Isn't it prohibitively hard to reside in Japan as an outsider? How can they expect to move up to 8mm houses unless predominantly to existing Japanese? Am I missing something?
Yes, you're missing that foreigners are not the target of these deals. Also it's not terribly complicated to get a visa to come here: you basically need at least a bachelor degree and to find a job. Given how the job market is starving for employees, it is not really hard. I know a half-dozen people of my country and my age that did it.
Japanese companies in general have an abhorrent work culture.
Let me hand wave cultural relativism for a second - sure, fine, it works great for the Japanese, or whatever, historical and cultural significance, fine. But I think I can make health arguments against it, let alone moral/value ones.
I wish they'd explore Visas for remote workers - partner and I are very interested in doing a spell in Japan, but we have absolutely no interest in participating in the still-majority work culture there. It'd be remote only, or a foreign company.