An unlit house sits empty at dusk in a suburb of Tokyo, its surrounding garden completely overgrown with dense vegetation that hasn¡¯t been cut back in years.
It¡¯s a scene that can be found in many parts of Japan, as the number of akiya (abandoned buildings) swells to worrying levels nationwide.
In 2018, these structures ¡ª the result of unsustainable growth for several decades followed by sharp demographic decline ¡ª totaled 8.5 million units, or 14% of Japan¡¯s overall housing stock, according to government figures. The Nomura Research Institute has estimated that this figure could exceed 30% by 2033.
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