Japan's Aging Nanmoku Village Forges Peru Sister City Ties to Address Labor Shortage
Nanmoku, a quaint village in Japan with a population of 1,337 as of July, is grappling with a demographic challenge as the majority of its inhabitants are over 65. The community's essential services are under pressure due to a lack of workers, especially care providers and bus drivers, many of whom are in their seventies. To remedy this, the village has established a partnership with Belen, Peru, which boasts a younger demographic. Mayor Saijo Hasegawa, aged 73, cautioned that within five years, the village could struggle to maintain its population. Once prosperous through sericulture and forestry, the decline of these industries has exacerbated the labor crisis. Additionally, Nanmoku is marketing vacant homes to potential newcomers and has transitioned nursing home management to a resident-led non-profit for more adaptable hiring practices.
Key facts
- Nanmoku is a Japanese village with a population of 1,337 as of the end of July.
- Most of Nanmoku's villagers are above 65, making it Japan's greyest village.
- Belen, Peru, has a population of about 80,000, many of them young.
- Nanmoku Mayor Saijo Hasegawa, 73, warned that in five years the community may lack enough people to support itself.
- The village once thrived on sericulture (silk farming) and forestry.
- Care workers are in short supply and many community bus drivers are in their seventies.
- Japan faces a national labor shortage due to its low birth rate and is increasingly turning to foreign workers.
- Nanmoku has tried to attract domestic residents by introducing vacant homes and has entrusted a nursing home and roadside station to a resident-founded non-profit.
- Anti-immigrant sentiment has grown in Japan in recent years.
- Nanmoku and Belen are sister cities, and the village is looking to Peru to plug its worker shortage.
Entities
Artists
- Saijo Hasegawa
Locations
- Nanmoku
- Japan
- Belen
- Peru