Textile makers keen not to miss next ‘Cool Biz’ buzz
Textile producers are preparing to go all-out if next summer yields a second rendition of the “Cool Biz” campaign with the launch of new materials, after having missed out on profits last year. The...
View ArticleJapanese warming up to all things Brazilian as World Cup approaches
Interest in food and other items from or associated with Brazil is growing in Japan ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament to be held there next year. Restaurante Carioca, a Brazilian restaurant in...
View ArticleSmartphones drive surge in Net auctions, gripes
Japan’s online auction market has seen major growth in the past several years, driven by the popularity of smartphones and sellers seeking to offload secondhand goods. But the National Consumer Affairs...
View ArticleManager of secondhand shop Tifana gives fashion items new life
Having loved fashion since childhood, Junichi Kato took a job at a secondhand shop to prevent usable clothing from being thrown away. Kato, 38, manages the Musashikoyama outlet in Tokyo of recycle shop...
View ArticleSoy flour in demand for low-calorie dishes
Soybean flour has surged in popularity thanks to health-conscious consumers who are seeking a lower calorie alternative to standard flour without compromising too much on nutrition. Since May, Mei Bao,...
View ArticleWebsite offers easy way to find nonallergenic food
Willmore Co., a Tokyo-based health information research firm, launched a free online site in late September that members can search for food they’re not allergic to. On the site at www.kumitasu.com (in...
View ArticleRamen workshops teach hopefuls tricks of trade
A company in Yachiyo, Chiba Prefecture, has organized a series of workshops for aspiring chefs interested in opening ramen restaurants to teach them how to make noodles, manage their businesses and...
View ArticleService helps new moms juggle kids and careers
After seeing many of her friends and colleagues abandon promising careers for motherhood, Keiko Koda was inspired to find a way to help professionals stay on the corporate path after having children....
View ArticleRevamped inns target foreign guests
Amid the latest tourism boom and in preparation for intensifying competition for guests ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, major hotels in downtown Tokyo have set out to win the hearts of foreign...
View ArticlePrivate parking lots find mass niche
Finding a parking space at a popular tourist spot or downtown is no mean feat, especially on weekends or holidays. But for a limited time, owners of homes or condominiums are letting people park in...
View ArticleRelay races proliferate as jogging catches on
The long-distance relay races called “ekiden” are growing on the back of the jogging boom, providing opportunities to run for recreation or bond with fellow employees. Sportsone Co., a sporting event...
View ArticleNew shops blossom under Tokyo’s tracks
The spaces under elevated train tracks are drawing attention again in central Tokyo as railways eager for a bigger piece of the retailing pie transform vacant areas traditionally used as warehouses and...
View ArticleUnusual ways being developed to keep pests away
Hawks are among the unconventional methods being used in certain parts of Japan to drive away crows and other pests that spread garbage in residential areas or damage farmers’ crops. About a year ago,...
View ArticleGirl power sushi chefs: We can make the cut
Chie Inamoto decided to become a chef to challenge the widespread view that sushi made by women just isn’t as good as that made by men. Inamoto, 47, manages an outlet of the Isomaru seafood chain in...
View ArticleWould you like a goat, owl or rabbit with your latte?
Following on from the popularity of “cat cafes,” where customers can play with resident felines while relaxing and having a cup of coffee, similar venues offering the chance to mingle with rabbits,...
View Article¥300 billion gym industry looks to novel exercises to entice new users
Fitness clubs are increasingly diversifying the activities they offer in a bid to make a workout as fun as possible. Far from having to bicycle through puddles and traffic, exercisers at one gym are...
View ArticleForeign workers in demand amid tourism surge
Demand for foreign workers has been strong in Japan over the past few years as the number of foreign tourists rises and an increasing number of domestic companies aim to expand their business abroad....
View ArticleFish distributor thrives as tablets speed up orders
Hachimenroppi Inc., a Tokyo-based venture, is growing rapidly thanks to its tablet computer-based platform for distributing fresh fish. The company provides tablets to restaurants free of charge,...
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