In the US you can usually build "lighter" within a category, up to a point, but not across categories (e.g. you could build a single family home in a high density residential zone, but not in a commercial zone).

I'm not sure how that compares to Japan's system, but from GP's comment it sounds like you can cross categories there.

Japan’s system is more about what would disrupt QoL around it. If you want to open a small bakery in the middle of a residential neighborhood you can do so. Not really economically viable, but some people run these things out of just the front room of their house.

It depends on your local law. Where I live, we have mixed use, office residential, general office and warehousing. All broadly allow home building of various types. Going the other way, the rules are quite detailed as to what sort of commercial operations you could start from a residential property in those zones, subject to superseding HoA restrictions.