過疎

• 読み: かそ
• ローマ字: kaso
• 漢字の分解: 過 (ka) — excessive; 疎 (so/utomu) — sparse, estranged
• 発音: /ka.so/

意味

Depopulation; underpopulation. Describes a region that has lost a significant portion of its population, typically due to migration to urban areas.

A sociological and policy noun used to describe the phenomenon of rural areas losing residents to cities. Opposite of 過密 (overcrowding). A major policy concern in Japan, with dedicated legislation (過疎法) and government measures to address 過疎化 (depopulation process).

例文

1. 過疎が進む山村では学校の統廃合が相次いでいる。
2. 過疎地域への移住を促進するための補助金制度が設けられた。
3. 過疎化を食い止めるには若い世代を引き留める雇用が必要だ。

使い方ガイド

場面: politics, regional planning, journalism

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

Sino-Japanese compound coined in post-war Japan: 過 (excessive) + 疎 (sparse, thin). Contrasts with 過密 (excessively dense).

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Universal