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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Back on the Tracks | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The number of cities served by trams is set to rise. Several cities, mainly in provincial areas, have built or are planning to build next-generation tram systems. The vehicles typically run within central city areas and supplement intercity rail services.

Tourists Flock to Tsukiji | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market is enjoying booming popularity among foreign tourists, who go there not only to take a look around the bustling marketplace but also to lunch on some of the freshest sushi in Japan.

Celebrating International Cooperation | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The government of Japan has designated October 6 International Cooperation Day, and to celebrate this, an International Cooperation Festival is held every year at the beginning of October.

Gaming on the Go | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The competition for customers in the gaming industry stepped up a gear in late 2004, as two major makers of video-game systems engaged in a battle over the next generation of portable video-game systems.

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.

What Is Your Favorite Tourist Destination in Japan? | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Lifestyle Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science Society Sp

Job-Hunting Season Starts Early | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Lifestyle Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science Society Sp

Novels Delivered to Your Phone | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Lifestyle Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science Society Sp

Cafe-Cum-Everything | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Lifestyle Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Science Society Sp