Japanese ghost towns

I would think the inevitable decline that came with a declining population / burst economic bubble would be of more interest to the HN population.

A lot of small-town Japan is suffering extreme Walmart syndrome; an AEON superstore moves in and takes over the whole place, and Japanese businesspeople immediately shut down since they "can't compete".

This feeds back on itself,and the "ghost town syndrome" is the inevitable end result. To repurpose a meme from Slashdot, only old people in Japan would live in those towns.

It's almost tragic how Japanese businesses fail to take advantage of the cost advantages of being outside of Tokyo, but it's a chicken and egg problem. What talented employee in the US is going to enjoy being in a town where the only enjoyment is at the local Walmart?