The Off Topic Topic

[Josquius]

SO what's going on with Japan then? Is there economic and/or political turmoil there that gets underreported here?

30+ years and counting.

[Tamas]

SO what's going on with Japan then? Is there economic and/or political turmoil there that gets underreported here?

30+ years and counting.

Ahh.

I remember it's been a repeating prediction from people that the EU and the USA may be heading for the same decades-long stagnation they've been having.

[Sheilbh]

From a British perspective I would very much love some Japanese-style stagnation right now

I think a lot of it is informed by stereotypes of Japan that aren't actually that true - eg British new build flats are actually smaller than Japanese apartments but that's very much not the common perception.

[Josquius]

Japan has the complete opposite problems of the UK in housing.
Japanese people have a hard on for anything new and construction is virtually a completely free for all with plentiful small flats available letting you live in central Tokyo for a reasonable price.
But actual nice scenic places to live are rare.

[Sheilbh]

Sounds wonderful

[Josquius]

Sounds wonderful

You get a lot of Internet urbanism sorts with a hard on for Japan when all they're thinking of is central tokyo. Where it does work well. But even in the fringes of the Tokyo metro area the negatives start to show.

Suburban sprawl is good on a surface level for the individual but the societal and environmental problems loom large.

[Sheilbh]

From the ONS about 9% of land in England has been built on. We don't need to worry too much about sprawl yet. And I think people being able to live in central Tokyo at reasonable rents v not also cause really big social and environmental problems.

I know which I'd rather.

[The Larch]

Today I learned that Ecuador's honor guards still use Pickelhaube

A number of South American countries still use it for their military academies and honour guards. I believe the most famous ones are the Chileans.

[The Larch]

plentiful small flats available letting you live in central Tokyo for a reasonable price.

Are you sure about that? What kind of flats do you mean?

[Duque de Bragança]

Today I learned that Ecuador's honor guards still use Pickelhaube

Guarda Nacional Republicana in Portugal still uses them, for ceremonial duties, don't worry.

[Syt]

Today I learned that Ecuador's honor guards still use Pickelhaube

A number of South American countries still use it for their military academies and honour guards. I believe the most famous ones are the Chileans.

Not very surprised by the Chileans, considering they like a more ... erm ... "traditional" German look.

[Josquius]

plentiful small flats available letting you live in central Tokyo for a reasonable price.

Are you sure about that? What kind of flats do you mean?

I could see if I can find photos of mine when I'm on my PC. It was a lightly built 2 floor building with 4 bedsits that some elderly guy had built in his back garden 20 minutes walk to shinjuku station. Cost under 600 euros a month
I know folks who had bigger more adult suitable apartments which compared to what you'd pay in a major European city were still very cheap.

[Jacob]

... and what's the downside, Josq? I know you said societal and environmental issues, but what do you mean exactly?

[Tamas]

... and what's the downside, Josq? I know you said societal and environmental issues, but what do you mean exactly?

Tiny, badly built, old, miserable and expensive. That's how Brits like their properties.

[Sheilbh]

... and what's the downside, Josq? I know you said societal and environmental issues, but what do you mean exactly?

Yeah to be honest it sounds like a very good situation