Japan is a nation moving beyond an unthinkable disaster to re-establish itself as a regional leader in culture and innovative lifestyles. This issue we meet the people spearheading the unusual evolution of Japanese society.

As an aspiring superpower and regional leader, there’s a lot at stake for Brazil’s command of the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti – especially as the drawdown begins. Monocle spends time embedded with troops in Port-au-Prince.

Despite historical differences Denmark’s capital and Sweden’s third city are looking ahead to a future together. And they’re not alone. New twin city relations are flourishing elsewhere too.

The Japanese are going bonkers over their canines. But with the market for doggie products reaching saturation point, what’s next for the lucrative industry? Funerals and hotels apparently.

Turks are once again embracing their historic brands. It’s good news for diary maker Ece Ajandasi, looking to recreate the dizzy heights it reached in the 1980s.

Spirits were high at Basel watch fair this year as watchmakers refreshingly turned to more classic, elegant designs with hi-tech materials and new functions. We checked out the new models and trends.

In the past, Germany has been wary about showing off its assets. Not anymore. Monocle explores how the Goethe-Institut cultural centres are disseminating all things German, from New York to New Delhi. And free from government controls.

‘Paris Match’ scores regular exclusives thanks to an army of reporters and photographers who mix celebrity with hard-edged news. Monocle meets the Paris-based team.

Tasmania is a quiet force on the design scene but government backing, a decent museum and a school saved from closure are helping to put it on the world map and attract clients from abroad. We visit the studios of five makers blazing a trail for the island’s crafts.

Shared living often means shared cost and lower quality. But in Tokyo, The Share, an innovative scheme offering modest personal spaces linked to sprawling, well-designed communal areas, is attracting a new breed of housemate who is happy to share a little piece of a good thing.

An eye on Serbia's parliamentary election, the launch of Bristol's own currency, and Q&As with Sweden's Minister of Gender Equality and the CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management, Oslo.

China's Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan are put on the Style Leader spot, work has begun on a new airport near Beijing that will become the world's largest, and India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh has a new leader after socialist Samajwadi party won elections earlier in the year.

The Monocle election watch looks to the Dominican Republic, Mexican Joaquín “Chapo” Guzmán, the world's new most-wanted man, and a Q&A with Claudia Paz y Paz, Attorney general of Guatemala.

A new satellite city is planned to ease the pressure of Nairobi's urban centre, restoration is planned for Saudi Arabia's weather-beaten collection of world-class sculptures, and Syria in numbers.

Perth's catch-up to Australia's cultural hubs of Sydney and Melbourne, failure of negotiations between Auckland's port and its striking workers, and solutions to Australia's 1.7 per cent annual population growth.

The continuing fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa, led by three international military coalitions, Poland's plans to modernise its Air Force, and the consequences of Japan's decision to relax its strict defence export laws.

Germany's Federal Intelligence Service's, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), relocation to central Berlin, Iceland's debate over membership in the EU, and New Zealand's cuts to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Winner of Afghanistan’s only Olympic medal, taekwondo athlete Rohullah Nikpai is a sporting icon. Yet, in a country where violence occurs everyday, winning the respect of his fellow countrymen means almost as much.

The surprising success of the importing of a European artisan cheese culture to China, while a new trend for fine wine also takes off in Hong Kong, and discussions to submit plans to legalise casinos in Japan get underway.

A peek at Beirut’s recently opened Art Factum gallery and Budapest’s concept store Printa. Plus, we meet web designer-cum-magazine publisher Kai Brach to talk about his journal Offscreen.

The best retail, design and clothing from around the globe.

Hermès is one of the most recognised fashion houses in the world. But as a family-run business with a focus on craft, the current men in charge prefer to manage by looking inwards rather than chasing markets.

Veteran journalist Menashe Amir broadcasts in Farsi from Israel to millions of Iranians. His weekly radio call-in show on Israel Radio International is a way for people in the Islamic Republic to air their views.

Tokyo’s Ginza district is already one of Japan’s top spots for department stores and upmarket shopping. Now it has two very different new additions.

Take some fresh, eye-catching colours, add high-quality fabrics and sharp accessories and you have the perfect outfit for a spring weekend.

These outfits are crisp, clean, sleek and just the right side of comfortable – ideal for your jaunt around town.

This month’s shopping selection includes a wine aroma kit that’ll turn you into a connoisseur, a collectable wooden songbird by Kay Bojesen and wooden speakers to play your tunes.

This issue’s round up includes a concept store in Minneapolis, a canalside guesthouse in Amsterdam, a gourmet burger joint in Paris and a sweet shop in Athens. For Flights of Fancy we travel Sri Lanka by seaplane.

In the Netherlands, a fourth generation of blacksmiths has cottoned on to the fact that dedication and getting the simple things right can go a long way. Monocle meets the men from DeWit, digging deep for the garden tool industry.

As Palermo loses its edge, largely due to high property prices, Buenos Aires creatives are upping sticks and heading south for the cobbled streets and bohemian feel of up-and-coming barrio Villa Crespo.

Smile To Go’s healthy but tasty breakfasts and lunches with a Mediterranean influence are a big hit. Here’s how you can make them too.

Lapo Elkann, founder of lifestyle brand Italia Independent, prefers rustic, simple Italian food. He’d have his last meal at Sant’Eustorgio because of its picturesque location and comfort food.

Cannes’ annual MIPIM property market is a chance for countries and cities to show off their grand design visions. And, despite the economic crisis, it remains a fascinating milieu where mayors, speculators and architects mingle.

As spring warms the terraces of Midori House, our editor in chief Tyler Brûlé considers what elements create the perfect sunny spot and looks forward to making this summer the best ever for magazine, radio and barbecue enthusiasts alike