A new cadre of self-indulgent, style-conscious businessmen is driving up sales of grooming services and products as "personal maintenance" becomes retailing's latest buzzword.

"Wow, it feels great!" enthused a man patting lotion onto his skin at a grooming workshop in April in Tokyo.

The workshop, organized by the Shinagawa Prince Hotel and Dime, a monthly men's magazine, was aimed at businessmen between 20 and 60.