Breathing New Life into Japan's Abandoned Houses

Mar 23, 2025 | News On Japan

KOBE - As the number of vacant houses across Japan continues to rise—now estimated at 9 million—a unique group in Kobe is tackling what many consider a lost cause: severely dilapidated homes, or 'haioku.'

This mysterious group, known as "LLC Haioku," has made it their mission to restore these borderline-uninhabitable structures that most people would avoid.

At the heart of the operation is group leader Nishimura, along with Maru-chan, the on-site manager raising young children; Nori, an aspiring artist raised in the U.S.; and a passionate team driven by sweat, setbacks, and the belief in hidden potential.

"What is it that only a derelict house can offer?" the team asks as they chip away at collapsed walls and flaking paint. Amid harsh conditions and tight timelines, they remain determined: "Even if it's tough work, there's meaning in what we do."

Their restoration projects are not just about physical structures, but about rekindling forgotten spaces with new value, joy, and purpose.

The documentary program "Haioku REBORN" airs on March 28th at 1:55 a.m., showcasing their journey and the surprising potential they find hidden within Japan’s crumbling homes.

Source: KTV NEWS

Typhoon No. 15 Set to Make Landfall in Kanto Tonight

Typhoon No. 15 (Chan-hom) is expected to make landfall near Ibaraki Prefecture between around 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on August 11, bringing rapidly strengthening winds, high waves and heavy rain to parts of Kanto and southern Tohoku, with unsettled weather potentially continuing even after the storm moves inland.

H3 Rocket No. 9 Successfully Launches Japan GPS Satellite

Japan's H3 Rocket No. 9 successfully placed the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite into its planned orbit after lifting off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 4:23 a.m. on August 11, marking the country's second consecutive successful H3 launch.

Tokaido Shinkansen Runs First Overnight Service

The Tokaido Shinkansen operated its first overnight service ahead of the Obon holiday period, offering travelers a 15,000 yen trip from the Tokyo area to Kyoto and Shin-Osaka while allowing them to save on hotel costs and arrive earlier than the first regular morning trains.

Typhoon No. 15 to Disrupt Travel on August 11

Typhoon No. 15 is expected to approach and likely make landfall somewhere in the Kanto region on August 11, bringing strong winds and heavy rain that could disrupt conventional rail services, expressways and flights while also affecting a wider area extending into Tohoku.

Raccoon Damage Surges Across Japan

Raccoons are increasingly invading homes across Japan, damaging roofs and wiring, contaminating buildings with large amounts of urine and feces, and raising concerns over agriculture, native wildlife and the spread of disease as their population continues to expand.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Men's Parasols and Air Conditioner Sales Rise

Japan's street-level economic sentiment improved for a third consecutive month in July, supported by sharply hotter weather after the end of the rainy season and the start of the summer vacation period, with stronger sales of products including men's parasols and air conditioners.

Nikkei Rises as AI Buying Returns and BOJ Rate-Hike Bets Build

Tokyo stocks rose on August 10, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 66,376.25, up 1.2%, as investors bought electronics, metals and artificial intelligence-related shares, while fresh signs of a more hawkish Bank of Japan debate kept attention on the yen, bond yields and the timing of the next rate increase.

Japan Posts 92.3 Billion Yen Current Account Deficit in June

Japan recorded a current account deficit of 92.3 billion yen in June, its first shortfall in 17 months, as a sharp increase in import costs outpaced growth in exports.

BOJ Debate Shifts Toward Quicker Rate Hikes

Several Bank of Japan policymakers have signaled support for accelerating interest rate increases, with one member warning that the pace of hikes could become faster than financial markets currently expect as the central bank pays greater attention to upside inflation risks.

Yen Unlikely to Repeat 2024 Summer Surge as U.S. Rates Stay High

A repeat of the sharp yen appreciation seen in the summer of 2024 is unlikely under current conditions, with persistently high U.S. interest rates and continued structural pressure on Japan's currency making another rapid surge difficult, according to UBS wealth management chief investment officer Daiju Aoki.

Japanese Companies Report Strong Profits as AI, Energy and Consumer Demand Drive Earnings

Japanese companies delivered a wave of strong earnings on August 7, with Fujikura, Recruit Holdings, INPEX and several other major groups raising forecasts as artificial intelligence investment, higher resource prices and resilient consumer demand lifted profits.

Nikkei Slips as Chip Selling Offsets Broader Market Strength

Tokyo stocks ended slightly lower on August 7, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 65,606.71, down 76.55 points, or 0.12%, as selling in chip-related and artificial intelligence-linked shares outweighed solid buying in the broader market and a late recovery led by Fujikura.

Nippon Steel Targets High-Performance Steel

Nippon Steel has completed a new production line at its Nagoya Works after investing about 300 billion yen, as Japan's largest steelmaker seeks to expand production of high-performance steel products primarily for automakers.

< 2 3 4 5 >