Fluffy, furry mascots are everywhere in Japan but Kumamon has captured the nation’s imagination like no other. We explore his ‘very’ soft-power potential.
Two weeks after a series of earthquakes rocked Japan’s southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto, the region’s biggest celebrity Kumamon is pitching in to help. The prefecture’s mascot – a mischievous black bear with red cheeks…
As their cutesy, cartoon profiles – and fanbases – continue to soar, Japan’s cuddly collection of corporate mascots has come to inhabit a central part of the nation’s identity. We meet these celebrated creations and the…
From traffic lights at shop entrances to ‘microforests’ bookending Brooklyn Bridge, this
year’s design ideas are solving very particular problems. And how are retailers coping with
the downturn? Whether it’s a visit from…
A new year is the time for bringing out your best stationery and writing a list. Ours is a rundown of things that are set to make life better in the coming year, whether it’s a clever new business or a cultural opening, a…
To mark Monocle’s 15th anniversary we’ve asked 14 faithful photographers in seven key cities to shoot a portrait of one another and share their insights on the importance of visual storytelling, being present and the craft…