There is an estimated 4.1 million hectares of property whose owner is not known — larger than the total area of Kyushu — according to a recent study by a private-sector group. The presence of such tracts of land not only thwarts collection of fixed asset taxes by local authorities but could hamper public works construction and other government projects like farmland consolidation.

Measures need to be taken to reduce or prevent the anticipated increase in such land plots.

Some registries of privately owned land plots do not bear the names of owners, making it difficult for authorities to identify or get in touch with them.