Comments on: Ridiculously narrow house in Japan

By: zoelbathosai

zoelbathosai — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:43:24 +0000

Nice info, small home for big family

By: Lewis

Lewis — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:06:48 +0000

I wish to get more information on shigeru suzuki company
web site.i really like his idea

By: Lewis

Lewis — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:03:52 +0000

I wish to know more information on Shigeru Suzuki company
which makes small houses. Is there a web site that i can
go to. I saw some of his work on the history channel
i think. I reasly like the space saver area. I live in Virginia
and wish to see more his work.

By: Kei

Kei — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:42:22 +0000

lols~
but it’s kinda cool don’t you think?
It’s actually better then where i’m living…>>

By: Me

Me — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:37:17 +0000

There are way more people living in Japan per area than many countries. So naturally, the cost of land will rise.

To build big houses, you need a big piece of land. How would you build a big house on a little land?

The house doesn’t look too bad.

By: WhySoSmall

WhySoSmall — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:29:51 +0000

I’ve always wanted to ask someone, why the houses in Japan are so small?

The high cost of land should encourage building large houses – then the public spaces – like stairs – would be shared between multiple families, resulting in more effective use of land space and cheaper living space. The only explanation I can figure, is that a Japanese family regards a “private house” so much more valuable that they would rather live in a much smaller space than share the same building with other families.

I can, however, understand how the high cost of land would result in small apartments, but not why the houses would be so small.

Anyone care to explain?

By: Gavin Veasey

Gavin Veasey — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:25:12 +0000

That house might only be 6″6′ across but the house has a bigger bathroom than mine.

By: Jojo

Jojo — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:43:53 +0000

OK, it’s not ideal for a 6 foot tall 200lb man, but anyone nearer 1.6m and 108lb wouldn’t have a problem. Both the reporters are quite tall.

And there’s more floor area and better storage than in my apartment.

I like it.

By: Mr. NES

Mr. NES — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:37:44 +0000

I’m waiting for the day in which one of those things catches on fire. Getting out of that house looks difficult.

Also, I’d be afraid of gashing my head (or perhaps gouging my eye) on that staircase when I’m on way to the kitchen in a drunken stupor (and I’d definitely be drinking in the courtyard).

By: asdafdfasfasffda

asdafdfasfasffda — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:47:07 +0000

Like corporate head man would live in such and shit hole, it’s just an excuse.

By: asdafdfasfasffda

asdafdfasfasffda — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:45:58 +0000

To me the wood things were about the only things I liked about this house. This truly is one agonizing building.

By: Weirdo

Weirdo — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:16:17 +0000

At the very beginning they mention that he hasn’t moved in yet.

By: Weirdo

Weirdo — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:13:38 +0000

What are you talking about? It’s not the TV show making those claims. It’s the owner who built and designed the house that said he had those things in mind when building. Did you bother to watch the video?

By: Ajapa

Ajapa — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:44:42 +0000

They call it an eel bed.

By: Ajapa

Ajapa — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:30:13 +0000

“Unfinished wood ceilings” may not look unusual if you had chances to spend some time in rural traditional houses, shrine buildings, and old temples. Actually nothing to be surprised. For a little courtyard, they mention on lighting and ventilation matter too but not merely “Just puts you closer to nature.” It may not be considered rational but might be barely understandable for some.

The owner of this house is introduced as a specialist of narrow and small buildings and his house is said to be just built for him to match his taste, living alone. In my opinion, bare woods and a courtyard are largely design concept issue and there are nothing surprising other than being constructed in an extremely narrow space.

If someone actually buys one of these houses after seeing this segment, I wonder if they could sue for false advertising once they learn how horrible it is?

Is this clip taken from a serious section of the World Business Satellite to give some information about and insight into recent trend in housing?

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:21:02 +0000

That’s not a house – it’s a rabbit hutch.

By: Nicklas W Bjurman

Nicklas W Bjurman — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:03:54 +0000

Well a lot of people is still living in apartments and have as their dream to have their own house. So I suspect their is still a high demand for land and housing.

By: Fat Tony

Fat Tony — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:15:39 +0000

I believe the dark haired one is Sahel Rosa. Her parental house was bombed during the Iran Iraq War. She was then adopted by into a high class family, but because her unknown lineage was apparently a social problem, she was handed over to an Iranian living in Japan at the age of eight. So sayeth Wikipedia.

By: Fat Tony

Fat Tony — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:15:18 +0000

Not that it really matters, but she is extremely made up on TV, and doesn’t look like that in her other photos.

By: Vonskippy

Vonskippy — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:29:28 +0000

Our garden shed has more space (and is better constructed).

Instead of enjoying the small bit of open space those locations have, they choose instead to clutter it up with poorly designed so called houses.

Since Japan’s population is declining – why the need to fill up every little space?

I don’t get it.

By: Japanfan

Japanfan — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:29:54 +0000

Anyone know the names of those two reporters or if they were raised in Japan? Their Japanese is unbelievably good!

By: yoga boy

yoga boy — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:13:28 +0000

The mid section open air portion is a waste of the space. I’d take it out and give more space for a real kitchen. I’d have the living room at the back end with the TV on the back wall giving your more space to sit back and enjoy. I would love to live in a house like that. I’d be interested in finding out more about his company and how much such a house would cost.

By: yoga boy

yoga boy — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:11:57 +0000

I’d pound her mochi.

By: Fat Tony

Fat Tony — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:35:37 +0000

I’m pretty sure he doesn’t actually live there. There’s nothing actually in the house to show it. One would expect at the very least a few books on the shelves.

By: Ap

Ap — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:13:14 +0000

That black haired reporter is hot.

By: Deoxys

Deoxys — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:12:58 +0000

I would not mind living in there.

By: Adamu

Adamu — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:51:03 +0000

This video makes me wonder if Japanese TV can ever adopt a critical tone about ANYTHING. Even these cheaply built narrow houses get reverent treatment. I realize the guy probably paid to get his company featured on TV, but still.

I mean, they really have to stretch to say nice things. Unfinished wood ceilings? Natural and earthy. Have to go outside to move to another room? Just puts you closer to nature.

If someone actually buys one of these houses after seeing this segment, I wonder if they could sue for false advertising once they learn how horrible it is?