Can Japan’s Akiya Movement Rebuild Rural Communities?

In Japan, an aging population, declining birthrate, and a concentrating of jobs in the major cities, has left rural areas across the Japanese countryside littered with abandoned houses—known as akiya, or “empty homes.” Now, a movement is on the rise to repurpose and enliven them with artistry and craft. "Can Japan’s Akiya Movement Rebuild Rural Communities?" originally appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by KIMBERLY HUGHESIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by CHRIS EGUSAProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS