Coinless Lockers | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
New types of coin lockers are appearing in train stations around the country. Some can be paid for by a swipe of an electronic money card or cellular phone, and others have enough space to store big suitcases.

Next-Generation Bathrooms | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Toilet manufacturers are battling to provide consumers with toilets that are more comfortable and easy to use. Recent developments in this market include environmentally friendly units that use less water and electricity than other models.

Harnessing the Rising Sun | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
In a time of high oil prices and growing concern over environmental problems, the number of Japanese homes equipped with solar power systems is on the rise.

Barcode Art | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Up to now, barcodes have been nothing more than a dull collection of black and white stripes of differing thickness, but that is all about to change. A Japanese company making these codes that are printed on almost every product sold in stores nowadays into fun, innovative advertisements.

Reading On The Move | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
A growing number of people are reading novels and other books on their mobile phones and computers. Easy to access and a cinch to carry around, these electronic books are convenient and, thanks to plans offering unlimited data transmissions at a fixed rate, reasonably priced as well.

Ultra-Luxury Hotels | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Foreign-owned "ultra-luxury hotels," with rates 20%�50% higher than most of their Japanese competitors, continue to open in downtown Tokyo.

A Map For Publishing Success | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Informative maps focusing on themes like world affairs, history, and even earthquakes and other disasters have become popular among Japanese readers. These thematic, informative maps are the product of a new strategy publishing firms have adopted amid adverse market conditions.

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.

Sharing In The Spoils | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Japan's stock markets are recording heavy trading. One of the factors behind this increased activity is the emergence of individual investors who actively trade stocks, many of whom have gained inspiration from celebrity traders famed for their stock-trading success.

Fostering the Will to Work | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Major publishing companies have released a succession of titles aimed at teaching children about the meaning and value of employment.

Ever More Convenient | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Convenience stores no longer just sell food and everyday items but offer an amazing variety of goods and services. Many chains have recently launched specialist outlets targeted at specific groups of customers in an effort to stay ahead of the pack.

Wind Power Takes Off | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Communities and industries in Japan are increasingly looking to wind power to help out with their energy needs. Several cities and towns in Japan have been building "citizens' windmills."

Time to Retire | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Now that the postwar generation of "baby boomers" is about to hit retirement age, a slew of products and services have emerged to cater to this relatively affluent and leisure-loving group of consumers.

Geek Spending Power | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
When the otaku, a uniquely Japanese style of geeks, first emerged in the early 1980s, they were generally seen as social misfits who spent long hours collecting and reading manga (comic books) and watching anime (animated films). Yet over the years, the otaku gradually took on a more visible profile. Today, some analysts believe they could actually be an important driver of Japan's economic growth.

Keiretsu Comeback | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Keiretsu (corporate conglomerates) have been condemned by European and American auto makers for their opaque business practices and high costs but today keiretsu are being reevaluated as a way to achieve business success.

Payback Time | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Now that Japan's economy is on the upswing, the nation's major banks are speeding up their repayments of the funds the government provided them to sort out the bad-loan crisis of the 1990s.

Fast-Food Exports | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Yoshinoya, a Japanese chain of fast-food restaurants, is quickly becoming a household name in China's capital city. As of the end of August 2005, the company had 67 restaurants in Beijing. Yoshinoya is one of several Japanese restaurant chains making serious inroads throughout Asia.

The Final Frontier | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The business of space travel and technology has long been in the hands of a small number of large corporations. Yet in recent years, a growing number of small and medium-sized companies have entered the industry.

On Location | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
A new breed of tourist is beginning to attract the attention of tour operators and of localities where movies have been filmed. The main objective of these visitors is not to see famous landmarks or to go shopping but to visit the settings of popular movies and TV series.

Haneda Airport Gets a New Terminal | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Haneda Airport's new Terminal 2, which opened on December 1, 2004, was built to ease congestion at Japan's busiest airport.