Monocle’s look at the year ahead has landed. The Forecast takes the less-trodden path to find out what we can learn from the least lonely nation (Denmark) and the biggest English-language paper (in India). It also profiles the lively small cities we would happily call home (Boulder, Colorado, anyone?). Expect attire aplenty for the year to come and insights on the changing role of talent agents (they’re more important than ever), the buoyant fate of ‘bouillons’ in Paris and how Budapest became a bastion for the film industry. That and more besides are in Monocle’s fetching and forward-facing annual, available at monocle.com and on newsstands now.

With the world’s attention set to be fixated on the Far East during Olympic year, we’re celebrating all things Japan. Cover star Kumamon – the big, furry and fun mascot of Kumamoto prefecture – fires the starting gun but there’s plenty more, from J-pop’s freshest faces to devotees of the Suzuki Jimny. Elsewhere we lavish praise of Japan’s unique approach to craftsmanship and clothes-making, find out why the country’s communist party endures and go in search of the best – and biggest – Sanuki udon noodles. Plus: a Christmas gift guide and our inaugural Soft Power Awards.