One thing that this article skates over is that many Japanese apartments - especially in Tokyo - are absolutely tiny and space is really at a Premium. In the a

One thing that this article skates over is that many Japanese apartments - especially in Tokyo - are absolutely tiny and space is really at a Premium. In the apartment I stayed in, one of the bay windows had been converted into a wardrobe, my washer/dryer was on the balcony outside, and the 'kitchen' consisted of a basin and a camping stove. I wonder how much of this minimalism is borne out of necessity.