[New Release] 9 Million Vacant Homes in Japan: Will There Be a Place to Live in 10 Years? — 'Vacant Houses as Liberal Arts' to be Released June 11

While Japan has 9 million homes with no residents, rents in urban areas are skyrocketing. People are saying they 'cannot buy or rent a place to live.' Rural areas are becoming depopulated, while urban centers are becoming unaffordable—this future is becoming a reality. On June 11 (Thursday), a book will be released that analyzes and explains this serious 'vacant house problem' from the perspective of an industry leader who manages over 600 vacant house acquisitions and revitalizations annually.

Bookdam Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Naki Kikuchi) will release the new book 'Kyoyo to shite no Akiya' (Vacant Houses as Liberal Arts) (Author: Tomoyuki Maruoka, Representative Director of NexWill Co., Ltd.) on June 11, 2026.

Currently, there are 9 million unoccupied homes in Japan, meaning one in seven residences is vacant—a high figure even among developed nations (Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, '2023 Housing and Land Survey'). Vacant houses continue to increase due to the triple structural problems of aging, population decline, and a 'new-build' priority. Author Tomoyuki Maruoka, CEO of NexWill, frames this as a national issue affecting every citizen, directly tied to rising rents in urban areas and the collapse of regional communities, rather than just a 'rural problem.'

This book systematically explains the problem's full picture, new possibilities for vacancy utilization, and practical solutions such as public-private partnership models, based on Maruoka's extensive field experience handling over 500 inquiries a month and agreements with 20 municipalities. From individual concerns like 'What should I do with my family home after my parents enter care?' to national challenges like 'Will my local town survive until 2040?', readers can learn about the vacancy issue from all angles.

Key Points of the Book

1. Realizing that the vacant house problem is not 'someone else's business'
Often thought of as a 'rural problem,' the book explains the mechanism by which rural decline leads to urban concentration and rent hikes. Readers will understand that this issue is directly linked to the housing, retirement, and assets of everyone living in Japan.

2. Understanding 'Why vacant houses are increasing'
The book carefully explains the 'triple wall' of tax, emotion, and inheritance that makes houses 'hard to sell' or 'hard to discard,' along with the problems of properties where rebuilding is prohibited and the unique Japanese structure where used homes are undervalued. Readers can also understand the background of laws and systems.

3. Visualizing the future of Japan 'if nothing is done'
If no countermeasures are taken, by 2040, abandoned houses will become a common sight, local buses will disappear, tax revenue will decline, and regions will be unable to maintain infrastructure. Readers will realize that thinking about the vacancy problem is equivalent to thinking about the future of Japan.

4. Finding hints to view 'social problems' as 'resources for the next era'
Introduces real cases of revitalizing vacant houses, such as using closed schools for regional economic development, regional revitalization models through stakeholder collaboration, and public-private partnership potential.

5. Conviction from a field-active author
The author is a practitioner who buys about 600 vacant houses a year and has concluded agreements with 20 municipalities. He shares the conviction that 'the vacant house problem can be solved' based on field experience rather than just theory.

Why do new homes keep being built when there is a surplus?
The shortest way to solve the vacancy problem is for more people to live in existing vacant homes. However, the reality is that the vast majority of people choose to live in new homes. While new homes continue to be supplied, existing homes remain unused and left as 'vacant houses.' This book explains the fundamental issues facing the Japanese housing market, focusing on government policies, the deeply rooted 'new-build myth,' and the structure of the real estate industry.

Vacant houses as regional resources that support 'living,' 'working,' and 'visiting'
When people think of vacant houses, they often think of issues like decay and management difficulties. However, a broader perspective is needed. Vacancy countermeasures are directly linked to sustainable urban development, as a reduction in vacancies energizes a region. This book introduces successful cases that have achieved regional revitalization through three pillars: 'population growth,' 'industrial revitalization,' and 'tourism increase.'