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Inside Japan’s Disposable Housing Market

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Re: Inside Japan’s Disposable Housing Market

#3
"In a culture obsessed with newness"

It's mostly because of earthquakes, they got used to buildings being temporary.

Also sismic regulations are constantly evolving, so newer is safer (because more resistant to earthquake thanks to modern technics) and after some time it's more effective to destroy a building than do the necessary (and mandatory) work to keep up with the regulations.

So no, the Japanese don't want new houses because it's shiny and they're bored of the old ones.

Re: Inside Japan’s Disposable Housing Market

#5

Australia has a phenomenon called 'removal homes', where you'll buy a house on one plot of land and ship it, intact, somewhere else. Example: http://www.atlashouseremovers.com.au/

My sister in Oklahoma got her 2nd house this way. Freeway ramp going in; house was free to anyone interested in hauling it away.

Was so tall, they chainsawed 6 feed out of the 2nd storey. Once on site, they propped it back up, rebuilt the studs and drywall so you couldn't tell it'd ever happened!

Re: Inside Japan’s Disposable Housing Market

#6
post #3

"In a culture obsessed with newness" It's mostly because of earthquakes, they got used to buildings being temporary. Also sismic regulations are constantly evolving, so newer is safer (because more resistant to earthquake thanks to modern technics) and after some time it's more effective to destroy a building than do the necessary (and mandatory) work to keep up with the regulations. So no, the Japanese don't want ne…

I have a completely different understanding of this. Buying a house, the carpets, the drapes, all have to be replaced. Because of a taboo against using things soiled by other people. No amount of cleaning can get them clean enough to overcome a taboo.

Same with cars. There is apparently little/no used car market in Japan. Lots of our (USA) spare parts for economy cars come over on ships from Japan. Because, no market there.

Re: Inside Japan’s Disposable Housing Market

#7
post #3

"In a culture obsessed with newness" It's mostly because of earthquakes, they got used to buildings being temporary. Also sismic regulations are constantly evolving, so newer is safer (because more resistant to earthquake thanks to modern technics) and after some time it's more effective to destroy a building than do the necessary (and mandatory) work to keep up with the regulations. So no, the Japanese don't want ne…

I have a completely different understanding of this. Buying a house, the carpets, the drapes, all have to be replaced. Because of a taboo against using things soiled by other people. No amount of cleaning can get them clean enough to overcome a taboo. Same with cars. There is apparently little/no used car market in Japan. Lots of our (USA) spare parts for economy cars come over on ships from Japan. Because, no market…

Japanese used cars are quite popular in other nearby left-side driving countries (Thailand, Indonesia, India, Australia) and even Russia (which is right-side but whatever).

Even Japanese buildings/houses are rebuilt every N years for the newness. Might not be really sustainable.

Re: Inside Japan’s Disposable Housing Market

#8
post #3

"In a culture obsessed with newness" It's mostly because of earthquakes, they got used to buildings being temporary. Also sismic regulations are constantly evolving, so newer is safer (because more resistant to earthquake thanks to modern technics) and after some time it's more effective to destroy a building than do the necessary (and mandatory) work to keep up with the regulations. So no, the Japanese don't want ne…

I have a completely different understanding of this. Buying a house, the carpets, the drapes, all have to be replaced. Because of a taboo against using things soiled by other people. No amount of cleaning can get them clean enough to overcome a taboo. Same with cars. There is apparently little/no used car market in Japan. Lots of our (USA) spare parts for economy cars come over on ships from Japan. Because, no market…

"There is apparently little/no used car market in Japan."

This isn't really true. A lot of people buy used cars in Japan. Not sure how you got that information.

Re: Inside Japan’s Disposable Housing Market

#9
post #3

"In a culture obsessed with newness" It's mostly because of earthquakes, they got used to buildings being temporary. Also sismic regulations are constantly evolving, so newer is safer (because more resistant to earthquake thanks to modern technics) and after some time it's more effective to destroy a building than do the necessary (and mandatory) work to keep up with the regulations. So no, the Japanese don't want ne…

I have a completely different understanding of this. Buying a house, the carpets, the drapes, all have to be replaced. Because of a taboo against using things soiled by other people. No amount of cleaning can get them clean enough to overcome a taboo. Same with cars. There is apparently little/no used car market in Japan. Lots of our (USA) spare parts for economy cars come over on ships from Japan. Because, no market…

That shouldn't be a insurmountable issue though. When I buy a house all the carpets come out and get replaced with wood floors and everything gets repainted. Otherwise it's just gross.

Re: Inside Japan’s Disposable Housing Market

#10
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a completely different understanding of this. Buying a house, the carpets, the drapes, all have to be replaced. Because of a taboo against using things soiled by other people. No amount of cleaning can get them clean enough to overcome a taboo. Same with cars. There is apparently little/no used car market in Japan. Lots of our (USA) spare parts for economy cars come over on ships from Japan. Because, no market…

"There is apparently little/no used car market in Japan." This isn't really true. A lot of people buy used cars in Japan. Not sure how you got that information.

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