Japan's abandoned homes increase 80% in 20 years

  

Japan's abandoned homes increase 80% in 20 years

TOKYO -- The number of abandoned homes in Japan has climbed roughly 80% in two decades, the latest government data shows, to 3.85 million nationwide as of October 2023.
 
The vacant properties are more susceptible to damage, putting them at risk of pest infestations, collapse and other problems, and they're increasingly cropping up in rural areas with shrinking populations.