US retailer Need Supply Co has just opened its third bricks-and-mortar location, this time in the charming city of Kumamoto in southern Japan. This is the company’s second shop in Japan, which has followed hot on the heels…
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…
Japan’s two motorcycle behemoths, Yamaha and Honda, are laying old feuds aside to partner up in the production of 50cc scooters. This singular move has come amid a shrinking Japanese market and a growing need to cut costs…
Within hours of the earthquakes that rattled buildings and nerves in Kumamoto last week, Japan’s military – the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) – had sent troops to the hard-hit southwestern prefecture. About 25,000 troops are…
The slow drip of information from nuclear-plant managers Tepco after Japan’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in March 2011 infuriated many Japanese. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has now come in for sim…
When a series of powerful earthquakes hit southern Japan’s Kumamoto in April, many pet owners sought shelter in their cars so that they could stay with their animals. According to a recent survey published by pet insurer…
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.
This month’s tips for travellers include foodie havens in Jerusalem and Miami, and beautiful places to lay your head in Santiago, Copenhagen and the Italian countryside. We also profile Japan’s one-plane airline, Amakusa…
In the second of our series on niche airlines, we take a trip on one of two planes – one red, one blue – run by the tiny, but ambitious, Fuji Dream Airlines.
Hibiya Central Market is the soul of the shopping mall, where you can wander and linger among kiosks, perfectly edited fashion stores and unpretentious restaurants with a touch of old-school Tokyo.
From homelessness to hurricanes, the issues that call for homes that can be thrown up swiftly and securely are diverse. But it also helps if they can profit their surroundings – both financially and aesthetically.
Impeccable service, responsible citizenship and warm hospitality are just some of the practices that make society tick in Japan. Here are 10 things the country can teach the world.
Adaptability is the key to the long-term success of your company. When travel restrictions brought on a sudden loss of business for Hoshino Resorts, the hotel management firm had to change tack. CEO Yoshiharu Hoshino tells…
