japan
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Transport design: full steam ahead
Japan’s long-distance trains are entering a new era of luxury and innovation. Monocle visits the industrial and interior designers who are redefining train travel.
Asia
Learn a few moves from China’s “dancing grannies” and find out how the volume is being turned down on Hong Kong’s tramcars.
Inventory no. 94
This month we deck out readers with seaside-inspired trainers, Bulgarian beach bats and a new brew from Barcelona. Plus the German bags worth bragging about and fishing lures to angle for.
Asia
Taiwanese roll the dice, Japan’s youth head for the ballot box and Hong Kongers hop in a dragon boat.
Village voices
We take a tour of the most innovative and enticing compact communities around the world.
Start small: Design villages
The rural communities that have built on their craft heritage to stay relevant in an urbanised world.
New tricks in the sticks: Village shops
The rural retailers whose need to adapt put them back at the heart of their communities.
Observation
From regularly refreshed department stores to dedicated dog buggies, Japan revels in the retail details. Tyler Brûlé explains why nobody does it better and looks ahead to our next Quality of Life Conference.
What’ll it be, sir?
From airport immigration queues to old-school Japanese bars, this issue explores why hospitality reveals a nation's true character — and celebrates those businesses genuinely getting it right.
At your service: Japan Hotel School
Countries are investing in tourism, which now means more than just hotels and restaurants. We meet the next generation of hospitality professionals learning the fine art of flawless service at the world's best schools.
