Poking around for some yukie of Kumamoto, I came across this of a bridge crossing Kumagawa. Coincidentally, it appears to be quite close to the Sakamoto-mura railroad bridge washed out during the floods of last summer. Reports are that a replacement of the bridge would cost in the billions of yen, increasing the option of simply not replacing it.
Roads exist with bridges both up- and downstream from the railroad, but these would add some 15 minutes to the commuting time of village children to the nearest schools, add burdens to their parents, and decrease options for the elderly. Already struggling, abandonment of the rail link would be another nail in the coffin of the villages the railroad served.
Trends such as the greying society, falling agriculture production, and concentration of population in urban areas have lead to abandonment of many rural towns - the only viable option, no matter how painful. Sakamoto-mura, with its population of less than 4,000, a vast majority over 50, may be next. - William