Thanks for so much for the support and adding more info! As much as I would love to live there, I don't. My kid is though, she'll be there another 5 months. I'm just the carrier of cash and reader of contracts, lol. All the apartment agents wanted the security deposit plus first and last months rent in cash and i didn't feel comfy with my kid walking around with that much cash, lol.
In regards to ABB, it's "illegal" in Singapore too, but people still do it. I much prefer Japan's way, make it legal but regulated (as in required to have safety standards met).