Saying Yes to Yoga | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Yoga, which eases fatigue and is useful for maintaining physical and mental health, is enjoying renewed popularity in Japan, particularly among young women. Yoga studios are cropping up all over the country, and manufacturers specializing in yoga attire have emerged. According to the Dai-ichi Life Research Institute Inc., the number of yoga enthusiasts in Japan is now over 200,000.

Air-Conditioned Clothes | Science and Technology | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Cool Biz is the title of a government campaign to persuade office workers to dispense with their ties and jackets as an environmentally friendly way of staying cool. And now an innovation called kuchofuku (air-conditioned clothing) is taking the concept one step further.

Back to Basics | Science and Technology | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Modern cell phones are a lot more than just phones. In addition to voice calls, they can be used to send e-mail, take photos and videos, navigate the Internet, and even conduct bank transactions. But not everyone is impressed with such a plethora of functions.

Bright Young Things | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
A family of brands known for their cute, trendy children's clothes has captured the hearts of many Japanese girls. The brands are the products of Narumiya International and are not limited to clothes, but include stationery, accessories, and cosmetics designed for youngsters. This wide range of products has attracted the attention of legions of girls.

A New Fountain of Youth | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Used as anti-aging ingredients in various health and beauty products, coenzymes - and one in particular, known as Coenzyme Q10 - are fueling brisk sales of products from health foods to cosmetics.

Something For Nothing | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Free newspapers and magazines have rapidly evolved into one of the most exciting subsectors of the publishing industry, with the annual circulation of free publications currently standing at more than 200 million.

All Part of the Service | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
A growing number of taxi operators in provincial areas of Japan have introduced innovative services to attract passengers.

Healthy Holidays | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
In a further reflection of consumers' growing inclination to choose products that are good for their health, travel packages that combine medical checkups or treatment with fun and relaxing activities are enjoying a steady growth in popularity.

Leisurely Lunches | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Neo Yatai Mura, or "villages of neo food stalls," consist of clusters of around a half dozen colorfully decorated food stalls parked in open spaces in office districts, where lunch-goers can relax in alfresco surroundings.

Is it a Phone? Is it an Octopus? | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
As mobile phones become an indispensable part of life for many people, they have developed into personalized fashion items as well. Some users customize their phones by decorating them with stickers or covers of their choosing, and these covers have evolved to take on many forms.

Local Festivals Go National | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Recently festivals rich in local color are being held not only in their regions of origin but in localities all across Japan.

Tech & Life | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trends in Japan Tech & Life Water Plaza Kitakyushu Evolution of Head-Mounted Displays Car Evolution High-Tech Nursing Care House Energy Innovation in Japan Carbon Fibers The Japanese Bolt Winter Life

Housing, Food, and Clothes - Explore Japan - Kids Web Japan - Web Japan
Lifestyles in Japan changed dramatically after World War II, when large numbers of people moved from the countryside to the cities to make their livings as office workers. As cities grew in both size and population, more and more people commuted from their apartments or houses in the suburbs to their workplaces in central areas.

Board Games Make a Comeback - What's Cool - Kids Web Japan - Web Japan
Board games that were big hits in the age before video games became mainstream are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Among these games, which groups of family and friends enjoy playing together, are Yakyu Ban (Baseball Board) and Jinsei Game (The Game of Life).

Aero R/C Cars - What's Cool - Kids Web Japan - Web Japan
Remote-controlled model cars are usually expensive toys that most kids can't afford to buy with just their pocket money. But a new remote-control car that is much cheaper than previous models is now on the market, and thanks to its affordable price tag it has become a big hit with car-loving kids and adults alike.

Good Luck Charms - What's Cool in Japan - Archives - Kids Web Japan - Web Japan
An ornament of a cat with a forepaw raised, a crystal figure in the shape of an owl, an earpick with a little, red Buddhist daruma doll attached--what do these things have in common? They're all good luck charms that Japanese kids want to have as they prepare for school entrance examinations.

Fathers - Monthly News - Archives - Kids Web Japan - Web Japan
What would you say if someone asked you to describe your father in one word? Would you answer with a word like "angry," "stubborn," or "strict"? These words might be the traditional image of a Japanese father, but according to a recent survey by Sumitomo Life Insurance Co., that image is changing.

Aiko - Monthly News - Archives - Kids Web Japan - Web Japan
On December 1, 2001, Crown Princess Masako gave birth to a baby girl. The baby weighed 3,102 grams and was 49.6 centimeters long at birth. At the traditional naming ceremony on the seventh day of her life, the girl was given the name Aiko and the personal title Toshi no Miya, Princess Aiko. "Ai" means love, "ko" means child and is often used as the last character in girl's names, and "toshi" means respect. She is the Crown Prince and Princess's long-awaited first child, born eight years after they got married in 1993, and is Emperor Akihito's third grandchild.

Firefighters - Monthly News - Archives - Kids Web Japan - Web Japan
Fire! You call 119 (the emergency number in Japan), and firefighters from your local fire station rush to the spot within minutes. This is what usually happens. But what if you live in a town with no fire stations of its own? In small towns like Minami-Izu, which is 150 kilometers southwest of Tokyo on the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, community fire brigades made up of male citizens come to the rescue.

Braille - Monthly News - Archives - Kids Web Japan - Web Japan
Terumi, an illustrated magazine that can be enjoyed by touching the raised shapes, recently celebrated its twenty-first anniversary. Published every two months by the Foundation for the Advancement of Juvenile Education in Japan, it has been cherished by generations of visually impaired children as a rare source of knowledge about the shapes of things. The pictures and Braille writing are raised from the surface of the paper by printing them with a special kind of ink that puffs up when heated.