> Even without the regulations, the level of destruction is hard to understand.

It's not only in Japan. I've seen this in other Asian countries as well. Perfectly good and relatively new building is destroyed to build another building that is not very different in size/structure.

I guess, it's something different in attitude towards environment. E.g. I wouldn't like my city to be rebuilt constantly. I like old buildings, history related to them. In Asia they probably feel different.