Following a trend isn't simply about getting ahead of the curve or owning the latest cutting-edge gadget. Revisiting the distant past has also been in vogue in recent years, especially with young women.

More are showing an interest in history, particularly Japan's feudal warriors of the 16th and 17th centuries.

When the Jidaiya bookstore opened in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, in February 2006 featuring history books and related merchandise, about 80 percent of the customers were middle-aged men, according to Miyuki Miyamoto, who handles public relations for the store.