The world’s best timber is forged in northern Japan’s freezing winters. Furniture maker Time & Style does it justice; its mission is to keep the craft alive.
On a visit to the southern Japanese prefecture of Saga, New York restaurateur Mikio Shinagawa was appalledby the destruction of the region’s traditional houses. He set about saving and restoring them, and has even managed…
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.
The news is full of huge stimulus packages but some smaller initiatives have gone beneath the radar. In Japan, a scheme to encourage jobless young citizens to move from town to work the land could be a global template for…
Most restaurants in Japan are in the city but in rural Hokuriku a young crop of restaurateurs and producers are hoping diners will follow them into the wild.
With ethical production techniques all the rage and consumers demanding to know exactly how and where their best-loved products are manufactured, the time has come for big brands to become a whole lot more transparent.
The enamelware coming out of the Noda Horo factory in the Kanto region of Japan hardly has time to sit on the shelves before it flies off them again. Meet the family firm that has forged a reputation for quality and crea…
Despite its 223-year history, and rural setting, there is nothing dyed in the wool about British knitwear business John Smedley. This is a company that has thrived on its ability to move with the times – and now it is…
The Japanese city of Kyoto is renowned for its ancient traditions. But a crop of young designers is making sure it’s also set to become one of the nation’s creative hubs of the future.