The opener

An intercontinental array of bulletins bringing you up to speed on Israel’s pop charts, the changing face of suburbia and underwear to massage your bottom.
Wild things

Residents of Anchorage would be justified for laughing at other cities’ talk of rewilding because in Alaska an enormous moose in your garden is an ordinary occurrence.
Splash of colour

Are your city’s public toilets a busted flush? Then take a stool as we tour Tokyo’s latest deposits: outdoor conveniences that set a new bog standard.
Change for good

Big improvements can often come from small adjustments to our behaviour. So how can we ensure that we do things better? We asked 20 thinkers – from authors and professors to artists and architects – for their take.
Strong foundation

France’s embassy in Kenya was built with the climate in mind. But does it serve its primary purpose: to foster ties between the two countries?
Asian provocateurs

Across Asia, progressive politicians and activists are challenging long-established power brokers and accepted norms. We assess the policies and prospects of nine of these men and women to find out whether they offer the potential for genuine change.
Into the future

As more companies pivot towards sustainable practices, we visit seven savvy firms shaking up their respective industries, while proving that doing business better needn’t compromise the bottom line.
Building societies

From filling city skylines with farmland to rolling out comfortable flat-pack homes, here are 10 visionary schemes that could transform how our urban environments take shape.
True colour

A future-focused shopping centre from the brains behind Eataly, Green Pea occupies a largely self-sufficient building and holds its in-store partners to a sustainably minded manifesto. Will it catch on? We head to its northern Italian base.
Call of the wild

Natural-history programmes are kings of the televisual jungle. But are they telling the whole story?
Safe in the knowledge

How can media sustain us? Keep conversations simple, challenge untruths, fix neighbourhoods? We visit three projects that are good for their environments.
Only human

From vital but sobering screen documentaries to a captivatingly introspective US instrumentalist and the story of a besotted auteur, the premier cultural offerings of early 2021 seem to reflect a meditative mood. But there’s innovation and celebration to be found among them too – and even the tale of a work placement on a pirate ship.
Concrete jungles

As urbanites the world over seek to nurture a little nature in their cities, we travel to Singapore, Copenhagen and Beirut to visit three projects with rewilding at their heart.
Feel the breeze

There are more ways to keep cool than cranking up the air conditioning, as architects in more temperate climes have been discovering for years. From naturally cool materials to clever ways to harness wind and shade, here are 10 shortcuts to a breezier building.
No time to waste

Furniture-makers are waking up to the fact that there’s more to sustainability than product longevity. We visit the Lombardy base of B&B Italia to hear how the brand is pioneering eco-friendly materials and methods.
Ground control

In forensically researching the history of a site before he builds on it, prolific Japanese architect Tsuyoshi Tane likens his role to that of an archaeologist. We meet him to dig a little deeper.
Light relief

In Portugal’s Alentejo region, designer and entrepreneur Francesco Ippolito has built a modernist off-grid sanctuary that paves the way for his plans to create a high-end, design-focused retreat.
Starters’ orders

Beard is back. The Tokyo chef behind the fêted restaurant followed one farmer’s produce to a remote town to help lead an unlikely agricultural revolution.
Rafaela Seppälä

The art collector, journalist and newspaper heiress cheers the global standing of Nordic design over fresh crayfish and bilberry pie at her home in Helsinki.
Close quarters

Globally renowned fashion brands needn’t have an unwieldy supply chain. Source materials nearby, get the design right and pursue your passion, and customers will come to you.
Open sesame

After a hard year, there are still reasons to be cheerful about the hotel industry. We scan the hospitality horizon for the openings set to define the year ahead.
Here to stay

Refined stays hewn with bags of original charm from the centre of Kyoto to the shores of California, by way of an upscale Alpine lodge and a Danish island retreat.
Field of vision

Having taken a break to find a dream holiday home, a UK couple are opening up their Alpine retreat to guests.
Power tools

Japan is a nation that does many things rather well. Here we profile a few problem-solving products to tackle some of life’s trickier challenges – oh, and a banana holder.

