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.

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.

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.

Counter Culture | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
More and more trendy bars and restaurants have been setting up standing counters, which have proven particularly popular among young women.

Drawing Inspiration | Lifestyle | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Of all illustrators in Japan, roughly 80% are female, and these talented artists are responsible for creating the characters, images, and packaging that is used to promote some of the biggest and most influential companies and events in the country.

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.

The Return of the Samurai | 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

Tigers Roar at Last | 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

Home Is Where the Art Is | 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

Sapporo, Hokkaido's Culinary Hub | J-food | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Hokkaido is home to a rich variety of foodstuffs, and Sapporo is a great place to find fresh seafood and any number of agricultural products.

Hokkaido, Cornucopia Of Fine Foods | J-food | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has selected Hokkaido as the venue for the July 2008 Group of Eight Summit. He chose the site, he says, "because I hope to use it for transmitting the beauty of Japan to the world." The island is indeed a scenic place, and it is also a treasure trove of fresh, tasty foods.

Gold Rush | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Gold is this year's trendy color. Gold buttons are being used on pea jackets and trench coats, gold chain bags and belt buckles are all the rage, and gold-toned clothes and other small items with a touch of gold are now prominent.

Full Contours For Denims | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Baggy jeans have moved into the spotlight in the 2007 spring and summer lineups, replacing their snug-fitting skinny counterparts that were all the rage last winter.

Two Styles In One | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Shirt dresses have become a hit this spring and summer, adding momentum to the trend in one-piece dresses that began a few seasons ago. Women like these garments because they are easy to wear, more versatile, and less expensive than dresses, though they cost slightly more than shirts.

Devilishly Cute | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Of the many women's fashion magazines in Japan, Koakuma Ageha has been making waves for its especially daring fashion suggestions. Launched in October 2006, it covers hairstyle, makeup, and fashion and targets young women who love designer-brand goods and seek fashions that attract men.

Hooray For Hosiery | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Hidden underneath long boots until recently, tights and stockings are regaining popularity as fashion items. The favorites among young fashion aficionados are delicate lace tights in black and gray, which they often wear with tight or tiered miniskirts for a feminine finish.

Year of the Yukata | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Unlined cotton kimono called yukata have long been worn by people attending traditional summer events held around Japan. But men and women have also begun dressing up in yukata to attend soccer and baseball matches, club events, and outdoor parties.

Showing Some Skin | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Young Japanese women are walking the streets in highly revealing styles, from bare-back dresses and tube tops to low-rise hot pants and super-mini skirts.