News
February 2025 | Introduced on Shizuoka Asahi Television's "Tobikkiri! Shizuoka" |
January 2025 | Introduced on Shizuoka Daiichi TV's "Marugoto" |
December 2024 | Featured in "Co-creation Tamachiiki" |
Lectured at Tokai University and Asia University | |
Lectured at the "Housing Support Seminar" hosted by the Tachikawa City Housing Support Council | |
November 2024 | Lectured at the 52nd All-Youth Shizuoka National Training Session of the National Association of Young Judicial Scriveners |
September 2024 | Featured in "LIFULL HOME'S PRESS" |
Vision
We aim to create a society where everyone can live comfortably
People in society find it difficult to live for various reasons.
Each person's difficulty in living stems from their own personal circumstances, and it may seem like it's their own fault.
However, a broader perspective often reveals that the issue lies not with the individual, but with society itself.
We aim to structurally address the issue of difficulty in living faced by society and create a system that contributes to its solution as a sustainable business.
Through this, we strive to achieve a society where everyone can live comfortably.
Specifically, we will first focus on appropriately delivering surplus resources to places in need, thereby working to ensure that economic opportunities in society are more efficient and equitable.
1. Poverty
According to a visual survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2021, there are over 3,800 people nationwide experiencing homelessness.*1 Additionally, a 2018 survey by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government estimated that approximately 4,000 people in Tokyo were living in internet cafés or similar facilities after losing their homes. These figures represent the number of people known to be directly struggling with housing, and it goes without saying that reducing this number to near zero is critically important. Furthermore, it's estimated that 1 in 6 people in Japan falls into the category of relative poverty,*2 and when considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation appears to be quite severe.
Japan is considered a developed country and has systems such as welfare benefits in place. However, there have been several cases of starvation, indicating that, unfortunately, public policies and systems are still not fully adequate. According to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, the estimated uptake rate of welfare benefits in 2018—meaning the percentage of people with incomes below the level eligible for the system who actually use it—was 22.6%. In contrast, countries like the UK and Germany have uptake rates of around 80%, showing that Japan's rate is notably low from an international perspective.
When we talk about poverty, it can encompass a wide range of situations depending on the individual. In particular, there are those with complex personal circumstances that prevent them from accessing safety nets like welfare benefits. According to a survey conducted in 2020 by the Tsukuroi Tokyo Fund, a general incorporated association, respondents cited reasons such as "resistance to dependency inquiries due to family circumstances," "having experienced poor conditions in shelters," and "reluctance or difficulty in relying on public funds". *3
Therefore, we believe there is a need for shelters where people can achieve a certain degree of economic independence and live a stable life without being connected to the safety net, or even before they are connected. With this in mind, we work with other support organizations to support people struggling to find housing and work.
*1: The definition by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is "a person who lives and works in urban parks, rivers, roads, train stations and other facilities without any reason."
*2: Relative poverty refers to a state in which a person lives on less than half the income of the middle person when all citizens are ranked in order of income. Japan's relative poverty rate is 15.7%, which is high among OECD countries (OECD 2017 survey).
*3: Since the survey was in a written format, please note that the responses have been summarized and paraphrased by us rather than presented in their original wording.
2. Discrimination
It is generally understood that the number of available properties significantly decreases for foreigners and sexual minorities when searching for housing. In fact, according to a 2017 survey conducted by the Ministry of Justice, about 40% of foreigners living in Japan have experienced being denied housing due to their nationality. Our company's representative, who once lived in an international student dormitory, frequently heard from former residents about the difficulties they faced in finding housing after leaving the dormitory.
Additionally, according to a 2018 survey conducted by Recruit, among 362 respondents nationwide who self-identified as LGBT, 28.7% reported experiencing discrimination, prejudice, or difficulties due to their sexuality when searching for rental housing, and 31.1% encountered these issues when purchasing a home. Furthermore, in the same year, Recruit surveyed real estate owners across the country about their willingness to rent to LGBT tenants. The results showed that 27.4% of owners did not want to rent to male couples, 25.9% to female couples, 20.3% to transgender individuals, 22.8% to single gay men, and 20.4% to single lesbian women.
In addition, many properties are known to avoid renting to the elderly, people with disabilities, and welfare recipients.
We aim to address this issue by managing the renovated properties as safe spaces, where everyone is respected and can feel psychologically secure.
Experienced discrimination, prejudice, or difficulties due to their sexuality
3. Vacant Houses
According to a 2018 survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, there are 8.46 million vacant houses nationwide (about 13.6% of the total). This number has been increasing yearly, and Nomura Research Institute predicts that one-third of the detached houses in the country will be vacant by 2033.
Factors contributing to the increase in vacant houses include the aging population, the costs associated with management, demolition, and renovation, as well as the property tax system. These vacant houses are considered problematic within communities because they contribute to negative externalities in terms of disaster prevention, security, hygiene, and aesthetics.
