Fuminari Yoshitsugu
How locals saved and reinvented a modernist Junzo Sakakura building
A modernist icon was saved from demolition by the local community and given a second chance. It’s now a cultural complex with a striking 19-key hotel. Shall we show you around?
The artisans battling to keep craft alive with achingly beautiful creations
Monocle looks at the ways that artisans around the world are preserving ancient skills and processes by making sure that they remain relevant and desirable in the modern world.
Monocle’s Quality of Life Survey 2025: The 10 most liveable cities in the world
We present our 18th annual Quality of Life survey: a ranking of the world’s municipalities according to what they do better than anyone else, be it health, safety, housing or nightlife.
Japan has taken up the mantle for Expo 2025, showcasing the design world’s brightest ideas
Expo 2025 aims to demonstrate the potential for both incremental and drastic change, bringing countries together to share ideas and innovations for a better future.
Barking up the right tree: Inside Japan’s billion-Yen luxury pet lifestyle boom
Meet the companies catering to Japan's ever-growing love for its four-legged friends, with everything from dog buggies to grooming services and canine disaster rations.
Interview: Sou Fujimoto on restoring balance with nature
Ahead of a career retrospective, the Japanese architect and Expo 2025 masterplanner remains committed to breaking boundaries.
Japanese label Kaptain Sunshine settles down in Tokyo
The brand’s long-awaited flagship combines good architecture with attractive product design.
Rugs to riches: How carpet-making traditions form the backbone of communities from Japan to Sweden
Communities across Europe and Asia have a proud legacy of rug-making, but it can sometimes be challenging to tell their products apart. However, this textile-weaving process differs significantly from country to country.
The new Ginza Sony Park is as radical as its 1966 predecessor
By welcoming visitors to its many exhibitions and events, the new complex is free of the usual trappings of behind-closed-doors big business.
The 15 things on Monocle’s 2025 travel wishlist
From Tokyo’s Nexpect Coffee to New York’s Clemente Bar, here are the 15 key places and objects on our radar this year.
