Given that AWS US can still easily 'control' any data it wants to get from its Euro subsidiary (just by pushing a new code version that has a small change to make that data accessible), I don't understand how AWS US would avoid being compelled to turn over the data in a high profile case. I.e. they could always implement a backdoor or make a targeted modification to the AWS code base that would allow them access if they wanted. Unless AWS EU does a full code review on every line of code being changed in the underlying AWS codebase, they'd never be able to stop it.

This. Zoning is a huge reason Tokyo feels amazing to us Americans. The ability to have micro-stores and restaurants in every back alley and other unconventional spaces allows innovation that isn’t possible in the US cities where viable commercial spaces for a restaurant start at $20k per month. Zoning also enabled more home based businesses, particularly in many of the smaller Japanese cities. Good luck getting any city in the US to let you run a yakitori restaurant out of your house.

Hokkaido seems like it is a major problem for this study: it ranks low on stroke mortality and high on ramen consumption and is well known as a land that loves ramen and other rich foods. Perhaps they eat more seafood and that somehow offsets the risk or have some other advantage but it is interesting the authors don’t even mention it given how glaring it is the largest prefecture and one of the easiest to spot on the map for a foreigner.