Rationally superstitious

Space is money in Japan. So, rationally speaking, why have an attractive front garden, when you can convert it into a parking lot? But, what's going on here? Has the samurai counting system gone wrong? Did the fellow with the white paint have a missing Ruby Ring finger? I'm guessing not. The inability to count to five was in fact a case of common sense, Japanese style. Nobody would want to rent space four because the number can be pronounced "shi" which also means death. Rational and superstitious, all in one go.