Fiona Wilson reporting from Okinawa prefecture: With territorial disputes in the East China Sea intensifying, the Japan Coast Guard has had to rapidly evolve to contend with new threats. We drop anchor at Ishigaki Island…
Ferries have been chugging between Japan and South Korea for decades but a new scarlet vessel, the ‘Queen Beetle’, is offering passengers a less choppy and more cheerful voyage across the Genkai Sea – now there’s no need…
From ambitious young start-ups to venerable fashion houses, our spring season style round-up has searched worldwide to find the 25 labels, designers and products that will be on the radar of the sharpest dressers in 2023…
To mark Monocle’s 15th anniversary we’ve asked 14 faithful photographers in seven key cities to shoot a portrait of one another and share their insights on the importance of visual storytelling, being present and the craft…
Expectations of buildings are constantly changing. So how can developers keep pace? By arming themselves with forward-thinking architects and an open mind. These projects hammer the point home.
There’s something soothing about this city on the Japanese island of Kyushu. So much so that you forget there’s a grumbling volcano nearby – or wait, is that your stomach? Fear not: there are oodles of noodles.
Fluffy, furry mascots are everywhere in Japan but Kumamon has captured the nation’s imagination like no other. We explore his ‘very’ soft-power potential.
From the infrastructure giant improving quality of life to the railway firm entering the property market, we meet the high-flyers going above and beyond.