Episode 12 · Oct 1, 2026 · 39 min

Japan Has a Law That Forces Sellers to Tell You If Someone Died in the House

Read in 1 min · Listen in 39 min

Most countries let that stay private. Japan doesn't. If someone died in a property under certain circumstances — a suicide, a homicide, an accident — the seller is legally required to tell you before you sign anything. It goes in the documents. It affects the price. And there's a public website that maps every reported case across the country. That's what jiko bukken is. And if you're buying property in Japan and you've never heard of it, this is the episode you need before anything else. David and Victoria break down the full picture. What the law actually says. What shows up in the paperwork buyers receive and what doesn't. Why these properties can sell for thirty to fifty percent below comparable buildings — and why that discount is sometimes exactly the opportunity it looks like and sometimes a complication you didn't see coming. A real client story about going through the process properly. And the honest answer to the question everyone eventually asks — should I actually buy one of these? Including Oshimaland. The Japanese website that publicly maps stigmatised properties across the country. Yes, it's real. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. This is episode one of the Old Houses Japan October series. Everything else this month builds on it. 📧 Creepy experience in a Japanese property? Send it: hello@oldhousesjapan.com — subject: My Japan Story 🌐 oldhousesjapan.com 📸 @oldhousesjapan 🎙️ oldhousesjapanpodcast.com