Abstract
This study compared Japanese and American homeowners' attitudes about keeping housing lifespan. The results suggest that the lifespan of Japanese homes could be lengthened by a change inoutlook of their owners. Yearly depreciation is taken for granted in Japan. Thus, a typical urban house is rebuilt after only 20-30 years, which is about one-fourth the lifetime of a house in the United States or in rural Japan. Since existing houses in the U.S. are still highly valued, the owner expects a good return on his investment. The Japanese, on the other hand, would not expect a good price on his home, and thus plans to live there permanently or to rebuild rather than try to sell it.
