Japanese company makes world’s first glass faithfully reproducing elephant skin texture
SHIWA LAB, a new brand established by Japanese design company Q.I Inc., has created the world’s first glass with a surface reproducing the texture of…
Only in Japan
How Akihabara went from consumer electronics mecca to capital of ‘Cool Japan’
Akihabara has changed a great deal in the last 25 years. Back in the early ’90s, when Japanese electronics makers dominated the world and the…
Fashion brand POLS efficiently uses fabric to reduce waste in ‘Imaginary Journey’ collection
With the state of emergency extended until the end of May, travel is still a dream for most people in Japan. This makes fashion brand…
Food left behind by pet dogs given to shelters in new animal welfare SDGs initiative
On May 11th, 2021, Biophilia, Inc., which produces and sells the handmade dog food brand “CoCo Gourmet,” launched the “WAN I NYARU food project” as…
Mitsukoshi Isetan suggests o-chūgen summer gifts with a “sustainable” focus this year
Summer gifts in Japan: O-chūgen Traditionally, there are two seasons for gift giving in Japan, お歳暮 oseibo (which means “year-end”) in winter and o-chūgen お中元…
Marutomi Seishi’s ultra-long coreless toilet paper rolls cut waste and reduce carbon footprint
Today, May 10th, 2021, Japanese paper manufacturing company Marutomi Seishi Co., Ltd. launched “Penguin Coreless Ultra-Long MAX Pulp Sextuple Length 300-meter Single-Ply 2 Roll” packages…
Exploring Rhizomatiks: It’s Not Just A ‘Perfume’ Music Video
Online or in person, Rhizomatiks makes digital phenomena accessible to all in an enjoyable, artistic format. Have fun exploring! Ayako Kurosawa, for JAPAN Forward How…
Will Japan’s Extended State of Emergency Work For or Against the Tokyo Olympics?
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has said the Tokyo Olympics will be “a light at the end of the tunnel.” Will that light ever…
These hand-made luxury Japanese leather slippers will cradle your feet in comfort
Whether it’s for a birthday, Father’s Day or just for yourself, a nice pair of comfortable slippers can surely be appreciated, especially during the pandemic…
Japanese craft gin from Iki Island cuts food loss using oft-wasted parts of local fruits & veggies
Iki Retreat Kairi Murakami Iki Retreat Kairi Murakami 壱岐リトリート 海里村上 is a luxury hot spring inn with sublime sea views and blissful hot spring baths…
Japanese sweets shop Bunmeido, famous for castella cake, launches V!CASTELLA sports bar
Castella: 500 years in Japan Spongy カステラ castella are one of Japan’s favorite cakes. Available in a variety of flavors and even miniature versions (“baby…
Matcha cheese terrine uses sustainable tea from once-abandoned now-reborn tea plantation
In recent years, the Japanese food boom in Europe, the U.S., and other countries has led to a renewed interest in Japanese food and tea…
This Golden Week in Tokyo, experience Kintsugi golden joinery, Japan’s sustainable pottery art
Kintsugi For those who are unfamiliar with it, 金継ぎ kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with…
JIBUN HAUS redesigns family houses with the pandemic and remote work in mind
It’s been over a year since the novel coronavirus began forcing lockdowns on societies across the globe. During this time, people’s lifestyles have changed significantly….
Nostalgic Items and Stories: Special exhibition on the history of transportation in Yokohama
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Yokohama Municipal Transportation and the Yohokama Municipal Library, a collaboration exhibition will be held for a limited time at the Yokohama…