Model Homes Tour: Discover Japan's Homebuilders - Koumutens, Builders, and House Makers

In this video, we are in Osaka, Japan walking around a massive model house showcase. There are over 40 houses to view here, ranging from budget friendly to luxurious. We wanted to show this video for the purposes of helping to clarify the difference between different home builders throughout Japan.
I work for a small Koumuten (Local Builder), who builds around 3 - 5 houses per year. As a Koumuten there are a lot of advantages to customers in the way of more customization ability, cost control and reduction, unique builds (traditional vs. modern vs. one of a kind). In our previous videos, you may have seen that our builds are all completed by hand which adds to the value of the house. It is rare to have a house hand made using ancient Japanese joinery techniques. It is so rare that approximately less than 1% of all houses built in Japan every year are this style of traditional Japanese carpentry.
Throughout this video you will see the interior of some of these other house builders, or in this case, house makers and builders. These houses offer a lot of new technologies when it comes to earthquake mitigation, insulation, air quality and circulation, and general amenities. It is strange to see these model homes because they are so perfect in size, orientation, lot size, etc. that it would be rare to see this replicated in the normal Japanese land property or space. However, it is nice to see these model homes as a way of inspiring future builds by incorporating some of the technologies seen here and also some of the more luxurious aspects as well.
We hope you enjoy this video as it is an enlightening experience to see how other home builders throughout Japan do things.
#japanesehouse #japanesehomebuilders #build #houses #modelhouse #modelhomes #japanhouse #japanesecarpentry

[@dougziglar8489]

Where have you been, I’ve missed the videos.

[@NSResponder]

Wow. Some really beautiful work here. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@rawrmusic55]

Your videos are fantastic. Great insight every single time. You’re talented my friend.

[@cj.tj.8201]

Each home was as beautifully modeled as the next. The woodwork in all were amazingly crafted. I've worked wood my entire life. Learning new aspects there in Japan. Would be a bucket list item for myself.!

[@itsfonk]

This was so fascinating to see! I love the open designs in some of these. I know you’re busy with other things but I’d really like to see more about the technical aspects of the various earthquake bracing methods, bathroom accommodations, and general insulation techniques. If I ever have to rebuild this old house I definitely want a Japanese style bath! Haha

[@rolandgdean]

Wow! So much VERY interesting information on the uniquenesses of Japanese home building. And the visuals! Again...WOW! Well done.

[@prana-ayama]

I am Japanese. Model houses are beautiful. However, I have never seen a single Japanese person living in such a magnificent mansion!

[@thecarpentrylife]

I totally agree!

[@willrouse2351]

Great stuff. Such detailed design

[@alanwilliamson2259]

Although these are beautifully executed, I must admit I prefer the traditional koumeten type of house. To me they appear more harmonious and livable. Thankyou for this video

[@colinlye280]

That is inspiring. Well done.

[@_camuz]

Loving these videos 🙌🏼. Thanks for sharing this with us. Hopefully I can go visit Japan one day, and have an architectural trip learning from their amazing craft. Cheers!

[@sandybarnes5463]

Some designs are very creative and appealing. For instance the closet behind the bed, with entries from both sides of the bead. You don't see this in American homes, yet it flows nicely.

[@kelvinp7899]

Am I wrong but are they very Western/Euro styled homes? As you said because of the size, there are not many house like these built, so who are the main audience for these shows? I'm sure you know of Shoyan, I love watching him as well, thanks for sharing,

[@BarneyBoy2007]

Would be interested to know how much Japanese constructed houses cost.

[@RNMCCLAIN]

Wow, this stuff is very fascinating. I'm a Designer/Drafter for a Civil Engineering Energy Sector and we do not get to do much with Architectural housing, but this inspires me to learn Japanese and learn how to build traditionally Japanese housing as you do. I'm not very sure how I should go about learning Japanese in all categories such as reading, writing, and speaking. Do you think it would be possible to build a tradition Japanese home in America? I can't see myself not living in one for my home.

[@sheilahiggins6427]

Great video! Do you know of a resource to find model house displays in various cities? I’ve been to two in Tokyo with my Japanese friend but I’m keen to visit some more on my next trip but locating them with my poor Japanese is tricky.

