Trends in Japan

Tatami is a traditional type of flooring used in Japanese homes and buildings — it's an essential feature of tearooms, and judo matches are always contested on top of tatami mats. Although wooden flooring is more common these days, people still value the look and feel of tatami, and have found ways of incorporating it into more modern interior designs. Let's take a look at some of the ways in which tatami is used today in contemporary interior design.

Agriculture and fisheries are two industries where people have to work alongside the natural environment, which they have no way of controlling, and as both are also primary industries, they involve a lot of manual labor, leading to problems such as labor shortages and an aging workforce. People around the world are working to solve these problems using technologies like IoT and AI, and their progress is picking up speed. In this article, we will discuss some new technologies developed by smaller startups, how they are starting to see use in Japanese agriculture and fisheries, and how they may be used far and wide in the near future.

In Japan, appreciation for tiny things has long been part of the culture, and it's common for people to set small things down and admire their beauty up close. There's also a proud tradition of making small, intricately detailed objects by hand. Bonsai trees are of course known worldwide and considered an important part of Japanese culture passed down through the ages, but there are also more modern manifestations of this widespread love for small objects — from miniature products that reflect contemporary culture and trends to the emergence of artists working on a uniquely petite scale. Let's take a look at how Japan's miniature culture has continuously evolved in step with the Japanese passion for craftsmanship.

If there's one food you can't go without during the hot and steamy Japanese summer, it's kakigori — Japanese shaved ice. Blocks of ice are shaved into fine flakes using special machines, then topped with flavorings like strawberry or melon syrup, sweet matcha (strong green tea) sauce, sweetened beans, or condensed milk. A bowl of shaved ice in the sweltering summer sun is a treat loved by everyone, from kids to adults, so it's no wonder there are long lines for shaved ice stands at summer events like fireworks displays, and more and more eateries are adding it to their menu during summertime. Meanwhile, some people prefer to make shaved ice at home with their own ice shavers and syrups.