The Japanese Countryside: A Horror Movie of 'Rurban' Sprawl

The Japanese countryside is a chaotic "rurban" sprawl, lacking the charm of European villages. Poor zoning, local corruption, and cheap construction have created an ugly patchwork. Ironically, current agricultural policies, a legacy of successful post-war reform, now cripple profitability and prevent scale, leaving villages lonely, depressed, and exploited. A choice must be made: export-focused farming or subsidized beautification.