Despite its rich history and beautiful landscapes, most settlements in rural Japan suffer from outmigration, aging, and depopulation. Known as chiiki okoshi kyouryoukutai, the LRC promises three years ...

By John Geddie and Joseph Campbell SHIRAKAWA, Japan (Reuters) -Shiroki Mitsunari does not remember seeing bears in the ...

The Japanese government is significantly boosting the amount of money it is offering families to leave the bustling metropolis and move to rural areas that are experiencing population declines. The ...

Akita Prefecture has Japan's most aged population, lowest birthrate and fastest declining population. Rigid gender roles are prompting young women to leave rural areas like this for opportunities ...

Land prices rose across Japan for a second straight year, with values in rural residential areas ending a three-decade decline, buoyed by low interest rates, factory construction and a tourism rebound ...

An epidemic of bear attacks has led authorities in northern Japan to ask for assistance from the Self-Defense Forces.