NEWSWORTHY
Japan's retailers hope to boost sales by capitalizing on Cool Biz
With temperatures soaring higher than average this year, retailers are hoping to boost sales of apparel by capitalizing on the government's annual Cool Biz campaign, which started Tuesday. To reduce energy costs, the Cool Biz campaign calls for workplaces to set their air conditioners to ...
Iconic Shibuya 109 building launches ¥1.09 million design contest for new logo
The operator of a landmark shopping center in Tokyo's famed Shibuya district is holding a contest to design a new logo as it prepares for a fresh look. Shibuya 109 Entertainment Co., operator of the Shibuya 109 building, the iconic fashion center popular with female ...
Zozotown founder Yusaku Maezawa follows eclectic path
Andy Warhol's iconic Campbell's Soup cans, a painting by Takashi Murakami and a word sculpture by Jack Pierson are some of the pieces decorating the head office of Start Today Co., operator of Japan's largest online fashion mall, Zozotown. The items are just a tiny ...
Issey Miyake finds its Kyoto home
With its tiered roof, latticed exterior and exposed beams, the new Issey Miyake Kyoto flagship is more than just a store; it's a celebration of one of Kyoto's best-known traditional structures — the machiya.
Model children: Taking a behind-the-scenes look at the world of youth modeling
In a set design that could double as a Mad Hatter's tea party, 10-year-old Kiina Matsunaga sits wrapped in a pink blanket pouring tea for a white rabbit. The tiny blue cups match the color of her psychedelic hair. A photographer puts down her ...
Plastic surgeons warn against genital-whitening fad among Thai men
Plastic surgeons have raised red flags about a penis-whitening fad in Thailand, dismissing the procedure as a "fashion" with uncertain benefits and many risks. Using lasers, acid or chemicals, the latest craze in genital beautification can leave men with burns, scars, taut skin or a ...
‘To look good, you need to look masculine,’ says Ethan Newton of Bryceland’s Tailors, Tokyo
For Bryceland's proprietor, an outspoken critic of 'fast fashion,' mens' style inspiration begins with dustbowl America and ends with James Stewart.
What brought you to Japan? I came here for the magic. Osaka is home to some of the best close-up magicians in the world. — Ben Daggers, magician Richard Brezina | COURTESY OF RICHARD BREZINA What's your favorite Japanese word or phrase? I like Japanese tongue-twisters; my ...
The AirBnb of luxury luggage: Laxus lets users rent high-end handbags for a monthly fee
Japan has long been one of the world's most reliable markets for luxury brand Louis Vuitton, with only New York matching Tokyo in number of stores. But smartphone apps have caused an evolution in the industry, with many consumers increasingly inclined to borrow luxury items. ...
Japan House to open cultural promotion center in Los Angeles
The Japan House communication center is coming to Hollywood this month, working to promote the country's best art, cuisine, design, entertainment, fashion and technology. "Hollywood is a magnet for people," said Yuko Kaifu, president of Japan House Los Angeles, at a news conference earlier this ...
Japanese model Rinka wants women to know there's no shame in aging
The prefix "anti" is often used before the word "aging" in Japan, as if there are only two choices — youth and beauty, or age and wisdom — and the former is preferred to the latter. But top model Rinka wants a little bit of ...
