Japan Tackles Malicious Reuse Businesses Amid Booming Market

The Japanese government is working with an industry group to combat malicious businesses in the reuse market, which has seen significant growth amid inflation and increasing demand for household goods clearance services.

A seminar held in Tokyo in early July highlighted the issue of vacant houses left behind by owners, often parents. Participants were urged to carefully check their parents' wishes regarding the contents of these homes before hiring a company to clean them up.

The reuse market has expanded rapidly, reaching a record 3.3 trillion yen in 2024, nearly triple its size in 2009 when market surveys began. This growth is attributed to inflation and a decrease in household sizes.