過 疎(かそ)

かそ

noun

depopulation; being sparsely populated

written

1. depopulation; being sparsely populated

The condition of an area losing its population, typically due to migration to cities. A major social issue in rural Japan.

過疎(かそ)が進(すす)む地域(ちいき)が増(ふ)えている。

The number of areas experiencing depopulation is increasing.

過疎(かそ)地域(ちいき)では学校(がっこう)の統廃合(とうはいごう)が進(すす)んでいる。

In depopulated areas, school consolidation is progressing.

若者(わかもの)の都市部(としぶ)への流出(りゅうしゅつ)により、過疎(かそ)に苦(くる)しむ村(むら)は高齢化(こうれいか)も深刻(しんこく)になっている。

As young people flow out to urban areas, villages suffering from depopulation are also facing serious aging.

Usage: 過疎(かそ) is primarily used as a noun modifier in the form 過疎(かそ)＋noun, especially 過疎(かそ)地域(ちいき) (depopulated area). It describes a social phenomenon rather than a temporary state.

Common collocations

過疎(かそ)地域(ちいき) (depopulated area)
過疎化(かそか) (depopulation, the process)
過疎(かそ)が進(すす)む (depopulation advances)
過疎(かそ)に悩(なや)む (to struggle with depopulation)
過疎(かそ)対策(たいさく) (measures against depopulation)

The antonym is 過密(かみつ) (overcrowding, overpopulation). Together, 過疎(かそ)過密(かみつ) describes the imbalance between rural depopulation and urban overcrowding, a persistent issue in modern Japan.

Related Words

Antonym: 過密(かみつ) (overcrowding)

Related: 限界集落(げんかいしゅうらく) (marginal village)

Related: 人口(じんこう) (population)

Related: 地方創生(ちほうそうせい) (regional revitalization)

general

Added 2026.3.3 20:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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