A US veteran moved to Japan and bought an abandoned house, or akiya, with his wife.
Coco Lencho Japan.
- Lawrence Covian, 53, and his wife moved to Japan from the US in 2017.
- They bought an abandoned house, or akiya, in the countryside for 5 million Japanese yen, or $35,000.
- He says his mental and physical health has improved since he started living in the countryside.
When Lawrence Covian's five-year employment contract came to an end, he had no interest in returning to the US.