and do not meet energy regulations. It is far more better costwise to simply demolish them and build a new house. I live in the Japanese countryside, but I have lived in Japan for 36 years and speak the language well. I can remain in Japan because I worked here for many years and have permanent residence status, which takes at least ten years of residence on work visas to attain. In the countryside you must have independent transport. And why do you complain it is difficult to make friends or socialise ? Some of you criticise the Japanese for not being sociable, but that is very much the wrong approach and attitude, and really annoys me. The house I have has an amazing view of the local 3,000m high mountains, and the sounds and sights are of running water, birds, and the odd deer. I grow vegetables, make things in my workshop, and entertain visiting friends and family. I know that prospective buyers of akiya have similar aspirations, but it is far better at the very least to come to Japan, get work, learn the language, understand how the Japanese people are, and so on, before just thinking you can come here and do up a crappy house.

  9. Wish I had the money to restore one of these out in a rural area. Would be a dream not to live boxed in by people on all sides. Alas, it's a dream only.

  10. Good vid – from U.S. – Japan is having a major population problem – Japan needs to be more FLEXIBLE right now regarding citizenship especially allowing DUAL citizenship for Americans – Japan's rules are inflexible, not appealing – Japan is going to surely shrink and shrink in coming years – this creates numerous problems such as akiya and workforce – yes a country needs to PROTECT itself from foreigners, especially from combatant countries etc. …BUT… Japan should treat Americans with utmost respect and more flexibility – Japan needs to make itself more APPEALING versus it's current path, or it will become more isolated.

  11. All Japanese abroad should return to their ancestral Motherland Japan to help boost population, uphold Japanese language and culture as well as economy etc