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Lifestyle 2005-2006
Delectably White
(November 10, 2006)
White-colored foods are enjoying a surge of popularity this autumn. White versions of curry, tea, fish burgers, mushrooms, and many other foods and dishes feature prominently in this trend.
Middle-Aged and Looking Good
(September 29, 2006)
More and more Japanese men are taking an interest in fashion. This rapid in men's fashion consciousness has been sparked by such factors as the success of magazines like Leon, which targets middle-aged men who want to give off an air of sophisticated cool.
Vinegar Vitality
(August 22, 2006)
As more and more consumers recognize the health benefits of su (rice vinegar), vinegar bars and cafes offering beverages that combine rice vinegar with ingredients like fruits and vegetables have begun to appear in Tokyo.
Creative Juices
(August 15, 2006)
A battle for ideas is heating up among bottled tea producers, who are engaged in a fierce competition to create tasty beverages that capture the public's imagination.
Shopping by Phone Takes Off
(July 25, 2006)
Shopping by mobile phone is enjoying growing popularity among young women, who are discovering the allure of being able to purchase the goods they desire anywhere, anytime.
Spare Some Change?
(July 20, 2006)
Appearing across Japan recently is something called the "charity vending machine," which allows users to donate their change to such good causes as environmental conservation and child welfare at the push of a button.
Working the Soil
(May 25, 2006)
Young people these days are taking a new look at agriculture. Students are making efforts to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers and are playing a role in regional revitalization through their involvement in farming.
Tofu With a Twist
(May 8, 2006)
Brands of tofu with unusual names like "Handsome Tofu" and "Johnny the Tofu Maker, Blowing in the Wind" have been attracting attention on the Internet and around town, not just for their names but also for their exquisite flavor.
Enough to Make You Cry
(March 29, 2006)
Tearjerkers, whether they be movies, TV series, or novels, are nothing new. What is new, however, is Japan's current "crying boom" - a fashion for shedding tears.
Make Mine Macrobiotic
(February 9, 2006)
What is the secret to staying healthy? For an increasing number of Japanese people, the answer is macrobiotic food. A macrobiotic diet is a diet that emphasizes natural ingredients and is heavy on brown rice, beans, and fresh vegetables grown without artificial fertilizers.
Fashion Hub Gets a Facelift
(January 27, 2006)
Omotesando, one of Tokyo's most cosmopolitan and trendy districts, is seeing a number of big changes this winter. These developments herald a new era for a district that has long been one of the most fashionable places in the capital.
Stone Baths and Germanium Soaks
(January 24, 2006)
Young and old alike, the Japanese love baths. In recent years, two new types of bath have become popular. One is a dry form of bathing known as ganban-yoku ("stone-slab bath"), and the other is a soak in hot water infused with the mineral germanium.
Sweets In Disguise
(December 21, 2005)
With so many hamburger restaurants dotting the streets, the launch of a new outlet
is usually no cause for excitement. But Mamido's Burger is an exception. Its distinctive
offerings are all sweets made to look like hamburgers and other fast food.
Layered Food
(December 8, 2005)
The kasanegi (layered) look, featuring two or more layers of clothing, has become a staple of Japanese fashion in recent years, and now a culinary technique inspired by this fashion concept is gaining popularity.
Good Business Scents
(November 14, 2005)
Two companies are engaged in a battle to gain the upper hand in the Japanese market for fabric deodorant sprays, and the secret weapon they are deploying is green tea.
Back on the Tracks
(October 20, 2005)
The number of cities served by trams is set to rise. Several cities, mainly in provincial areas, have built or are planning to build next-generation tram systems. The vehicles typically run within central city areas and supplement intercity rail services.
Bottled Tap Water
(October 3, 2005)
Bottled tap water has been selling well, driven by a demand for water that tastes good but doesn't cost much. Water treatment plants around the country have been scrambling to invest in cutting-edge purification equipment in a bid to stay ahead of the competition.
Squeeze-and-Eat Convenience
(September 20, 2005)
A new kind of packaging is taking the food and beverage industry by storm: plastic pouches with screw-off caps. Some people consider these pouches the greatest thing since PET bottles, the plastic bottles commonly used for mineral water and other beverages.
