Why Are Millions of Houses Empty in Japan?

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1. 01Why Are Millions of Houses Empty in Japan?

   Good afternoon, everyone. When people think of Japan, they often imagine crowded cities. But there is another side to the story: millions of empty houses. Today, I'd like to look at the numbers and ask why this is happening.

   大家午安。人們想到日本時，常常會想到擁擠的城市。但這個故事還有另一面：數以百萬計的空房子。今天，我想看看相關的數字，並探討一下為什麼會出現這種情況。

2. 02What Is an Akiya?

   In Japanese, an empty house is called an akiya. Many of them are old family homes in the countryside, but you can find them in cities, too.

   在日語裡，空房子叫作akiya（空置房）。其中很多是農村的老家宅，但城市裡也能看到。

3. 03The Numbers

   According to the government's 2023 Housing and Land Survey, there are about nine million empty homes in Japan. That is thirteen point eight percent of all homes, and it is a record high.

   根據政府2023年的住宅和土地統計調查，日本大約有九百萬套空置住宅。這佔全部住宅的百分之十三點八，創下了歷史新高。

   Sources: Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2023 Housing and Land Survey; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2018 Housing and Land Survey

4. 04Cause 1: An Aging Society

   One major cause is Japan's aging society. When older owners pass away, their children often live far away in big cities, so nobody moves into the house.

   一個主要原因是日本的老齡化社會。年長的房主去世後，他們的子女往往住在很遠的大城市，所以沒有人搬進這棟房子。

5. 05Cause 2: Costs and Culture

   Another cause is cost. Old houses often need expensive repairs, and tearing them down also costs money. On top of that, many buyers in Japan prefer brand-new houses.

   另一個原因是費用。老房子往往需要昂貴的維修，而拆掉也要花錢。除此之外，日本很多買家更喜歡全新的房子。

6. 06Why It Matters

   This matters because empty houses can become dangerous. Roofs can fall in during storms, and neighborhoods with many empty homes can feel lonely and unsafe.

   這個問題之所以重要，是因為空房子可能變得很危險。暴風雨時屋頂可能會塌下來，而空房子多的街區會讓人覺得冷清、不安全。

7. 07A Second Life for Old Houses

   The good news is that some akiya are getting a second life. My uncle bought an old house through his town's akiya bank, a website that lists empty homes, and turned it into a small café.

   好訊息是，有些空置房正在迎來第二次生命。我叔叔透過他所在小鎮的「空置房銀行」——一個列出空房子資訊的網站——買下了一棟老房子，把它改造成了一家小咖啡館。

8. 08Conclusion

   To sum up, Japan's empty houses are a growing problem, but they are also an opportunity. With creative ideas, old homes can bring life back to quiet towns. Thank you.

   總之，日本的空房子是一個日益嚴重的問題，但也是一個機會。有了創意，老房子就能讓安靜的小鎮重新煥發活力。謝謝大家。