Web Japan > Trends in Japan
Vests (waistcoats) are enjoying growing popularity among fashionistas of both genders. The garments first appeared in street fashions a few years ago, when trendsetters found them in vintage clothes shops and began using them to create their own distinctive looks. Since then, they have become a standard item in the wardrobes of younger generation.
Soy sauce is a versatile traditional condiment used in a wide range of Japanese dishes. Although it has a famously salty taste, chocolate and other sweets flavored with soy sauce have hit the market and are enjoying something of a boom.
Karaoke was born in Japan over 30 years ago. There are more and more karaoke establishments that, in addition to allowing patrons to have fun singing, have expanded their services through such means as presenting customers with delicious food in a lavish space or giving them the opportunity to soak in a hot bath.
Manga has become an international lingua franca. Many enthusiasts also enjoy dressing up as their favorite characters. "Cosplayers" from around the world, each dressed in a unique costume, gathered in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, this summer to take part in the World Cosplay Summit (WCS) 2008.
