All About Japan

Plathome: A Home Designed Around an Old Train

What would you do with an old train car? If you're architect Takanobu Kishimoto, you incorporate it into part of a house!

Using Regenerated Energy from Trains

Since 2014, Tokyo Metro—the firm that operates the subway lines that run through downtown Tokyo—has been using regenerated power from subway cars to power the equipment in train stations.

Aichi's Maglev Still Running Strong

YouTubers Rachel & Jun introduce Linimo, one of only two maglev (magnetic levitation) trains presently open to public use in the world, the other being in Shanghai.

How Japan's Trains Stay on Time

Ever wonder how Japan's trains stay so precisely on time? Hideki Hashimoto at the transport division of JR East's transport and rolling stock department explains the secret—and it's not just technology.

Where Do Old Trains Go?

Most people envision Japan's trains as shiny, advanced, and new—but where do the old trains go when they're no longer needed?

Spinning Synthetic Silk

What gives silk its sheen, and just how did a Japanese company replicate it synthetically?

Train Photographer Hirota Naotaka

Discover one of Japan's pioneering 'tori-tetsu'—a.k.a. train photography otaku!

How to Move a Rail Line in a Single Night

Watch this amazing video to see how 1,200 station workers in Shibuya shifted the tracks of the Toyoko Line from above ground to underground in just one night in March 2013.

Genderless Models Create New Fashion Culture

Just what does it mean to be a genderless model? Tokyo Girls' Update examines the principles while looking at internationally known icons and Japanese models.

Designing Fashion for All Aspects of Life

Takafumi Tsuruta believes fashion shouldn't just be about the runway, but about meeting you where you are in life: whether you’re in a wheelchair, have only one arm, or are on your way to a funeral.

Are You Ready to Say Goodbye to Headphones?

Sony is developing a new device that gives you the ability to listen to music without putting anything in your ear.

An Art-Inspired Approach to Bridal Services

Need some fresh ideas to plan a unique wedding in Japan? TeamLab is now offering digital installation wedding services in Tokyo!

Modern Designs Update Ancient Traditions

SOU SOU's patterns and styling remain sufficiently Japanese to intrigue visitors from abroad, yet they are contemporary enough to appeal to Japanese shoppers.

Recovery Five Years After 3.11

As March 11, 2016 marks the fifth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Highlighting Japan offers an update on the results and challenges of recovery efforts in the Tohoku region.

Japan's Magnificent Maglev

Japan's fast and super-efficient rail services have been the envy of the world for years, but the nation's newest train makes the speedy Shinkansen look like a tortoise.

Fashion Designed to Block Your Cell Phone

Want some time away from your cell phone? Conceptual fashion designer Kunihiko Morinaga has designed a line of clothing specifically intended to block electromagnetic waves, protecting us from the storm of information that inundates our lives.

This 3DS LL Design is a Blast From the Past

For those missing the look and feel of one of Nintendo's earliest gaming consoles, this new Super Famicom-themed 3DS is a must-have.

The 'Court House' is a Slam Dunk!

What happens when you combine a spacious house with a basketball court? An awesome, one-of-a-kind home that scores major points with sports fanatics! You'll have to see it to believe it!

Merry Melodies for Train Departures

After taking into account suggestions from the public, Tokyo Metro has finally settled on some J-Pop jingles for train departures.

Putting a Vital Railway Back on Track

Despite suffering massive damage in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the Sanriku Railway Company swiftly restored its services and has become a pillar of support for the region.

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