The fashion world's recent craze for Japonisme -- manifested in a veritable tsunami of kimono-inspired looks on the catwalks of Paris and Milan -- may have come and gone, but designs based on traditional Japanese arts seem to be finding steady footing in the worldwide marketplace.
Take Toshiba's latest mobile handset for Vodafone, named Koto, which took the traditional Japanese instrument as its inspiration, incorporating smooth lines and dial keys that are based on its delicate strings.
And then there's Kabuku, a line of kabuki-inspired boots from American outdoor footwear maker Timberland.