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Did you know that 13,6% of all buildings in Japan are empty, according to the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications? I do now - I was shocked to find empty place after empty place, as I am from a country that has a dire shortage of housing (Netherlands). I was intrigued and obsessively started to photograph everything I encountered while traveling from Hokkaido to Hiroshima.

It took me a while but these photos and this adventure is being printed into a book at the moment. For more info click here

More info: maanlimburg.com | Facebook | Instagram

These photos were all taken over the span of two months in 2018 and 2019 and from all across Japan. I could not resist capturing these desolate places when we drove pas them, always taking care to respect the places we found.

These empty buildings, usually referred to as Akiya, are a big problem in Japan and there's a lot of different reasons for them - ranging from cultural, political and of course, the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. In my book, these will be explained a bit more - and in the accompanying exhibition you will be invited to experience the locations a bit more with smell, sound and images.

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Five Images Of A Very Abandoned Japan (Project Title: The Lost World)

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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want some of the screens In one room of my future house. Like a Japanese themed room.(because that is where I want to visit and explore)

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Five Images Of A Very Abandoned Japan (Project Title: The Lost World)

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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always wonder the backstory of what could have happened. What about yall?

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There's something sad but also something inherently beautiful in all of these abandoned places. And the overwhelming amount of them; people are quick to think these are all from Fukushima (which some are) but most of them are really from all over Japan.

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Five Images Of A Very Abandoned Japan (Project Title: The Lost World)

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JM
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am thinking about all the life lived in this room.

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If somebody would go "wow, there's beauty in this sadness" - that's pretty much what I'm hoping for. The images are a reflection of stillness, of the beauty in decay - I'd love for people to stop and wonder what went on there - about the now worthless memories and trinkets that once were somebody's life. It's surreal and real at the same time. There's a form of magic in places like this to me. And I hope I can share my wonder with them.

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Five Images Of A Very Abandoned Japan (Project Title: The Lost World)

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JM
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

again thinking about the people who used to be here - what were their stories?

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Photography is my way of expressing myself, the tool of my trade, my ticket to meet new people and go new places - my way to never stop being curious and a way to show others my thoughts and feelings. It's a never-ending exploration, which I love.

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KC Lancaster
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So odd "scrappers" haven't come by to recycle the metal parts on the outside of the buildings. I'm just thinking that as someone who's into recycling. I believe the Japanese to be very much into that as well...?

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Five Images Of A Very Abandoned Japan (Project Title: The Lost World)

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Shyla Clay
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It would be neat to restore. Well, it would be neat for someone else to restore.

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