No It's not illegal to barbecue in Japan, it's just discouraged to do so near residential areas because all the high rise buildings are all near to each other and the smoke will bother the residents. Tatsu and Bob should've brought that grill to any of the large parks or any of the barbecue parks.
@amaisuika
You probably didn't try raw meat, or both. Raw is pretty much impossible to chew, while rare and medium-rare are the most tender. This tender texture is among the main allures of red meat.
Generally the dislike of red meat is culturally inherited in poor or rural families who didn't have access to meat which can be presumed safe to eat red. The black people stereotype comes from this first and foremost.