When the National Federation of Real Estate Transaction Associations conducted a survey of vacant house owners nationwide in 2016, at least 30% of the owners answered that they wanted to rent or sell their vacant house. We approach this problem by proactively connecting with owners who are struggling with issues regarding organizing and renovating their homes and helping them solve those issues.
Corresponding SDGs
Business Model
Voice of the Renovators
In our company, a 'Renovator' refers to someone who participates in the renovation of vacant houses while living on-site. While the term means 'someone who renovates' in English, for us, it embodies a desire to revitalize not just vacant homes, but also the communities and society around them. We see Renovators as central to this transformative movement.
Mx. N
I had concerns about whether I could manage living alone due to my disability and work-related challenges, but I decided to take the plunge and move in. Whenever I encountered difficulties, I received support, which allowed me to start living independently smoothly and comfortably. It also became a source of emotional support. The environment was so comfortable that I continued working even after the on-site renovation period ended and the location changed.
The management team is very warm and welcoming. It always felt like working with friends, and it was nothing but enjoyable. I would wake up excited by the sound of the management team unlocking the door in the morning and eagerly join the renovation work.
Ms. A
In addition to being sensitive to anxiety and failure myself, I initially faced uncertainty and challenges as a novice with no experience, which sometimes led to moments of panic. However, the experienced members around me provided gentle support whenever needed, which gradually helped me feel more confident and at ease with my work.
The shift schedule is based on self-reporting, but in practice, participation and time slots are flexible, allowing for a work environment free of pressure. The option to take breaks as needed makes it easier to work, even with concerns about stamina. The supportive environment facilitates an easy assessment of the current situation and aids in planning future working arrangements.
Representative Profile
Takayuki Kai
Born in Saitama Prefecture. After losing his father in the first grade of elementary school, he was raised by his mother and supported by the social safety net. Due to his mother's work, he spent the latter half of his elementary school years in Canada, where he found it challenging to navigate the different languages and cultures of the two countries. Upon entering Hitotsubashi University, he became deeply engaged with social issues such as poverty through his studies, realizing that he was born into a different environment than those directly affected, and that he was able to attend university thanks to an environment that allowed him to strive. Since then, he has been actively involved in student groups alongside his peers and went on to major in development economics in graduate school, studying abroad in Toronto on a scholarship. After graduation, he worked in public works consulting, where he was responsible for research and proposals during the preliminary stages of public-private partnerships and urban development policies. His contributions were recognized, and he was appointed project manager in the latter half of his first year. In October 2020, he left his job to establish Renovate Japan.
Our initiatives
1st Project: Turning Vision into Reality
The search for a property was challenging due to its unprecedented nature. Eventually, we found this single-family home in Kokubunji. It marked our first experience accepting Renovators, who were supported in stabilizing their lives for about two months. Additionally, after the renovation, we successfully operated it as a rental share house, achieving profitability. This location represents the realization of our new vision for a social business.
2nd Project: Expanding the business
A vacant apartment in Kodaira. Despite some mishaps, such as leaks due to the building's age, the renovation was completed without incident. Two renovators were employed here for a total of four months. With multiple successful cases, the reproducibility of the project became evident. The project was also featured in the media, drawing a lot of attention, and various needs from society became apparent. This made us want to get the local community more involved and start a movement.
3rd Project: The Starting 'Nest'
A family home filled with many memories for the owner and their siblings was opened up to the community, transforming it into a warm "nest" where people can accumulate experiences of both failure and challenge. Through a DIY project involving both the owner and local residents, the vacant house was "Tatenaoshi (rebuilt)" into a shared kitchen and shelter. Renovators also gradually began to feel positive about "Tatenaoshi (rebuilt)" their own sense of belonging. By intertwining multiple concepts such as food, community development, and welfare, there is a growing awareness of the potential for people facing different issues to deepen their understanding of one another.
4th Project: A New Challenge with eSports
Renovate Japan promptly embraced the proposal from ePARA Inc. to create a barrier-free eSports house. They are taking on the challenge of overcoming barriers related to age, nationality, and disabilities, leveraging the power of eSports. Both during and after the renovation, they will continue to utilize vacant houses in a barrier-free manner.
5th Project: Transforming a Closed Hotel in Shizuoka into a Craft Hotel
This is the first property outside of Tokyo, located in Yaizu, Shizuoka. The facility was carefully designed over a period of two years, and is based on the concept of "creation," providing a place where people can "connect" through the city and travel. As a hotel that has room for further refinement and will never be completed, it promotes urban development and local involvement projects. It will create new value in the region by utilizing public-private partnership financing.
6th Project: Shared house with a library
Taking advantage of the characteristics of the area, we propose a new community space where the people of the town can gather freely: a "shared house with a library." The living room has been boldly renovated and a private library, "Mintosho," has been added. This library adopts the "One Bookshelf Owner System" and is a shared knowledge space created by the residents and the local people. This is not just a shared house, but a new base for the community, a place that connects the future of the town.