Fiona Wilson
Design
Lustrous Tokyo lacquerwork, handmade lighting from Sweden and a piece of Japan in London
Hospitality lessons
Be it an airport lounge or a cinema, feeling at ease is hugely dependent on your surroundings. Monocle films meet with the design experts crafting the warmest welcomes.
Bean and gone: Tokyo cafés
Look past the dominance of the big chains in Tokyo and you will find a world of fiercely independent coffee shops. Monocle's Fiona Wilson pays tribute.
Fashion police
Japanese retailer Beams has an ‘internal affairs’ styling department to help shop staff find their personal look. It also believes in practising the perfect bow. This is hospitality Tokyo-style, designed to inspire customers.
Make with tradition
He runs one of the best hotel groups in the country and is out to change how staff behave. But it’s tough getting people to speak out in Japan.
Peace and harmony
Feeling at ease in an airport lounge, hotel or cinema is hugely dependent on your surroundings. These examples from around the world illustrate how intuitive interiors are a crucial part of the hospitality experience.
Reportage 2. Bean and gone: Tokyo cafés
Look past the dominance of the big chains in Tokyo and you will find a world of fiercely independent coffee shops that are keeping tradition alive – but only just.
Hidden charm
Delve a bit deeper into Kyoto’s urban fabric and it is possible to find a historic architectural gem that can be repurposed and revitalised for the 21st century.
Height of fashion
Vertical retail often fails, but Japan's model is a success. As other cities densify, we look at what Tokyo's innovative high-rise shopping can teach us about the future of urban development.
Deep impact
It is the subtle influence of soft power that drives the most meaningful resolutions. In our fifth annual survey, we gauge the soft-power strengths of our top-ranking nations.
