Part 3/11:
A local official explained that about one in five houses in city areas and even more in rural neighborhoods are vacant. In many cases, the homes are no longer livable without significant renovation, often costing around 200,000 yen (around $1,500 USD), an amount insufficient for substantial repairs. Owners often hesitate to renovate or sell their ancestral homes, especially when emotional ties and memories are involved. For example, an elderly woman’s childhood home has been vacant since her mother passed away 40 years ago. Despite its dilapidated state, she refuses to demolish it because of sentimental value and family history.