Go-go gadgets / Global

Power tools

Japan is a nation that does many things rather well. Here we profile a few problem-solving products to tackle some of life’s trickier challenges – oh, and a banana holder.

Writers: Junichi Toyofuku

Photography: Ryo Kaikura

**Instant beer cooler**
***Mantensha***
Place a can in the cooler with some ice then spin the handle for 90 seconds for a quickly chilled drink.
*mantensha.co.jp*

**Sewing machine**
**Axe Yamazaki**
A stitch in time saves nine and this sleek sewing machine is great for beginners. Made by a 75-year-old company from Osaka.
*axeyamazaki.co.jp*

**Flask**
**Design Works Ancient**
This is the lightweight solution for holstering a takeout coffee. The svelte, stainless-steel number holds 180ml.
*poketle.com*

**Tap-cleaning cloth**
**Marna**
Made in Japan by Marna since 1872, this cloth does one job well: cleaning the back of a tap.
*marna.jp*

Coffee set
*Hario*
A thermal mug, filters and filter holder from a historic glass-maker.
*hario.com*

Banana Case
*Skater*
Banish blackened bananas from bags with this ventilated case.
*skater.co.jp*

**Knife**
***Aritsugu***
This sharp, versatile beauty from Kyoto is great for everyday use.
*aritsugu.co.jp*

**Tsumiki**
**More Trees Design**
A classic toy made from cedar, designed by Kengo Kuma.
*more-trees-design.jp*

**Clingfilm**
**Asahi Kasei**
Fed up with those ridiculous tangles? Japan’s biggest-selling film is easy to use.
*asahi-kasei.co.jp*

**Cycle Mitts**
**Blue Lug**
Parents who use child-carrying mama-chari bikes appreciate mitts that attach to the handlebars; this is the cool version from cycle shop Blue Lug.
*bluelug.com*

**Onigiri Holder**
**Hakoya**
A staple of the school bento (lunchbox), the onigiri is a seaweed-wrapped rice ball, usually triangular. These cases keep them in perfect order.
*hakoya.co.jp*

**Portable gas cooker**
**Sengoku Aladdin**
A fixture in Japanese households. This retro model comes from Sengoku Aladdin; the colour is exclusive to Beams Japan.
*aladdin-aic.com; beams.co.jp*

**Lucano step stool**
**Metaphys**
Footrest? Stool? Step? You decide. The Lucano takes the mini stepladder to the, ahem, next level – in many colours and sizes.
*metaphys.jp*

**Bathroom slippers**
**Marna**
Essential for cleaning a bathroom. Easy to slip on and off. Most importantly, they keep feet clean and dry.
*marna.jp*

**LED Lantern Speaker**
**Mori Mori**
What’s not to like about this snug led lantern, which doubles up as a Bluetooth speaker? Adjustable light casts an appealing glow.
*mori-mori.shop*

**Air massager**
**Panasonic**
Too much desk work? Slip into this cordless contrpation to loosen the tight muscles around your pelvis, hip and thighs.
*panasonic.co.jp*

**Any Box**
**Think of Things**
You can create your own configuration of folders with this home or office storage solution from Kokuyo.
*think-of-things.com*

Editor’s letter

My cabinet

Order of merit?

The opener

Wild things

Splash of colour

Change for good

Strong foundation

Asian provocateurs

Into the future

Building societies

True colour

Call of the wild

Safe in the knowledge

Only human

Concrete jungles

Feel the breeze

No time to waste

Ground control

Light relief

Starters’ orders

Rafaela Seppälä

Close quarters

Open sesame

Here to stay

Field of vision

Power tools

Civic pride

In the running

Off the map

Politics

Diplomacy Briefing

Defence

Cities

Business

Food & Drink

Fashion

The Monocle Shop

Wear it better

Beyond repair

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