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In sum, zakkyo buildings are part of the reason why Japan is such a consumer paradise. Greater Tokyo has 160,000 restaurants, compared to only 13,000 in Paris and 25,000 in NYC. Some of that is because of the Japanese government’s strong support for small retail businesses. But some of it is probably due to zakkyo buildings making it possible to sustain more small independent shops.

The world continues to be one glorious pool of endless optionality, infinite choice. Multiple places to be in one night. Hobbies to pick up. People to meet. That’s comforting but scary because it means you have to choose, a la Sylvia Plath’s fig tree. The anxiety of having infinite possibilities branch out before you. You think you’ll suffer if you continue down one trail and neglect all other pathways. The truth is: you’ll probably suffer more if you don’t choose at all.