Kohei Take
Five urban escapes
Cities from Tokyo to Turin work because when you you really need to get away, they have rural, beach or mountain retreats on the doorstep. Here are five urbanite playgrounds.
The world’s top 25 most liveable cities – 2009
Monocle’s researchers tested the world’s leading cities to find the best places to make your base. While Copenhagen won last year, the 2009 award for most liveable city goes to Zürich.
Paper weight
We peruse the ‘Yomiuri Shimbun’, Japan’s daily paper with the world's biggest circulation. As part of our series on success, we look at its business, from newspapers to baseball teams and department stores.
Home rescue
Appalled by the demolition of traditional houses in Japan’s Saga prefecture, New York restaurateur Mikio Shinagawa set about saving and restoring them, even selling one to Robert De Niro.
Space station
Retired architect Shigemi Asano teamed up with Tezuka Architects to create a minimalist home that marries modernity with local tradition, leaving the views of the Japanese countryside to speak for themselves.
Up for sail
Japan’s recreational boat market has been in the doldrums due to an antipathy to ostentation. But now the ‘nation of rice farmers’ is finally finding its sea legs at its annual boating fair.
Inventory no. 12
A Japanese inn special: the Masuichi Kyakuden Brewery hotel in Obuse, plus our great spring gift guide.
Making it together
There’s a growing awareness that proximity to production can help to keep standards high. We visit three firms to see how HQs with in-built factories are keeping staff engaged and improving products.
50 things to improve your life
In search of a new architect, a perfect flat white or a vehicle to whisk you to Berlin? Monocle’s editors have come up with our first annual list of guaranteed life improvements.
