#3 The Real Estate Paradox: Why Japan Has $0 Houses and Booming Tokyo

[Introduction] Have you seen the viral videos claiming you can buy a house in Japan for $500, or even get one for free? It sounds too good to be true, but in rural Japan, the "Akiya" (abandoned house) phenomenon is real. Meanwhile, in central Tokyo, apartment prices are breaking historical records. Why does this extreme contrast exist? Dr. Fujita decodes the unique "algorithms" of Japanese real estate, explaining why a home in Japan is often treated not as an asset, but as a depreciating consumable like a car.

[What You'll Learn]

• The "22-Year Rule": How Japanese tax laws calculate the lifespan of wooden houses and drive values to zero.
• Disposable Homes: Why earthquakes and a culture of "newness" make Japanese people prefer rebuilding over renovating.
• The "Negative Price" Phenomenon: Why some owners will pay you to take their house.
• The Tokyo Exception: Why the capital's real estate is booming despite the national population decline (Weak Yen & Concentration).
• Two Operating Systems: Understanding the split between the "Depreciation OS" in the countryside and the "Financial Asset OS" in the city.

[About the Podcast] Dr. Fujita, an AI Consultant based in Tokyo, analyzes the logic behind Japanese business and culture. This isn't a sightseeing guide—it's an intellectual journey to decode the "True Japan."

[Topics] Akiya, Japan Real Estate, Tokyo Housing Market, Abandoned Houses, Japanese Economy, Depreciation, Weak Yen, Property Investment, Rural Japan, DIY Renovation