Trends in Japan

At a venue in Ehime, 12 high school students stand before a sheet of paper stretched across the floor. Music plays, and they move in coordinated waves, brushes in hand. They have less than 10 minutes to complete their work—writing lyrics or meaningful phrases in bold strokes while moving to the rhythm. Once time is up, the students lift the completed piece for the audience to see. This is shodo performance, where Japan's centuries-old art of calligraphy meets modern theatrics.

A Better Tomorrow: Japanese Technology Improving Life for Older Adults

Japan is home to one of the world’s most rapidly aging societies, with nearly one in three citizens over the age of 65. This demographic shift presents significant challenges for the nation as a whole but has also inspired Japanese companies, researchers, and local governments to develop new technologies that improve quality of life for older adults and support their independence.

Ukiyo-e, Japan’s woodblock print craft, is most commonly associated with HOKUSAI Katsushika (1760–1849), whose The Great Wave off Kanagawa (ca. 1830–1832) is considered one of the most recognizable artworks in the world. While these works remain central to its legacy, ukiyo-e has always been rooted in the present moment. Today, contemporary artists apply ukiyo-e’s bold compositions and woodblock techniques to modern subjects.

Did you know there are places where the Earth tells its story through the land? At Japan’s geoparks, you can step into that story and experience it for yourself.