Yuge Akiko | People | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
As director of the United Nations Development Programme's Tokyo Office, Yuge Akiko's job is to build and strengthen partnerships with Japanese government, businesses, academia, and NGOs with the aim of assisting developing countries in their nation-building efforts.

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.

Lucky Charms for the Twenty-First Century | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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.

Novels Delivered to Your Phone | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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Rescuing Iraq's Heritage | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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In the Zone | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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Girls Want Curls | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Curly hair is back in style. Women from their teens through thirties are styling their tresses in big, soft waves an effort to duplicate the cute, feminine hairdos currently featured in the fashion magazines, including on popular model Ebihara Yuri.

Split-Toe Socks | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
People interested in traditional Japanese dress might be familiar with tabi, the split-toe socks that are worn with kimono. Now these uniquely shaped socks are capturing the attention of young Japanese designers and even the fashion world outside of Japan.

Sun-Blocking Chic | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
For Japanese women, this is the season of worrying about ultraviolet rays. This year the standard arsenal of protective gear that includes parasols, hats, and gloves has been joined by an array of new accessories like "ray sleeves" and arm stoles.

Egg-Vertising | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Eggs are being used as the latest innovative advertising medium. In February 2007 Japan got its first egg-based advertisement, with Nissin Food Products, the company that invented instant noodles, becoming the country's first "ovular advertiser."

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.

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.

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.

The Eco-Friendly Bank | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
A nonprofit bank launched two years ago by three stars of Japan's pop-music industry is garnering attention for the contribution it is making to tackling environmental problems.

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.

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.

Turning Point | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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Weekend Entrepreneurs | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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Digital Century | Business and Economy | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
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