[@thecarpentrylife]

We have never really looked them up. We have only just stumbled upon them. The one showed in this video is the biggest one we have ever been to. There are something like 40+ homes on display. The model homes in this video are from the Kansai region near Osaka. I would suggest to Google translate "model homes" and search on Google that way. Sorry I can not be of more help.

[@natewarner]

Dear lord, are these all as unaffordable as they seem like they _must_ be?! These are amazing homes! That said, even from an American land availability point of view, these houses seem like they're meant for folk who've got some serious money to put into a house! Also, any thoughts on how Japanese housing prices work in comparison to some other locations? Ex: In the US, I'd expect my house to basically always gain value (it's our most common biggest household investment, right?), but I understand the Japanese market is almost opposite? Homes _lose_ value as they age?! (I'm only familiar with US modes.)

[@johnhernlund539]

It is kind of complicated. In Japan the values are usually assessed for land and structures separately. In the countryside land is cheap and structures are the most expensive component, people can afford to spend more on a nice structure, landscaping, etc., which could last generations. On the other hand, in big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, the land values are expensive (up to 2-3X the value of the structures) and persistently rise with time, so people have less money to spend on fancy houses. Also, there is a 50% mandatory inheritance tax. So if a person builds a nice house on their city property, after they pass away nobody (even their own family) will be able to afford it and it will anyways be demolished and the land divided up into smaller parcels to bring costs down...this means that most houses are built on increasingly subdivided properties and the structure is built to last about 30-ish years to keep costs down. I hope that makes sense.

[@natewarner]

@@johnhernlund539 That's some new info on a subject I thought I actually knew something about; thank you! (key point for me: prop val >> home val in so many cases = tear down/subdivide) I have a hard time arguing with a 50% mandatory no escape tax plan when writ large: otherwise, it's too likely to be abused to the less-wealthy's disadvantage. Again: thank you!

[@johnhernlund539]

@@natewarner no problem. Note that these are broader trends, and they can be understood in terms of the driving factors (land vs structure value, etc.). Banks and construction companies are part of the broader ecosystem, building homes at a price point that banks are willing to lend to people earning typical salaries in the region and considering the central bank policies and going mortgage rates (very low in Japan). Of course there are some exceptions...I live in an exception myself.

[@ardwg_]

Just love to see those technologies considering I also live in ring of fire, Indonesia. Maybe earthquake not as often as Japan, but.. well we have lots of volcanoes here 😅

[@uncouthboy8028]

How comprehensive are these warranties the big builders offer?

[@peterpan7903]

The houses are, from what I have already seen of Japan, very generous of space. At least it seems so to me. Surprising was the American style of the first house. It could just as well be in Florida.

[@thecarpentrylife]

The first house is very unusual for Japan. The president of that company studied houses in Canada and brought back some of the comforts and styling from there. He established partnerships with a lot of American based companies like Anderson windows and Ashley Furniture. I thought it was interesting as the market here can cater to all desires. You can go from very traditional to modern to a doll house if you wanted. Thank you for watching.

[@valdius85]

Long time no see 😊 I’d love to own a passive house made out of heavy engineered timber. Someone in Japan should be able to make that happen 😂 Take care.

[@thecarpentrylife]

One of the models in this video was engineered lumber. The selling feature was that they can design larger rooms because the are able to calculate the stresses on beams and pillars in an earthquake simulation. The company I work for tries to avoid engineered woods which creates a structure that is hard to analyze. This results in a regulation that is stricter when it comes to distances between adjacent pillars and causes rooms to be a little bit smaller. Thank you for watching.

[@martinuso7446]

What is the oval shaped thing on legs and with 'eyes' behind you at 0:09? Missed your video's.

[@thecarpentrylife]

This is a sculpture made from wood. The builder of the house behind me in that scene is a carpenter and did a lot of playful things throughout the house.

[@Johannes0109]

Música en español 😮

[@jamesfrankiewicz5768]

These model homes are making my spacious American home look small! That said, very pretty looking homes, overall! Although the kitchen cabinetry in the home at about 5:10 is very impractical, I would hate to have to try to use it for any normal kitchen activities; that design forgets that people have feet and would force a person to stand back farther from the edge of the countertop, increasing moment/torque on the body for anything you might be lifting or holding up. (Lesson: pretty is not always practical.)

