Backyard Coffee and Jazz in Kyoto

That comes with zoning regulations. That coffee shop is illegal in most of North America due to being a commercial place-of-sale (outlawed in many residential areas), too small, and not having off-street parking.

When you're able to operate a place like that, your fixed costs (i.e. rent) are drastically lower and you are able to sell at lower prices because of it. With more housing, your employees don't need high wages to afford a basic apartment.

Yes. Also you can look at falling rates of entrepreneurship in the United States and connect the dots with the article. We have some neighbors who wanted to run a flower shop out of their garage. Can't get business insurance because it's not a separate location - i.e. your home and business cannot be the same place for physical goods.

Issues like that, while perhaps sensible to someone, are barriers toward economic prosperity.

But a new oil change location? Approved, insured, permitted in 5 minutes. Construction done in 2 months.

We're really hellbent on making anything but the new highway to the new Wal-Mart and $60 Starbucks dinner (paid over time of course) for the kids on the way to soccer practice in the Jeep Wagoner illegal.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. It would not pass a health inspection because it doesn't have sanitizable surfaces. The restrooms (if any) are likely not accessible, nor is seating nor is the entrance. Would not pass fire code for a commercial establishment. And probably 50 other things.