[tenmins]

That is a very interesting question Mehran, and the point that MMM makes is true about lack of living space in Tokyo. I wonder, however, whether people are doing such a thing up north near Sendai and the other affected areas. Outside of the mega cities houses are usually a lot bigger (though still small by other countrys' standards). Some cluey journalist should do a story on this. If Japanese people are welcoming strangers into their houses that would be big news in Japan. Japanese people are very hospitable to strangers who are friends of friends and the like but to welcome in complete strangers is something I haven't heard of before.