Japan - July 10, 2024

Storyline:
The number of vacant homes in Japan has surged in recent months as the country grapples with an ageing population and declining birthrates, with Wakayama Prefecture seeing the highest rate of abandoned homes compared to other parts of the country.

Compared to 10 years ago, the population of Tanabe City of Wakayama Prefecture dropped by 10,000 to around 68,000, driving up the number of empty properties. It is estimated that around 8,000 to 10,000 elderly people in the city live alone, and in 20 years, the number of vacant homes will increase by 400 to 500 annually, official data showed.

Tanabe's local government has stepped up efforts to help to sell or dismantle vacant homes to cushion the impact.

Shotlist:
Tanade City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan - July 8, 2024:
1. Various of street views;
2. Old lady passing with shopping trolley;
3. Various of facades of vacant home;
4. Various of vacant home, broken furniture;
5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Sonoda Masaaki, officer, Tanabe City Office Construction Bureau:
"The tiles of the vacant home are about to fall. Every time a typhoon approaches, neighbors are on the edge. The tiles might hit their car or drop right into their houses. They are very unsettled."
6. Various of Tanabe city office;
7. Sign reading "Investigation and Planing Bureau, Vacant Home";
Tokyo, Japan - July 10, 2024:
8. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Masuda Hiroya, former Japanese Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications:
"As the local population drops, there are fewer passengers using buses and trains. Operation is getting harder, and in certain places, they have to consider closing certain bus routes, which makes life even more inconvenient for local residents.";
Tanade City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan - July 8, 2024:
9. Various of empty neighbourhoods near vacant room;
FILE: Tokyo, Japan - April 2024:
10. Various of pedestrians crossing street;
Tokyo, Japan - July 10, 2024:
11. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Masuda Hiroya, former Japanese Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications:
"People still prefer to move from smaller towns to big cities, especially Tokyo. They choose to live closer to work, but the rent there is high and the space is rather limited. After paying rent, it's difficult for families to afford raising children. Even if a family has a child, cramped living space makes it nearly impossible to have a second or even a third child. So families raise only one child."
Tokyo, Japan - Recent:
12. Various of pedestrians crossing street.

[Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]