Interview with Kurashiki Mayor Kaori Ito
The city of Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture is maintaining its path of developmental growth even as it attracts crowds of visitors from other parts of Japan and abroad.
'Tis the Season of Giving
One restaurant in Hokkaido decided that the giving season should continue all year round—so it devised a unique payment system to make giving a little easier.
Putting the AI in Samurai
Combining the modern with the traditional, a new robot emerges from the land of the rising sun.
Japan’s Best-Known Ninja Lives in Chiba
Masaaki Hatsumi teaches the ways of the samurai and the art of ninjutsu to aspiring shadow warriors and law enforcement personnel from all over the world.
Conservation of an Icon
Mount Fuji is recognized as both a World Heritage Site and a three-star Michelin spot. But how do you protect a natural site from the erosive forces of its own popularity?
A Taste of Green Tourism in Traditional Japan
Despite their combined population of only 900, the villages of Shunran no Sato drew 11,000 visitors in 2014, attracted by the prospect of experiencing traditional Japanese life from locals only too happy to share.
Finalists Announced for New 2020 Tokyo Stadium
Two competing groups have offered proposals coming in at just under ¥150 billion, which is about half of what the original Zaha Hadid stadium was going to cost.
A Gift-Wrapped Book About Seasonal Sweets
Utilizing an architectural approach to design, this photobook portrays the seasons depicted in the world of wagashi, Japanese traditional sweets.
400-Year-Old Bathhouse Gets a Facelift
Faced with a dwindling clientele, Gunma's Maruhon Inn asked KuboTsushima Architects to redesign its bathhouse. The result is welcoming space that invites guests to relax and rejuvenate.
Give Yourself a Hand
Looking to avoid poor posture while relaxing at work? Thanko is here to lend you a hand!
Dress Up Your Canine or Feline as a Samurai
Ditch the cutesy puppy or kitty sweaters and get your pet into something more noble—like a samurai costume!
6 Great Innovations from Japan's Countryside
From urban planning and fish farming to food recycling and the re-invigoration of traditional techniques, a number of great ideas have come out of Japan's smaller towns and cities.
Building the &Tokyo Brand
The &Tokyo campaign aims to promote the city as one that constantly generates new styles while bringing tradition and innovation together.
6 Foreigners Making Waves in the Countryside
Japanese Countryside Deeper Japan
Most of the subjects of this story didn't see themselves where they are now—but all of them found something incredible in the Japanese countryside, leading each to develop a unique and indelible bond to the local community.
Origami-Style Lamp
Neither scissors nor glue are needed for this DIY project that can brighten up any room.
Tokyo Type Project
Away from the big streets you'll find that Japan suffers a dearth of clear signage. In part of the effort to rectify the situation, designer Yoshiaki Irobe has developed “Tokyo CityFont,” a typeface just for the nation's greatest metropolis.
Promoting the Healing Power of Nature
The Kaminoyama Onsen Kurort project is a wellness and leisure spot in Yamagata Prefecture that focuses on medical science-based healthy outdoor walks and invigorating visitors through local culinary and hot spring resources.
Tokyo’s New Olympic Stadium Design Revealed
Architect Kengo Kuma's design is a marriage of wood and forestry, incorporating the surrounding trees of Jingu Shrine to create a stadium of wood and greenery.
This Sleek Tokyo House is Just 6 Feet Wide!
With four stories and dynamic interior design, it still offers 860 square feet (80 sqm) of living space.
