A new book, The Lost World, highlights Japan’s abandoned countryside

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(CNN) – Simply put, the word “Japan” brings images of manga, meadows and neon lights.

But for Dutch photographer Maan Limburg, Japan is a series of empty landscapes.

Photographs of these places – from natural disaster homes to closed theaters – are now featured in the book “The Lost World”, published in May.

Houses of Japanese Spirits

Japan is one of the oldest in the world, with more than 1,500 people over 100 years of age.
This is not the only major influence on Japan’s landscape. Extreme events, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and the Fukushima nuclear disaster, have wreaked havoc.

Enter event akiya or ghost houses.

A.D. A government report in 2014 warned that if the situation continued, it would “destroy” some 900 villages and towns in Japan.

03 Body Lost World Japan

Limburg not only found vacant houses – there were also abandoned businesses such as a DVD store.

Maan Limburg / The Lost World

But even free housing is not a cure for Japanese agitation. Other aging countries, such as Italy, often come with visas or residence permits when offering or selling cheap homes to foreigners. But Japanese houses do not.

As a result, it can be difficult to find people who do not speak Japanese or who are willing to live and repair their home.

Limburg, who lives in Utrecht, was drawn to the less fortunate part of Japan, where most of these homes were located. She and her partner rented a car or van and drove for months in parts of the country where many tourists rarely care.

Finding ephemera, such as calendars and newspapers, helps Limburg know when a place has been abandoned.

Finding ephemera, such as calendars and newspapers, helps Limburg know when a place has been abandoned.

Maan Limburg / The Lost World

Leaving the cities

“She has fallen in love with rural Japan,” Limburg said.

“Everywhere we go, people say, ‘What are you doing here? The tourist attraction near you is 35 kilometers away. We can send you there. We can draw a map for you if you want.’ It was great to see this unique side of Japan, ”she said.

And once she starts visiting small villages, it is almost impossible to find empty houses or abandoned buildings. At one point, Limburg says, her boyfriend asked if they really had to stop at each other.

One of the reasons why Limburg came in contact with rural Japan was because it reminded her of her homeland, the Netherlands. Although both countries have a reputation for being cold and not always welcoming foreign visitors, Limburg disagrees.

“People in the Netherlands share a lot of information with you when they see that you are interested. That’s what I found to be true in Japan,” she said. “One of the things I enjoy most in both countries is that if you have a genuine interest in people, they will suddenly share their lives with you.”

But of course, not all rural areas are the same, and that is reflected in the empty buildings he found.

In Hokkaido, Limburg, many people had time to properly close and close their homes before leaving. But it is not uncommon in places like Fukushima, where people have to flee in a hurry, to still be seated or to watch television sets.

One of her personal favorites was the former theater. The show has seemed a bit unfocused in recent episodes, however;

Some small houses had a very emotional punch. Limburg still saw family photos hanging on the wall and found them thinking about what had happened to the people living there and what had caused them to leave.

“I hope I treat the places with enough respect,” she said.

Her favorite region was Hokkaido’s “magical” northern island.

“It’s cruel and brutal and weird,” says the photographer. “We felt like we were in Edward Hopper’s painting without anyone.”

"After you start looking for empty houses" Says Limburg "They are everywhere."

“Once you start looking for empty homes, they are everywhere,” says Limburg.

Maan Limburg / The Lost World

Reflection

In all, Limburg has visited Japan 10 times since she was a teenager.

As a freelancer, she was able to spend a lot of time in Japan, and her average visit was three weeks. Many trips have allowed her to see different parts of the country, as well as meet and meet some people she met along the way.

“The Lost World” is more than a photo book – it is a tribute to the country she loves and respects.

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