japan
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Asia
China rediscovers the bicycle as oil prices soar while disaffected Japanese youths flirt with communism.
Fashion
Sisterly New York womenswear label Lialia, some legendary Japanese denim hits europe, plus Makr's vintage-feel wallets.
Architecture/Design
Japanese bentwood homewares, Vicente Guallart's Spanish coastline de-clutter and Danish Mountain Dwellings.
Fukuoka: retail city
Friendly, cosmopolitan Fukuoka is tiny in comparison to Tokyo, but it beats the Japanese capital hands down with its cuisine and shopping. That’s why itis Monocle’s choice for our best retail city award.
Business
Making malls in Brazil, keeping faith with coal in Australia and how Japan has its finger on the pulse of the latest biometric technology.
Travel
Italy's Malpensa airport loses out to Rome, Taiwan's airline face turbulent times and Japan re-enters the regional aircraft market.
Master of the robes
A decade ago, teenage boys in Tokyo rarely wore kimonos. Now, attitudes to national identity are changing, and Genbei Yamaguchi’s new collection for United Arrows is targeting this shift.
Up for sail
Japan’s recreational boat market has been in the doldrums due to an antipathy to ostentation. But now the ‘nation of rice farmers’ is finally finding its sea legs at its annual boating fair.
Inventory no. 12
A Japanese inn special: the Masuichi Kyakuden Brewery hotel in Obuse, plus our great spring gift guide.
