Disappearing Japan: Inside the dying village of Murō, Nara
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- Опубліковано 13 чер 2024
- I traveled to the northeastern corner of Nara Prefecture in Japan, to a mountainous part of the city of Uda. It used to be the village of Murō (室生村), until it was absorbed into the city in 2006. Here in the section of Murō known historically as Sambommatsu ("three pine trees"), I walked through the communities of the village to see their current state. I got to glimpse of some of the area's history, learn about its creativity and its famous sons, and see up-close what life has been like here in a declining Japanese village for so many decades.
The population of Uda has fallen by a third in the last 30 years and the decline shows no signs of stopping. Young people and others move to the big cities, and nobody comes to replace them. There is no construction. Several of the houses and schools are abandoned and crumbling - and while the remaining families often live in large, nicely kept houses and tend impressive gardens, it seems only a matter of time before those too become dormant and begin to decay.
For the few left, life goes on, even cheerfully, here in Murō, but the writing is on the wall. Like so many similar areas across Japan, there is a sense that the future will only get bleaker here as Japan's population continues to fall generally, and as nearby cities like Ōsaka, Kyōto and Nara continue to draw people away from these centuries-old communities.
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Bummer that the sky hole was closed! Loved exploring this dying town with you. Always sad to see a lost pet. 😢
Thanks for another great vlog.
Thanks. I had high hopes for my sky hole. Oh well - the fate of the Japanese countryside...
One can pretty much feel the endless melancholy of the place through the images. And this is one of the most developed countries on the planet. Unbelievable
When you think about it developed countries are the only places that can have something like this. If you abandon a village that's made up of some primitive huts its going to decay to nothing in a couple years.
Reminds me of some of the semi-abandoned settlements in Scotland. I suppose that rural depopulation is a global phenomenon. Nice piece!
I'm not likely to ever visit Japan, and so appreciate your travels to the real country. And the art installation reminds me of a Japanese film I saw in 1986 about the circle of life and death...very compelling. Keep travelling to places I can't please. Know you are appreciated.
Thank you very much!
Pretty well kept for being abandoned. Always interesting. Thanks Jeremy. Relax and chew on a Kit Kat. Well deserved. Coffee ☕️ chaser. 😊😊😊😊
Oh Kit Kats are a whole thing here. I don't eat them often myself, but they are always releasing limited-time new flavors and stuff
It looks like an ideal place to retreat for a while to write or paint. Japan, don't let the salarymen and the big corporations rob your soul! Places like this would be perfect settings for your creative class, if you still have one.
Good ideas, I could definitely see that. One imagines a Cormac McCarthy type figure, or JD Salinger, off in their nice rural house with a nice quiet view, writing and walking a dog...
Looks like the people are Home bodies in that town !
Think it comes with the territory!
Yes, we see this deurbanization everywhere, and that's just the kind of place I love. I don't think we saw one other person today, Jeremy. What would one of those traditional mansions cost? -- charlie, CA (also losing population)
I know, I was kind of hoping to run into someone and chat about the area. I did see one woman getting out of her car; we both said "konnichiwa" and I was going to go over to her but she went into a house before I could. Never really saw anyone else. I wouldn't know the cost of the places there, but I imagine they are relatively cheap (just a guess)
No graffiti. No vagrants. Even the trashpiles were relatively neat.
Very true. I am glad the people there think that way. Abandoned but respectful.
I think you're allowed to go up there, I think so. BTW that water van parked there seems sketchy.
I think you're allowed unless specifically asked not to ;)
It isn't uncommon to see people in idling cars somewhere sleeping in Japan. I think it's delivery people or sales people in between calls. Taxi drivers will do it too. I don't understand the idling car part, but it seems like normal part of some people's jobs 😅