Apparel makers, department stores and other fashion-oriented businesses strive to attract women in their 40s and 50s as they remain active consumers, regardless of economic conditions.

With workloads at offices growing as a result of job cuts amid the weak economy, food service companies are seeking to capitalize on an increasing need among workers to use time and money efficiently. Yasuhiro Yamamoto, a 46-year-old who runs a management consulting business, ...

Young mothers who were raised on TV and movies are being targeted in a marketing push for animated DVD versions of children’s picture books. Unlike usual cartoons, the picture book DVDs move slowly so viewers feel like the story is being read to them. ...

People planning to tie the knot are increasingly looking to hold wedding receptions that reflect their personal tastes, instead of following conventional patterns that don’t have much character. The norms of a usual celebration begin with the newlyweds entering the reception hall and taking ...

As digital cameras continue to grow in popularity, there remains a group of committed people who still prefer film. Sales of digital cameras have taken off as amateur photographers like being able to check their pictures immediately after taking them. They also are attracted ...

Overseas travel has long ceased to be a luxury in Japan, where many people take advantage of the plethora of discount air tickets and package tours for quick trips abroad. But the travel industry is once again focusing on the big profits to be ...

As consumers become increasingly sensitive toward food safety issues, some food delivery service operators are getting brisk business by ensuring the quality of the produce they sell. Their businesses have expanded amid consumer anxiety about mad cow disease and agrochemical residue on vegetables. The ...

As Japan prepares for the 2007 retirement flood of baby boomers, an increasing number of middle-aged and older people are taking an active interest in cooking or music as a means to enjoy life in their golden years. The Better Home Association, a foundation ...