Flood-hit Sakura residents face uncertain bills to rebuild their lives

A month after a river overflowed in Chiba, residents are weighing home repairs, a dance studio's future and the daily expense of living without what they lost.

Channel: Nippon TV News ·

JapanStory of October 28, 2026Trari Newsroom

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【大雨で川氾濫】家財とリフォーム費用で“約800～1000万円”も…見通せない｢生活再建費｣千葉･佐倉市【あす大災害、だとしたら？】

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0:00Sakura's autumn festival returns, but flood cleanup keeps some neighborhoods from participating.
1:20A homeowner describes shoulder-high floodwater despite precautions, followed by damaged belongings and uncertain renovation costs.
2:50Fumie Sudo shows her mud-covered ballroom dance studio beside the river.
3:12Sudo wants people dancing again, but high repair costs leave her unable to decide on reopening.
4:07Her son describes losing his car and possessions, cutting food expenses and fearing another typhoon.

Sakura's autumn festival has returned, but in the city's Omotecho neighborhood, residents are still cleaning flood-damaged festival floats. For some, the work of recovering from last month's typhoon has left little room for celebration.

Japan's Nippon Television News reports from Sakura, in Chiba Prefecture east of Tokyo, a month after heavy rain from Typhoon No. 25 caused the Takasaki River to overflow. Around 300 buildings suffered flooding above floor level, according to the report, broadcast on October 27.

One homeowner describes water reaching shoulder height despite precautions against flooding. His refrigerator toppled, furniture was damaged, and the cost of restoring the house remains uncertain. The report puts the combined expense of replacing household belongings and renovations at roughly ¥8 million to ¥10 million. He discusses insurance, but returning everything to its previous condition will be difficult. He is trying to shift his attention toward recovery rather than remain overwhelmed by the losses.

Nearby, Fumie Sudo shows the mud-covered ballroom dance studio on the first floor of her property. She wants to repair what can be repaired, yet cannot commit to reopening without knowing how much the work will cost. Keeping the studio, she explains, would mean giving people a place to dance again.

Her son, Manabu Sudo, is also dealing with damage to his own home. He lost his car and household possessions in the flood. Ordinary meals have become another financial pressure: he describes buying prepared food at the supermarket and waiting for markdowns to keep spending down.

For him, the uncertainty extends beyond the repair bill. He says the prolonged disruption makes it difficult to move forward, while the possibility of another typhoon raises the fear of losing everything again.

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