Photo/Illutration A blue plastic sheet covers the furniture in the home of Hirokazu Hashimoto that was heavily damaged by typhoons in autumn. (Satoru Semba)

While this is usually a festive time for Hirokazu Hashimoto, preparing New Year's decorations at the home he has lived in for about 30 years, this year is different.

He is among the victims of destructive typhoons this autumn who have little to cheer about as the new year approaches.

"I am not in the mood to celebrate the new year since the past year has been a succession of major problems," said Hashimoto, 61, a fisherman in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture.

Three typhoons that passed through the Kanto region in September and October made his home, located right by the ocean, uninhabitable.

The series of typhoons led to extensive damage to many homes in Tateyama, Minami-Boso and Kyonan in southern Chiba Prefecture. About 5,500 homeowners in those three municipalities have applied to local governments for subsidies to cover part of the cost of repairs. But because the subsidies are only paid out after the repair work is completed, so far only 32 homeowners have received the funds.

A major reason is the chronic shortage of construction companies capable of handling the repair work. The series of typhoons have only amplified the insufficient number of such firms.

That has left many residents, such as Hashimoto, at a loss about what to do with their homes.

He was at his home on Sept. 9 when Typhoon No. 15 hit the region. The wind was so strong that the two-story structure shook. Roof tiles were blown off and window panes were loosened from the frame. The ceiling of the second floor came off, forcing Hashimoto to flee to the lower floor where he spent the night sweeping out the water that had flooded the hallway.

Of the seven rooms in the home, only the kitchen and a six-tatami mat room escaped damage from the rain.

About 10 days later, the electricity finally came back on. Volunteers helped him cover the roof with a blue plastic sheet, but it came off whenever strong rain and wind hit. Hashimoto had to reapply the plastic sheet three times over a month.

He spent most days trying to repair the roof but was unable to stop the leaking. Some neighbors simply gave up on repairing their homes and left the area.

The subsequent typhoons caused more damage and eventually the home was classified as totally destroyed. Not only was the structure extensively damaged, but so was the air conditioner and an electric blanket. He now only has a small electric heater to keep warm.

But with the wind blowing through the gaps in the home, Hashimoto said, "It is so cold I cannot sleep. This is very unbearable."

He at times thought about just giving up, but recalled that he continued to live in the home built about 40 years ago because he had been comforted by the view of the ocean from the second story. Hashimoto has worked for about 30 years harvesting abalone and "sazae" horned turban mollusks in shallow waters.

"I continued to live here because I loved the ocean and this area," Hashimoto said.

But he has abandoned plans to rebuild the home, not only because of the delay in the government subsidy or the shortage of construction companies.

Under the program, a maximum subsidy of 595,000 yen ($5,400) is paid out to those whose homes have been totally destroyed. But in Hashimoto's case, the total cost of repairing the home would be much greater and because he could not pay the entire amount he has not even applied for the subsidy.

Instead, he will move to a home about 10 kilometers inland where he can live rent-free for two years under a government program to provide housing to disaster victims.

He plans to repair his old home in his spare time.

According to the Chiba prefectural government, a total of 13,409 homes in Tateyama, Minami-Boso and Kyonan were classified as damaged from the typhoons as of Dec. 23.

The small number of subsidies paid out is due to the chronic shortage of companies capable of doing repair work.

According to a national association of home building companies, the shortage can be found not only in Chiba but nationwide as various regions try to rebuild after disasters that have struck their areas.