In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series we looked at some of the intriguing aspects of the way people’s everyday lives are affected by design in Japan. Whether the result of a lone designer with a singular focus or a meddling committee with a medley of requirements it’s fascinating to see how other countries have approached the same challenges.

A big part of this includes the built landscape, and today I wanted to look at Tokyo’s ever-changing skyline which has been the result of natural disasters, war, and cultural beliefs.

Disposable Houses

Photo by Molly Des Jardin

The resale market in Japan for used houses is almost non-existent (likewise for cars)

Housing quality is very high but a detached house fully loses its value after 15-30 years

50% of houses are demolished before they are 38 years old (compared to 100 in the U.S.)

Earthquakes cause people to view houses as perishable and builders play on this fear

Japanese society values newness as something which is spiritually clean and pure

There are more registered architects per capita in Japan than any other country

Huge demand for creatively designed homes but no economic incentive to maintain

More insight into this phenomenon on a recent Freakonomics Radio podcast episode.

Sliced Buildings

Photo by Yutaka Fujii

In Japan many mid-height buildings look like they’ve had their sides sliced off by design

Building regulations stipulate a slope plane that originates from the plot boundary

Intended to ensure that natural light can still reach the street and neighbouring properties

The law results in some very interesting shaped buildings when multiple slanted planes bisect.

Inverse Addresses

Photo by Oli Studholme

Most streets in Japan don’t have names, however the blocks between streets are numbered

Buildings within a block are also numbered in order in which they were historically built

Addresses are written starting from the biggest to smallest geographic entities

If that doesn’t make much sense this video by Derek Sivers should clear things up.

Vending Machines (自動販売機)

Photo by inefekt69

There is around 1 vending machine for every 23 people in Japan selling all manner of things

Can be found on almost every street corner and modern ones have huge touchscreen displays

Cigarettes and alcohol required an age restricted IC card but it’s easily circumvented

Some are equipped with a feature that provides free drinks after a major earthquake

Queuing Culture

Photo by Matt Murphy

Without exaggeration, the Japanese are masters of queuing no matter how mundane

Whether a restaurant, train, theme park, shop, football match or shrine it’s always orderly

Queuing for hours becomes part of the experience of enjoying something popular or new

Surgical Masks

Photo by Matthew Kenwrick