Here's an interesting paper on the economic impact of this custom: Obstacles to Affluence: Thoughts on Japanese Housing (pdf) https://www.nri.com/global/opinio

Here's an interesting paper on the economic impact of this custom: Obstacles to Affluence: Thoughts on Japanese Housing (pdf) https://www.nri.com/global/opinion/papers/2008/pdf/np2008137.pdf https://www.nri.com/global/opinion/papers/2008/pdf/np2008137...