(ふえる)

to increase; to grow

(あきや)

empty house, vacant house

(やど)

lodging; inn

(みせ)

shop, store

(いかす)

to make use of, to put to good use

(ぜんこく)

nationwide; the whole country

(だれ)

who

(すむ)

to live; to reside

(そうむしょう)

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

(ちょうさ)

investigation; survey

(じゅうたく)

housing; residence

(およそ)

approximately, roughly

(ななけん)

seven houses (軒 counts buildings)

(いっけん)

one building, a single shop

(もちぬし)

owner

(とおい)

far; distant

(かんり)

management, administration

(いきとどく)

to be thorough, to be well looked after

(れい)

example; case

(すくない)

few, scarce

(こうした)

such / this kind of

(しゅくはく)

lodging, staying overnight

(しせつ)

facility; institution

(いんしょくてん)

restaurant, eating establishment

(うまれかわる)

to be reborn, to be transformed

(うごき)

movement; trend

(かくち)

various places, everywhere

(はじまる)

to begin

(ふるい)

old (things)

(はしら)

pillar, post

(つちかべ)

earthen wall, mud wall

(そのまま)

as it is, unchanged

(のこす)

to leave behind, to leave uneaten

(みずまわり)

plumbing areas (kitchen, bath, toilet)

(あたらしい)

new

(ひよう)

expense, cost

(おさえる)

to hold down; to curb

(たてもの)

building

(あじわい)

flavour, character, charm

(たもつ)

to keep, to preserve

(ただし)

however, provided that

(かいしゅう)

renovation, refurbishment

(せんもん)

specialty; expert field

(しょくにん)

craftsman / artisan

(ひつよう)

necessary / needed

(ひとで)

manpower, workers

(かくほ)

securing, ensuring

(かだい)

issue, problem, challenge

(じちたい)

local government / municipality

(ほじょきん)

subsidy, grant

(ようい)

preparation; readiness

(いじゅう)

migration, moving to another area

(かんがえる)

to think; to consider

(わかい)

young

(せだい)

generation

(じょうほう)

information

(はっしん)

to send out (information), to transmit

is doing, has been doing (ongoing state/action)

Expresses a continuing action or resulting state. Formed with て-form + いる. Can describe an action in progress or a state resulting from a past change.

to continue doing ...

Verb stem + 続ける expresses continuing an action. The て-form あげ続ける means 'continue giving'. A common compound verb pattern.

according to ...

Cites a source of information. The noun before によると is the source. Often followed by a reported statement.

to become

Expresses a change of state; Kawai became the new commissioner of the Sports Agency.

there are not a few ~, quite a few ~

A double negative used in news writing to say a number is significant without giving a figure. Here it means quite a few bridges are still closed.

as / in the role of

Marks the role, capacity, or status in which something is treated. Used here as 特別な史跡として (as a special historic site).

to make/let something do (causative form)

Godan verbs form the causative by changing -u to -aseru. 走る becomes 走らせる, so 新幹線を自動で走らせる技術 is technology that makes the Shinkansen run automatically.

By doing; through the act of

Indicates that the preceding action serves as a means or cause for what follows. 'アメリカとウクライナが一緒に開発することで' means 'by developing together'.

while doing ...

Verb stem + ながら indicates doing two things simultaneously. The action before ながら is the secondary action; the main action follows.

can do ..., to be able to ...

Verb dictionary form + ことができる expresses ability or possibility. More formal than the potential verb form. Common in written Japanese and announcements.

toward, directed at, addressing

Indicates the target or direction of an action. Often used when someone speaks to an audience or works toward a goal. Formed with noun + に向けて.

増える空き家を宿や店に生かす

Putting the growing number of vacant houses to use as inns and shops

全国で誰も住んでいない空き家が増え続けています。

Across the country, the number of vacant houses where nobody lives keeps increasing.

総務省の調査によると、住宅のおよそ七軒に一軒が空き家になっています。

According to a survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, roughly one in seven homes is vacant.

持ち主が遠くに住んでいて、管理が行き届かない例も少なくありません。

There are quite a few cases where the owner lives far away and the property is not properly looked after.

こうした空き家を、宿泊施設や飲食店として生まれ変わらせる動きが各地で始まっています。

Efforts to turn such vacant houses into lodging facilities and restaurants are starting in many parts of the country.

古い柱や土壁をそのまま残し、水回りだけを新しくすることで、費用を抑えながら建物の味わいを保つことができます。

By leaving the old pillars and earthen walls as they are and renewing only the plumbing, the character of the building can be preserved while keeping costs down.

ただし、改修には専門の職人が必要で、人手の確保が課題になっています。

However, the renovations require specialist craftsmen, and securing enough workers has become a challenge.

自治体は補助金を用意し、移住を考える若い世代に向けて情報を発信しています。

Local governments are offering subsidies and sending out information aimed at younger people who are considering moving there.