This book presents an international comparison of legal responses to the issue of vacant housing in Japan, the USA, France and Germany. While vacant housing is a shared problem in these four countries, the origin and context of the problem, as well as the focus of legal responses, differ considerably. Presenting the outcomes of an international symposium, this book explores different legal approaches (private/public law, federal/national/municipal governments, demolition/expropriation/requisition/planning) taken in the respective jurisdictions. It is highly recommended to readers whose work involves practical issues concerning vacant housing and who are interested in theoretical aspects of property law, building law and administrative law. The book also includes a chapter exploring the implications of the "tragedy of the commons/anticommons" for contemporary land use issues in Japan such as landscape protection, area management and unclaimed land.