My favorite part about the coworking movement in Japan -- and I don't get much exposure to it since it hasn't arrived in force in Ogaki yet -- is that it provides a community and social reinforcement which says "Just because you're not a salaryman doesn't mean you're a homeless vagabond!" to participants.

Japanese young folks, in particular, can really use that message. It is not a particularly popular message in Japan, which is largely organized for the benefit of salarymen and supports a few variants like "stay-at-home mothers" and "retired people" but institutionally is almost entirely unaware that there are exotic options like "freelancing."

I generally work out of cafes in Ogaki when not working from my kitchen table, and have been told three times by well-meaning cafe owners "Don't worry kiddo! If you hang in there I'm sure one of these days you'll find a job! Just keep sending those emails!"