All About Japan

Toilet Wonders of the Architectural World

Head to Shibuya in Tokyo to experience toilets like you've never experienced them before.

Swede Peo Ekberg is a Fair Trade Leader in Japan

The Director of One Planet Cafe shares his insights on Fair Trade and why it's a win-win for everyone.

Unilever Japan Expands Recycle Program

Unilever has added the National Azabu Supermarket to its locations for collecting personal care packaging after use for recycling, with incentives under the UMILE program.

Japan's Himekuri Calendars: Amazing Almanacs

Japan's traditional page-a-day himekuri calendars are fascinating windows into traditional ways of keeping track of everything from seasonal events to festivals and lucky days.

Pioneers of Sustainable Living in Japan: The Remarkable People of Kamikatsu

The second of a series about the inspiring zero-waste Japanese town of Kamikatsu. Joy Jarman-Walsh introduces the people who want to make sustainability compatible with a good life.

A Fresh Fashion Twist on Vintage Kimono

A young Japan-based Australian designer is reconstructing vintage kimono into bespoke garments.

Tokyo Midtown Yaesu: The City's Trendy New Dining/Shopping Spot

This new complex boasts high-end shops, gastronomic delights, prime office space and the first Japan outpost of Bulgaria Hotel.

Sustaina-Week: Seeking a Better Future

Boost your sustainability game with tips, products, and services from environmentally friendly Japanese companies

Shimbun Nishiki-e: The Meiji-era Origins of Japan’s Lurid Tabloids

In the Meiji Era (1868--1912), some enterprising woodblock artists used their traditional skills to bring a mix of news and entertainment to the masses.

Small Spaces, Part 1: Japanese Ideas for Small and Tiny Homes

Innovative, space-saving methods from traditional and modern Japanese architecture that can be used in any home, regardless of size. The first of a series.

10 Amazing Things I Can Do at My Local Konbini

Offering everything from underwear to fresh vegetables, Japan's convenience stores are an indispensable part of daily life. Here is why.

Meet a Robot with Heart at Tokyo's Lovot Café!

The robots at this café are cutting edge—developed and programmed to react emotionally to interaction with humans. Now, for the price of a simple meal, you can get a glimpse of how our future will be spent with the cutest “care robots.”

Simple Quiz Helps Find Your Ideal Saké

New Japan-based startup Kurashu is looking to help people break into the world of sake with a novel recommendation system and a web shop selling a curated collection of small-batch sake.

Onomichi: The Japan Inland Sea Town That Saved Its Own Life, Part II

The second part of a series on a Japanese town and the citizens that have used innovative sustainable lifestyle choices to revitalize the community for residents and visitors.

Small Spaces, Part III: Japanese Ideas for Small and Tiny Homes

The third of a series on innovative, space saving methods from Japanese architecture that can be used in any home. The theme is bringing the exterior into the interior to broaden horizons.

Onomichi: A Japanese Inland Sea Town That Saved Its Own Life

How sustainability efforts have remarkably revitalized the Inland Sea town of Onomichi by attracting new residents and tourists—with an emphasis on cycling.

Okinawa's Top 5 Wellness Oils: Nature's Best-kept Secrets

Introducing some lesser known essential oils of the island of Okinawa, where the locals have long known that health is a harmonic state of body, mind and spirit.

Small Spaces, Part IV: Japanese Ideas for Small and Tiny Homes

The fourth of a series on innovative, space-saving methods from traditional and modern Japanese architecture that can be used in any home, regardless of size.

Brit Amelia Hiorns is Working to Save Japan’s Bear Population

Amelia Hiorns has one of the most unusual jobs in Japan. As a member of the Picchio Wildlife Research Center’s Bear Team, she works with black bears, Karelian bear dogs, and humans, all in an effort to promote wildlife conservation.

Small Spaces, Part II: Japanese Ideas for Small and Tiny Homes

The second of a series on innovative, space-saving methods from traditional and modern Japanese architecture that can be used in any home, regardless of size.

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