Akiya (空き家) – JAPANESE ABANDONED HOUSE PART 1
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Akiya banks are databases of vacant or abandoned homes in Japan where owners and local governments can list properties for sale and buyers can search for vacant homes to buy. [PHOTO SOURCE: https://resources.realestate.co.jp/buy/akiya-banks-in-japan-links-to-vacant-house-databases-by-prefecture/] |
A house is made with walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Japan’s 8.5 million abandoned rural homes, or akiya, have become a ‘cheap’ option for foreigner owners
· A push into the city and population decline are two reasons they sit empty, as well as the Japanese preference to newly built homes rather than pre-owned
· Locals see them as a burden, while foreigners view them as an opportunity to own property for as little as US$23,000
As the article above mention about Akiya (空き家) known as an abandoned and empty house in Japan. The Akiyas are being bought by foreigners who choose to invest in them. It costs as low as US$23,000.
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Greener acres: Laura Blackhall and Ichi Hatano decided they need a change after both of them saw business struggle during the current pandemic. So, they decided to buy an 'akiya' (unoccupied home). | COURTESY OF LAURA BLACKHALL [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2020/11/23/issues/rural-japan-homes-foreign-nationals/] |
There are many examples of foreigners investing in Akiya (空き家). One of them which is on social media is Englishwoman, Laura Blackwell with her partner, Ichi Hatano who bought an Akiya (空き家) and they are working on renovating it.
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Please go to their social media sites to learn more:
https://www.instagram.com/konnichiwa_laura/
www.youtube.com/c/KonnichiwaChannel1
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Kamiichi has offered people a range of incentives to lure them to the town.(ABC News: Yumi Asada) [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-19/homes-are-free-and-life-sized-dolls-are-neighbours-in-japan/103090184] |
Another example is a town called, Kamiichi is giving Akiyas (空き家) away for free. Here is what is happening:
One town has come up with a novel solution to attract new residents by giving away abandoned properties for free.
Kamiichi is home to about 20,000 people, a population that has been shrinking for over a decade.
"There are less young people, but there are many elderly people," local resident Miho Nakamura said.
"The town lacks vitality."
To address the issue, the town local council created a Zero Yen Vacant Home Bank, where empty, good-quality homes could be transferred to new owners free of charge.
Thirteen homes and an empty plot of land were initially selected to be part of the program, and most have already been snapped up.
"We've received more phone calls and e-mails than we expected," said Keiji Kanamori, a local town official.
"We're also receiving e-mails from overseas."
The deal is touted as a win-win since the seller can dispose of a near-worthless asset — which is often inherited and attracts fees and costs — while the buyer gets a free home.
To help the process, Kamiichi also offers a range of cash bonuses to help with relocation, renovation, and childcare costs, including IVF.
To secure a property under the program, the applicants must woo the property owner as the final decision rests with them. The council ensures the homes meet a certain standard.
One successful applicant is Yasuyuki Fuke, who wanted to leave Kyoto for a tree change, with his wife and two children.
"I wanted a house of my own and was looking for an inexpensive property around 1 million yen [$10,336]," he said.
"But there were no properties where my child could walk to primary school, or it was a place a car couldn't enter."
"When I came to see this property, it met my requirements, and I had no complaints as it was zero yen!"
His new property is so big, he has a couple of goats to help with the gardening.
"After I moved in, I began to feel the joy of having a house of my own.
"I felt as if I had won the lottery."
Are these strategies working?
Since the inception of its free home campaign, Kamiichi has recorded its first population increase since it began monitoring depopulation over a decade ago.
The Zero Yen Home bank has been such a success, other towns on the island of Kyushu have contacted Kamiichi to understand the scheme better.
"When a town is full of elderly people, administrative costs for the elderly are high," Keiji Kanamori said.
"I think the community will be revitalised again by having young households in the community and their children as well."
The Kamiichi town officials wanted to respond to its depopulation problem before it hit crisis levels.
It is, after all, much easier to attract new residents when essential services are still functioning.
INTERNET SOURCE: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-19/homes-are-free-and-life-sized-dolls-are-neighbours-in-japan/103090184
Sewing dolls and giving away homes to stop becoming ghost towns | ABC News
Nov 19, 2023 #ABCNewsAustralia #ABCNews
Japan's population has been declining for 14 years straight, with its most recent year the steepest drop yet. While there's efforts to try and boost the birth rate and welcome new migrants, it's simply not enough with one in ten people aged over 80.
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF4taHimU8A
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Koryoya [PHOTO SOURCE: https://homeaddict.io/photos-of-free-or-cheap-abandoned-houses-in-japan/] |
MY THOUGHTS:
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Instead of being afraid of the challenge and failure, be afraid of avoiding the challenge and doing nothing. - Soichiro Honda [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.azquotes.com/quote/750546] |
The quote above by Honda Motors founder, Soichiro Honda makes me realize that it better to the fix the problem that avoid it altogether. I rather have Akiya (空き家) renovated than demolished. It is good to improve and fix it so that people will have at least a roof over their head and to keep their traditional homes alive for the next generation to see.
As homelessness are increasing all over the world, I rather live in an Akiya (空き家) or a dilapidated house (which of course, needs to be fix), than be a rough sleeper or a couch surfer, or living in tent cities. I am also fine with living a simple life.
As Sony founder, Masaharu Ibuka said:
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We Japanese enjoy the small pleasures, not extravagance. I believe a man should have a simple lifestyle - even if he can afford more. - Masaru Ibuka [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.azquotes.com/quote/769026] |
I personally believe that renovating and fixing an Akiya (空き家), is a way of being creative as the late famous architect, Kenzo Tange once said:
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Architecture must have something that appeals to the human heart. Creative work is expressed in our time as a union of technology and humanity. - Kenzo Tange [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.azquotes.com/quote/842028] |
Last of all, I believe that people who now live in newly built Akiya (空き家), should form a community of friends like the Konohana Family, where they can help one another in need. I will close with the Japanese proverb:
“If a fish cares for water, the water will care for the fish.”
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21. 魚心あれば水心 Pronunciation: uogokoroareba mizugokoro Translation: “If a fish cares for water, the water will care for the fish.” Meaning: If you do a favor for somebody, you will get a favor in return / You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours Example Sentence: 魚心あれば水心あると言う通り、陽気な男の人があっと言う間に近所の人と仲良くなった As it is said, if the fish has a heart, the water will also have a heart. Thus the cheerful man was on good terms with the neighbors in the blink of an eye. [PHOTO SOURCE: https://cotoacademy.com/top-inspiring-japanese-proverbs/] |
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Keiji and Atsuko Suzuki at their restored traditional Japanese property, which is on the market for $1.3 million.PHOTO: JEREMIE SOUTEYRAT FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL https://www.wsj.com/articles/japans-traditional-minka-homes-gain-a-new-following-1487258056 |
RELATED LINKS:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/japans-traditional-minka-homes-gain-a-new-following-1487258056
Akiya (空き家) LINKS:
https://homeaddict.io/photos-of-free-or-cheap-abandoned-houses-in-japan/
OTHER LINKS:
School smashes phones to warn students, sparking debate
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for free here: https://sc.mp/subscribe-youtube A school staff member was seen smashing mobile phones with a hammer to warn students not to use their phones on campus in central China’s Hunan province. The incident has sparked a heated debate on the country’s social media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waI4hsVPTwA&t=38s
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