<
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-01/muji-revives-japan-s-danchi-housing-complexes-to-tackle-loneliness>
"Discussions around the loneliness epidemic are growing around the world, and
in Japan, which has one of the world’s fastest-aging populations, the issue is
never far from sight.
One place where the problem manifests is in the country’s vast housing
complexes, known as danchi. Built to provide affordable yet modern dwellings to
support the country’s post-war recovery, the complexes were initially seen as
an aspirational dream for the rising middle class. Some of the existing
complexes are publicly owned, while others are managed by semi-public entity
UR. Over time, as the country grew richer and population growth started to
slow, they gradually fell into disrepair and emptied out.
Despite their decline, danchi still stand to provide affordable housing for
lower-income Japanese households — but the stigma surrounding them keeps some
people away. The government is now looking for ways to reinvigorate the
complexes. So is the parent company behind the popular household goods maker
Muji, a brand with the reach to potentially dispel the stigma around danchi.
On the public side, the government plans to relax laws to allow convenience
stores and other shops within danchi. The Ministry of Land offers subsidies for
local governments and the private sector to jointly revamp danchi by building
daycare centers or housing for elderly people. Local governments like Chiba
City hands out up to 600,000 yen ($4,000) to couples — including same-sex
couples — who move to designated danchi in the city.
Ryohin Keikaku Co., Muji’s parent company, is also working to breathe new life
into danchi. The minimalist brand has been renovating individual units for over
a decade, revamping outdated features like kitchens and traditional tatami
flooring in its attempt to attract younger residents. More recently, Muji has
widened its remit to broader danchi neighborhoods, working with UR to tackle
social isolation."
Via David Byrne at
Reasons to be Cheerful:
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-environmental-justice-ice-skating/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
