Last Glimpse of Japan’s Beautiful Old Houses? Lost Japan (ft. Alex Kerr)

In this video, I journey to the island of Shikoku to meet up with author, @alexakerr1 to look at how he's been restoring old, vacant and abandoned houses in the Iya Valley and Utazu, amid Japan's rapid urbanisation.

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00:00 Intro
28:16 Nagoro Scarecrow Village of the Dolls

#shikoku #japan #japanesehouse

[alexakerr]

Thank you Jaya! It was great spending a few days with you in Iya, and the weather was good to us since we saw the magical mists at their best. I'm so impressed at how you produced this video, maybe the most beautiful ever done of Iya and the houses. And it's not only beautifully filmed, but you cover the social and heritage issues, as well as the practical challenges of restoring these old houses. It also might be the only one in any depth about Utazu. Now I want to come and visit you in Ibaraki!

[davidwhite]

As a retired carpenter, it saddens my heart when I see all these beautiful homes all over the world being lost and abandoned. Like a grandfather you want to try and save them. I hope more young people will realize what they have and try to do things to save these places.

[yeevita]

OMG, I totally resonated with "Show me an ancient, abandoned house that's got grass growing on the roof and I am happy." I happily agree! I love seeing traditional Japanese houses and architecture and crafts. I love the whole thing: Abandoned, history, falling down, restoration. I love it all.

I also love that the restoration includes modern amenities to make the places liveable. There is no point if the whole thing sits and rots again. Buildings actually do need people to care for them. People who want to live in them will also care for the buildings.

[jefpop]

since your house is nearing completion, i love that you're discovering where this channel is going next. and i think these kind of videos are exactly what you and your audience are interested in. looking forward to the next one

[kimbeauxs]

I've dreamed of going to Japan for 30+ years and would love to explore these old homes. 🥺

[kennethbolton]

I lived as a teen ager in Japan in the sixties and it left such an impression with me that it has followed me everywhere I go, (I have a xerophytic Japanese Zen Moon garden in back yard here in Tucson Az.), and when I see pictures such as these I ache with a sense of longing and remembrance. My Dad said once: "You don't assimilate Japan, it slowly assimilates you".

[peterbawright]

It’s heartbreaking to see these traditional villages fading away. I’m glad there’s people like yourself who continue to use these houses but with modern amenities.

[nearly-blindbrian]

simply stunning.. this was no a VLOG, this is a National Geographic show.. Extremely well done.. Thanks for sharing such a magical journey with me

[jamesclukey]

Beautiful and sad at the same time ! I had read that the population of Japan had fallen dramatically, but it's also in danger of losing it's culture and heritage. Thanks to people like you and Alex who care about restoring the beauty and serenity of that land and it's architecture. I was really chilled by the dolls in that town. Especially how they were staged, almost as if they were posing for pictures in some cases. While others simply looked frozen in time, like ghosts of what was. Very haunting to see.

[dbwatx]

It breaks my heart to see the villages like this. I have been wanting to come back to Japan to find my grandmothers home. I only have an old address to go by. But all my mothers brothers and sisters are diseased. I spent every summer there with her and loved it. She pass 42 years ago. I keep hoping that Japan will open up to tourism soon so I can find her home once again. I would love to buy it and fix it up.

[roberttherrien]

Beautiful . If only I was 20 years younger. That small restaurant in the mountain with the view was simply gorgeous. And that ending was so well done :)

[meisuilanellsworth]

As a child, I lived in the outskirts of Tokyo in the 50's, living in an old farm house with my family. This was a wonderful video, bringing back memories of mingei living in the old Japanese way. Thank you so much. I hope you will make more of these videos, luring people from all over the world to go back to living the simple country life still possible in Japan!

[TheAcer]

Karl Bengs is a a role model for these restorations.He is a German architect who first visited Japan in 1966. He buys old Japanese farmhouses, rebuilds them them in his own distinctive style and with all mod cons.

[Mimeh]

The loss of this architecture would be the Swan Song of Japanese culture. It is one of the most astounding things about the country, one of the most beautiful aspects of Japan. You might as well just tear down the cherry blossoms. It is very heartening to know that younger Japanese are coming to the rescue. And people like you, Jaya-san, to restore and modernize an irreplaceable treasure!

[giantmoose]

You've put in a huge amount of effort into this video and it shows. Simply excellent! Well done. I look forward to any future projects you do. You've got a knack for this.

[bvd]

This was an exquisitely filmed documentary of a beautiful part of Japan I knew nothing about. Thank you for sharing this with your subscribers.

It's inspiring to see the efforts people like Alex are making to preserve Japan's architectural heritage and integrate it with modern living practices. It's too important to just let it disappear.

[danemcrae]

Amazing views! Props to Alex for all the beautiful work he has helped preserve and improve. Got a legitimate laugh at the end there too.

[tokyospin]

Been here in Japan for 6 years and Alex is my new hero.. What a legend! Must read his book . Great vid mate 👌

[halesm]

That 1st house has such beautiful details! It really would be a huge shame if it's torn down.
Great job with Chiiori, Alex. So beautful.

[avivasquez]

This is so nice and so relaxing and nostalgic. It reminds me so much of this random show on tv way back 2004-2009-ish which features mostly rural places in japan. I loved that show so much and wasn't able to remember the name because it was written in kanji. I was in grade school back then and it was what made me fall in love with japan culture. I've said it before but visiting japan and it's rural places is one of my biggest dream and I hope to do so before I die.