Olympic Windfall | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Japanese athletes brought home a record haul of medals from the 2004 Athens Olympics, and thanks to their efforts the Japanese economy has also struck an unexpectedly large pot of gold.

Wallet Phones | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Cell phones that allow users to pay for their shopping just by holding them over a reader at the cash register, aptly nicknamed o-saifu keitai (wallet cell phones), went on the market in July 2004.

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.

Plastic from Plants | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Plastics made using the resin of corn and other plants are seeing a rapid increase in demand.

In with the New | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Some of the long-running models that Japanese automakers first introduced in the 1950s and 1960s have reached the end of the road, and carmakers are replacing them with new models.

Bright Future | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Business and Economy Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science

Turning Point | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Business and Economy Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science

Bento Wars | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Business and Economy Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science

Here's to Shochu | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Business and Economy Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science

Growing Convenience | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Business and Economy Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science

Trains Versus Planes | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Business and Economy Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science

Molding the Future | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Business and Economy Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science

Weekend Entrepreneurs | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Business and Economy Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science

Digital Century | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Business and Economy Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science

Quenching a Global Thirst | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Business and Economy Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science

It Started as a Phone | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Business and Economy Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science

Spiritual Holidays | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Sometimes you just want to enjoy a quiet trip that lets you step back and reflect on the world and your place in it. More and more Japanese take this view, and the country is witnessing a boom, primarily among young women, in overnight stays at Buddhist temples.

Honoring The World's Manga Artists | Pop Culture | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Manga is now a global phenomenon that stands alongside anime as a contemporary art form born in Japan and then exported around the globe. The International MANGA Award was established to further promote manga worldwide.

Showcasing Japanese Pop Culture | Pop Culture | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The Japan International Contents Festival (CoFesta) was conceived to introduce Japanese content to the world. It features a wide range of genres all in one festival, including video games, anime, and manga.

Comic Cornucopia | Pop Culture | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The largest comic convention in the world, the Comic Market is a landmark event that showcases world-renowned Japanese anime, manga, and “cosplay” (costume play). Once again reeling in a multitude of participants and visitors, this summer’s event was especially notable for the number and variety of cosplayers in attendance.