Small Japanese Homes and being American

This is a subject that always comes up with my American friends. It always makes me laugh because they cant get over how small and compact Japanese houses and apartments are. I must say I have lived in Japan for about 10 years now and have come to be quit use to the fact that any house or apartment I will have will be like a sardine can, lol. Many people say "oh, don't you want a big house?". or " don't you miss having a huge kitchen?". well no, I never in my life had a big house nor a big kitchen therefore I miss neither. I guess thats one reason why I fit in well with Japanese culture. I like to have a small, quant space that is easy to keep clean and a kitchen that is big enough for me to cook in...after all I am not a chef so why do I need a huge space?
Now my husband is Japanese and even though he was born and raised in Japan he likes the idea of a big house...well he doesn't have to clean. We had been looking for a house for sometime before my son was conceived and then just sort a forgot about it and lived happily in our apartment. That was until I had found out I was pregnant and we needed more space, so we proceeded again to look for a house. We never found one that we liked so we decided to have one built and now have a very lovely, larger then average Japanese house, that I love but is a pain in the ass to keep clean. Did I mention I had two men who are very messy?
Now people who are not from Japan might ask "why are japanese houses and apartments so small?". Simple! Lack of space and land in Japan is very expensive! I mean very, unless you want to live in way back the boondocks which I don't, I will take the city anytime!
Land in Japan is expensive and many people can usually only afford a small piece of land. I currently live in Iwakuni which is very country and there is plenty of land but still very costly. To some people that cant even proceed the notion of living in cramped home or apartment but in Japan its the norm and everyone just accepts it. When I first started dating my husband he lived in one of the smallest apartments I have ever seen! I mean it was one small room with a small narrow hallway about less then 8 feet with a tiny  stove and a tiny shower room and toilet. People who are claustrophobic would not do well here, lol.
I have to say I kind of giggled when I seen his apartment, it was too cute.
Now there is somethings about America I truly miss and that is a oven!!!!!! My current home has a oven that I had bought when I worked on the military base. I was never so happy in my life^^ I missed making cakes (big cakes, not tiny sponge cakes) and big turkeys.  I could now have a huge Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner with ease. But alas it wouldn't last, for we are now moving because of my husbands job and will be selling the house to his sister...so no more oven for me:(
I also miss American washer and dryers!! ALOT! The Japanese ones are so small and honestly I think don't work as well. I like to get most of my cleaning done before the week but cant wash big or medium loads of laundry, can only wash small loads so that can sometimes be troublesome with two men.