Hacker News Reader

Desktop computers with CRT were far less popular in Japan than anywhere else, and compacity is part of the story for the TV/gaming console/computer hybrids that found more traction there than elsewhere. Perfectly usable furniture that lost its purpose are left on the curb for pickup - no space at home to store anything not in production ! The never-used formal dining room found in US homes would look bonkers to a visiting Japanese.

View on HN

I remember people making fun of the Xbox for being too huge and “American”!

> The never-used formal dining room found in US homes would look bonkers to a visiting Japanese.

there’s always the never-used huge tatami room at grandpa’s house in the countryside

>never-used formal dining room

To be fair, I'm not sure how common this is with new/remodeled construction in the US. Entertainment pattens have changed for the most part and layouts tend to be a lot more open. In particular, you don't see the hard demarkation between dining area and kitchen area which dates to when the "help" worked in the kitchen and served in the dining room.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com