Japan Trends

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The program takes place at the company's office in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward. </p> </div> <div class="feature-article"> <h2 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Learning-the-esoteric-art-of-Japanese-customer-service">Learning the esoteric art of Japanese customer service</a></h2> <p>TOKYO -- iDA Mode Business, a major Japanese specialty temporary staffing agency focusing on fashion businesses, is redoubling efforts to provide staffers who are better able to serve Chinese and other foreign travelers who want to enjoy shopping in ...</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="article-list "> <div class="article-box text-list"> <ul> <li> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Confused-about-Japanese-table-manners-Nihon-Unisys-offers-a-solution">Confused about Japanese table manners? Nihon Unisys offers a solution</a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- Nihon Unisys will create a system for restaurants in Japan that is designed to help foreign customers order more easily and learn local dining customs.Articles and videos on Japanese table etiquette and local food history will be available o...</p> </li> <li> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Japanese-theater-group-to-groom-entertainers-in-Okinawa">Japanese theater group to groom entertainers in Okinawa</a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- Japanese comedy theater operator Yoshimoto Kogyo is looking to open a comprehensive vocational school focused on the entertainment industry in Okinawa Prefecture in fiscal 2018. The move is aimed at turning Japan's southernmost prefecture in...</p> </li> <li> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Get-ready-for-Thai-pop">Get ready for Thai-pop</a></h3> <p>BANGKOK -- Japan's purveyors of pop culture are starting to take Thailand -- known as a hotbed of piracy -- more seriously as an export destination for the genuine article. Japanese publisher Kadokawa in March opened its first animation school in...</p> </li> <li> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Luxuries-found-in-Japan-top-China-s-shopping-list">Luxuries found in Japan top China's shopping list</a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- Chinese are buying more Japanese luxuries, with pearls and traditional iron kettles becoming especially popular. These goods are selling faster than producers can deliver them, and their market prices are rising. The trend, underpinned b...</p> </li> <li> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Japan-pushing-retailers-to-hang-English-language-signs">Japan pushing retailers to hang English-language signs</a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- The Japanese government on Monday released examples of signs aimed at increasing the number of retail outlets that can accommodate tourists in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The signs cover product information, payment processes, emer...</p> </li> <li> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/New-bullet-train-line-may-warm-up-northern-Japan-s-economy">New bullet train line may warm up northern Japan's economy</a></h3> <p>SAPPORO, Japan -- The latest piece of Japan's bullet train network opened Saturday, providing the long-awaited link that many hope will give rise to a new economic corridor stretching north from Tokyo. Called the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the new, rou...</p> </li> <li> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Japan-s-latest-heartthrobs-are-the-strong-inanimate-type">Japan's latest heartthrobs are the strong, inanimate type</a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- A new Japanese idol group is causing a stir in the land of boy bands. These fellas don't sing, dance, act or even talk. On the bright side, they have smooth skin and perfectly toned bodies -- well, upper bodies, at least. Meet St. Giorgi...</p> </li> <li> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Hitachi-to-offer-paid-caregiving-leave">Hitachi to offer paid caregiving leave</a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- Hitachi will let employees take paid leave to care for family members, starting in April, supplementing a government program and extending the total duration of financial support to one year. The government's unemployment insurance progr...</p> </li> <li> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Japan-drafting-new-rules-for-private-room-rentals">Japan drafting new rules for private room rentals</a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- The Japanese government has put together a framework to regulate rentals of vacant rooms in private residences to travelers, aiming to tackle a chronic hotel shortage while addressing public complaints. Minpaku, as these accommodations a...</p> </li> <li> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/New-services-sell-culture-not-products-to-Japan-visitors">New services sell culture -- not products -- to Japan visitors </a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- Tourism is booming in Japan. And increasingly, foreign visitors are seeking out cultural, rather than consumer, experiences. Hoping to tap this trend -- not to mention the roughly $30 billion these travelers spend a year -- Japanese karaoke ...</p> </li> <li> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/10-000-Fukushima-children-still-live-outside-prefecture-after-disaster">10,000 Fukushima children still live outside prefecture after disaster</a></h3> <p>FUKUSHIMA, Japan (Kyodo) -- Some 10,000 children whose families fled Fukushima Prefecture because of the March 2011 nuclear disaster have yet to return, prefectural government officials said Thursday. Five years after the earthquake and ensuing t...