[@mg3289]

👍

[@HeroOfTime303]

I really don't like these modern styles across the globe. The last house that your team built was beautiful! We need more houses that have more charm and humility. There is nothing like the "humble cottage" and it's interesting to see the beauty in the "humble cottage" from Africa to Mexico to America to England to Ireland to Germany to Japan to Korea and so forth.

[@StealthNinja4577]

I like the attention to detail but the models feel pretty sterile. A house should be a house the people that own it then make it their own. A concept that I'd like to see in house design is modularity and upgradability. You basically get the plot and build 4 walls a floor and roof but while you build you put in the connections to add on to it later. You then build in stages as you can afford it and the areas you could connect more to are always there waiting. Parts of walls could be disassembled and reused to make new walls. Repairs would amount to disconnecting the broken piece and replacing it similar to how the hashira on that hundred year old house repair were cut and new wood was joined to it. Modern stuff seems like it's designed with a shelf life in mind and I'm out here looking to just ever buy 1

[@RogierYou]

Oh no I spotted American Brutalism design

[@robertarguello1115]

To begin with, I was turned-off with the lack of privacy in the bathroom designs. Because at some point, no one wants to see someone else using the toilet over and over again. … In addition, I was saddened to see that the 🛏️ beds were situated so low to the ground. And the reason being is, imagine an elderly person having to raise themselves up late at night to use the 🚽 bathroom, they would have to exert an excess of energy just to lift themselves up to a standing position. Something that could easily be avoided by just having a raised bed.

[@dougshaw9701]

Sent you an email would mind looking at it please . Interesting video think the Koumutens are the best !

[@thecarpentrylife]

Please watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWSzmXtvi6ugkLM

[@JayGee-j9p]

The Spanish song is terrible. I don’t think who wrote the song spoken Spanish well. The grammar is lacking. The video is excellent.

[@joschmoyo4532]

Fascinating to see but heartbreaking to realise how much Japanese culture has been poisoned by crass modern euro American design architecture. Give me traditional interior spaces any day. I admit my home is a mixture of French/ English farmhouse and Japanese Shoji but I'll take solid timber furniture over all that God awful laminex and mongrelised American minimalist Florida chique. Don't worry. Still love your channel and nice to know your working for a traditional quality construction company.

[@thecarpentrylife]

It is always good to see what is out there. I wanted to share this video to show another side of the housing market in Japan. Thank you for watching.

[@joschmoyo4532]

@@thecarpentrylife Absolutely. You are giving us a rare glimpse in to the working world of Japan. I find it utterly fascinating to watch your channel. I'm sure the build quality of even the western style builders is higher than most western builder's.

[@emblemcc]

that is funny to see the European style mimicked in Japan in to an extreme. It's quite horrid :)

[@emblemcc]

@@missplainjane3905 how horrid? look at all the kitchens and lobbies and even the walls and windows made out of wooden waste buffed and puffed without soul or any personality . What is beautiful on Japanese frames (craft in general) is hidden behind plaster walls and the personal touch is washed out by the most ordinary Ikea like style of living. The presentation is like mixture of all the European and US shopping mall content made with Japanese precision.

[@emblemcc]

@@missplainjane3905 well, maybe a presentation made by contemporary Japanese interior designers (maybe even local from that region) with the presented technology used. That way the soulless presentation might get a heart.

[@emblemcc]

@@missplainjane3905 I do not have a time to write a thesis on this.. but say random clicks: 2:12 the kitchen with the rounded door frame and all that equipment that looks like hotel room.. is horrid. 5:58 the drawer has no design touch whatsoever 4:00 bathroom, just a pile of garbage 6:43 a plasticy grey closets with cheap central kitchen ..everywhere I click I do not see a designed a bit, all is just a common store stuff.

[@_camuz]

Loving these videos 🙌🏼. Thanks for sharing this with us. Hopefully I can go visit Japan one day, and have an architectural trip learning from their amazing craft. Cheers!