Lucky Grab Bags | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
One of the highlights of the New Year's season for many people in Japan is shopping for grab bags, known as fukubukuro, or "lucky bags." Every year major department stores and other businesses offer lucky bags to grab the attention of the public.

The Bank Of Life | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
In December 2006 toy manufacturer Tomy Co. came out with a piggy bank that combines saving money with the fun of a game. As users put coins into the Jinsei Ginko, meaning "bank of life," the life of a fictional character unfolds before their eyes.

Layered Food | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Sweets In Disguise | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Stone Baths and Germanium Soaks | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Fashion Hub Gets a Facelift | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Make Mine Macrobiotic | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Enough to Make You Cry | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Tofu With a Twist | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Working the Soil | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Spare Some Change? | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Sweet Bean Treats | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Taking Jobs for a Test Drive | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

The Tastes of Nagoya | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Middle-Aged Men Get Their Groove on | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Teaching Old Houses New Tricks | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Arithmetic for Adults | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

The Pleasures of Paper | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Squeeze-and-Eat Convenience | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Bottled Tap Water | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.