The Pleasures of Paper
(September 14, 2005)
Japanese paper is prized for the unique patterns of the fibers on each sheet. Today, washi is finding growing use in interior decoration schemes, reflecting a broader trend, particularly among young people, to get back in touch with Japanese culture.
Arithmetic for Adults
(August 24, 2005)
For many people, the word math tends to bring back unpleasant memories. Despite this, the number of adults doing math for fun has been on the rise in recent years, and many people are now eagerly snapping up math-related books. Their newfound enthusiasm stems in some cases from a desire to keep their brains in good working order.
Teaching Old Houses New Tricks
(August 3, 2005)
The old townhouses of Kyoto are attracting renewed attention. Some are being used again as homes, while others are being remodeled into inns, cafes, restaurants, and boutiques.
Middle-Aged Men Get Their Groove on
(July 25, 2005)
Middle-aged men tend to be stereotyped as wearing dull business suits, but a new breed is on the rise: the stylish middle-aged man. Fueling this trend is a growing number of men's fashion magazines.
The Tastes of Nagoya
(July 19, 2005)
Nagoyan food is enjoying explosive popularity in Tokyo and other parts of Japan. Restaurants serving cuisine from Aichi Prefecture have made inroads in the capital, attracting diners with distinctively Nagoyan fare.
Taking Jobs for a Test Drive
(June 14, 2005)
Many developed countries have been grappling with a common headache - how to create decent job opportunities for young people amid rising unemployment and the spread of low-paying irregular work. Japan's approach to this problem is attracting attention around the world for its focus on matching young people with jobs that suit them.
Sweet Bean Treats
(June 9, 2005)
More and more health- and weight-conscious Japanese, and women in particular, are eschewing sweets made from sugar and flour and turning instead to delicacies made of beans, which tend to be a lot better for one's health.
Japan's Queen of Homemaking
(May 9, 2005)
When it comes to the art and science of Japanese homemaking, Harumi Kurihara reigns supreme. Kurihara's reputation went global in February when her English-language book, Harumi's Japanese Cooking, was selected as Best Cookbook of the Year 2004 at the 10th Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.
Massage Chairs
(March 31, 2005)
The latest massage chairs are equipped with an array of sensors, pressure pads, and air bags, all designed to give back and shoulder massages that relieve the stresses of work and everyday life.
"Keep" the Customer Happy
(March 22, 2005)
Regular customers at bars in Japan often drink from "keep" bottles. The "keep" concept has been carried over to other products besides liquor. Pickles, chopsticks, and coffee cups are just some of the products now offered on a "keep" basis.
Underground Urban Farm
(March 17, 2005)
An underground rice and vegetable field has been planted beneath an office building in Tokyo's Otemachi business district.
Lucky Charms for the Twenty-First Century
(March 15, 2005)
Every New Year's holiday, millions of Japanese head to shrines or temples to pray for good fortune for the coming year. The shrine visits would not be complete without the purchase of a good-luck charm, called o-mamori in Japanese.
Gaming on the Go
(February 22, 2005)
The competition for customers in the gaming industry stepped up a gear in late 2004, as two major makers of video-game systems engaged in a battle over the next generation of portable video-game systems.
Studying Kyoto for Fun
(February 18, 2005)
On December 12, 2004, nearly 10,000 people on three university campuses took exams on the history and culture of Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital.
The Perfect Cure for Cold Feet
(February 10, 2005)
For the Japanese, bathing in an onsen (hot spring) has long been a favorite way to take the edge off winter's chill. But the popularity of another way of warming the body and soul, the footbath, has been quietly heating up over the past year.
Vinegar Drinks Catching on
(January 25, 2005)
Vinegar, known as o-su in Japanese, is considered
to be good for the health, particularly for improving circulation and countering
fatigue. Now more and more Japanese are seeking the benefits of vinegar by drinking vinegar-based beverages.
Drawing Inspiration
(January 6, 2005)
Of all illustrators in Japan, roughly 80% are female, and these talented artists
are responsible for creating the characters, images, and packaging that is used
to promote some of the biggest and most influential companies and events in the
country.
Counter Culture
(January 4, 2005)
More and more trendy bars and restaurants have been
setting up standing counters, which have proven particularly popular
among young women.
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