Realities and Challenges of Land Issues in the Era of Depopulation

Abandoned and unclaimed land has emerged as a major policy issue in Japan, where the population is dwindling and property values are falling in many areas, including big cities. This article analyzes this alarming issue using the results of a nationwide survey conducted by the author targeting 1719 local authorities, which revealed a disconnection between the existing landownership system and rapid demographic change. Policy initiatives are needed to address three basic challenges, namely, how to get people to register title transfers when they inherit real estate; how to protect and manage land that has no immediate prospect for use; and how to improve the data collection and management infrastructure.