Trends in Japan We all know of Japan's mania for fashion, obsession with anime, and flair for mobile technology. But this online magazine takes us farther into the stream of what's hot in the land of the setting sun. From business-related mini-articles ("next-generation bathrooms"!) to brief lifestyle and tech features, these bite-sized pieces are just waiting to amuse and astound aficionados of contemporary Japanese culture. The site is sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so we're unlikely to glimpse anything too risqué, although they assure us that the items we find here don't "necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese government." Regardless, this stuff makes for excellent cocktail chatter. Did you know that vinegar bars are big in Japan? What about the latest developments in mind-reading robots? And, say, have you heard of the heretofore untapped potential of seaweed in generating electricity? You'll be the hit of the party. (in Asia)
