Manufacturers are thinking inside the box to offer stressed-out consumers a personal sanctuary in Japan's notoriously cramped homes.
According to 2013 government statistics, the average size of a Japanese house is 94.4 sq. meters, compared to 157.2 sq. meters for the United States (2011 figures), 100.1 sq. meters for France (2006 figures) and 99 sq. meters for Germany (2006 figures).
With personal space at such a premium, manufacturers are increasingly finding a market for products that allow users to retreat into a private world, free from outside noise and interference.