</p> </li> <li> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Japan-s-traditional-hina-dolls-tell-unique-stories">Japan's traditional 'hina' dolls tell unique stories</a></h3> <p>KONOSU, SAITAMA -- Japanese people traditionally celebrate the birth of a girl and wish for her health on March 3 every year, typically by displaying decorated hina (dolls in classic dress) on a red stage in their homes. Recently, in the weeks leadin...</p> </li> <li> <div class="sub-title">Buddhism in popular culture</div> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Kyoto-s-Shodenji-Temple-tugged-Bowie-s-heartstrings">Kyoto's Shodenji Temple tugged Bowie's heartstrings</a></h3> <p>KYOTO -- David Bowie, the British rock legend who died in January at the age of 69, liked to immerse himself in the tranquility of Shodenji, a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto. The temple, in Nishigamo in Kyoto's Kita Ward, is known for its beautiful...</p> </li> <li> <div class="sub-title">Cuisine</div> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/A-tasty-guide-to-Japanese-oysters">A tasty guide to Japanese oysters</a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- Japan may not be endowed with a wealth of natural resources, but when it comes to oysters, the country has an embarrassment of riches. About 30 major varieties, as well as numerous local "brands," can be found in the waters along the archipe...</p> </li> <li> <div class="sub-title">Japan tourism</div> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/More-than-a-revamp-needed-by-traditional-inns">More than a revamp needed by traditional inns</a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- In a bid to tempt more foreign tourists into visiting some of Japan's smaller destinations, the government has announced plans to provide financial support to operators of traditional Japanese inns wishing to modernize facilities. The nu...</p> </li> <li> <div class="sub-title">Tokyo taxis</div> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Hi-where-are-you-going-today">Hi, where are you going today?</a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- If you're coming to Japan, don't worry about your taxi driver not understanding English. A group of taxi and similar businesses is busy putting more English speakers in its cabs and limousines. The Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association has introdu...</p> </li> <li> <div class="sub-title">LGBT rights</div> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Panasonic-Sony-moves-advance-diversity-trend-in-corporate-Japan">Panasonic, Sony moves advance diversity trend in corporate Japan </a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- Recent actions by Panasonic and Sony show how corporate culture is changing in Japan as more companies promote diversity in the workplace and the acceptance and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues. On We...</p> </li> <li> <div class="sub-title">Japan tourism</div> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Sakura-to-hit-Tokyo-March-26">Sakura to hit Tokyo March 26</a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- Celebrations for the Chinese New Year are still in full swing and record numbers of tourists have spent the holiday season in Japan this year. But the country's hotels and restaurants will have barely a month to prepare for the next big infl...</p> </li> <li> <div class="sub-title">Manga-themed cafes</div> <h3 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/Fantasies-step-off-the-page-and-into-life-in-Japan">Fantasies step off the page and into life in Japan</a></h3> <p>TOKYO -- Manga has the power to pull people into its unique world. Traditionally, invitations to these fantasy worlds come only in paper or pixel form, but times are changing. Across Japan, there are cafes where these 2-D worlds sneak into real l...</p> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="pagination"> <div class="first-page"></div> <ul class="page-number"> <li style="width:83px;"></li> <li class="current">1</li> <li><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/?page=2">2</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/?page=3">3</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/?page=4">4</a></li> <li style="width:83px;"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/?page=2" class="next">Next ></a></li> </ul> <div class="last-page"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Japan-Trends/?page=4">Last >></a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="secondary"> <div class="link-box "> <h5 class="title"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Latestheadlines">Latest headlines</a></h5> <ul class="headline-list"> <li> <a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/Trump-urges-Japan-to-pay-more-to-maintain-US-military-bases">Trump urges Japan to pay more to maintain US military bases</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Markets/Nikkei-PMI/Singapore-s-business-activity-enters-contraction-territory-in-April">Singapore's business activity enters contraction territory in April</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/magazine/20160505-DEMOCRACY-DEFERRED/Viewpoints/VPP61-ON-A-ROLL-kickster-For-continued-growth-Vietnams-new-government-needs-to-keep-the-reform-momentum-going">Editorial: Vietnam's new leadership must keep the reforms coming</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/Abe-Merkel-differ-over-fiscal-stimulus-ahead-of-G-7-summit">Abe, Merkel differ over fiscal stimulus ahead of G-7 summit</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Markets/Nikkei-PMI/Hong-Kong-s-business-activity-deteriorates-further">Hong Kong's business activity deteriorates further</a> </li> </ul> <div class="more"><a href="/web/20160505035638/http://asia.nikkei.com/Latestheadlines">more</a></div> </div> <div class="rectangle">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1375148072299-0" style="width:300px;"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1375148072299-0'); 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