Aging population leaves 9 million houses empty in Japan

Japan is grappling with a significant issue as approximately 9 million houses have been left empty across the country. The nation's aging population, coupled with a declining birth rate, has led to a mass exodus of younger generations to urban areas, leaving many rural villages deserted. As the elderly population continues to grow, the challenge of managing these vacant properties intensifies, with entire communities slowly fading away. The phenomenon is particularly evident in villages like Nanmoku, located about 100 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, where once-thriving communities now face the stark reality of abandonment.

Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride reports from Nanmoku.

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