A Japanese news program recently showed off an "extremely cramped share house" ("geki-sema share house" or 激せまシャアハウス in Japanese). There's a communal toilet and bath for the residents, who sleep in tiny coffin-like rooms. The sleeping setup is not ideal for those afraid of tight spaces.
The show interviewed a 24 year-old man who lives in one of these cramped share houses. "It might be as big as two tatami mats," said the man, who hopes to start his own business. Tatami mats, traditionally used to measure room sizes, are about 1.6 square meters. Small rooms are either 4.5 or 6 tatami mats.
What's truly mind-boggling is the rent:
That's ¥55,000 per month. It does include heat and electricity, but that's US$586.
"If you look, you can find a two bedroom apartment for ¥55,000 a month," wrote a commenter online. "These people are being deceived."
The would-be entrepreneur's room is slightly less expensive. Including heat and electricity, he pays ¥45,000 or $480 a month. His box might be cheaper because he doesn't have a window. Or pink wallpaper.
"This is a locker room," wrote one commenter online. "I thought it was going to be ¥2,000, but it ended up being ¥45,000."
Before you think, wow, apartment rent costs in Tokyo are insane, please realize that people in Japan are going, wow, this apartment is insane—or worse, cruel.
"I think the person who is tricking these people is awful," added another, while yet another quipped: "I can't image what that place is like in summer..." I can: hell.