Contents
2012 January Contents
Featured Articles
Japan's Cynosure in 2012
In this special feature, we report on the robust segments of Japan's economy – robotics, automobiles, lifestyle, tourism, and food – sectors in which the country boasts leading-edge strengths. They can be Japan's cynosure.
Flash
Runner's High
On October 30, 2011 the day before Halloween, unconventional runners took to the roads of the city of Osaka. Nearly all of them ran with faces wreathed in smiles that belied the taxing distance of 42.195 kilometers they would run.
Products Of The Month
Happiness is a Warm Kabochan
This cute little boy from Osakabased PIP Co., Ltd. (http://www. pipjapan.co.jp/), named Unazuki Kabochan, may look like a dummy, but actually he’s quite smart.
Real Japan
MANGA Influence
By Dave McCaughan
I first realized the influence manga has in changing people's real view of the world in 1993. I was conducting research in Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Tokyo looking at the impact of technology on young teenagers. This was of course pre-internet, a time when personal computers were still rare for most and Walkman was still the dominant youth culture technology.