November 17, 2023

Clothes Hangers Can Be More Than Just a Way to Hang a Coat

Nakata Hanger wants its products to be utilitarian, but also to reflect the best of Japanese craftsmanship. Since 1946, when the Nakata family established its factory […]
July 23, 2023

In Asia, if You Like a Watch Brand, You Start a Club

A Japanese fan organized the first in-person club for the French brand Maurice Lacroix. Now, there are three more in the region. On a Tuesday night […]
May 26, 2023

A Japanese Pearl Farm Shows Nature’s Artistic Process

SHIMA, Japan — It was raining hard, with blustery winds roiling the sea — unusual conditions on the spring day when I visited the Mikimoto Tatoku […]
February 25, 2023

Where’s the Snow? Snowboarding Brands Are Trying to Find Out for Themselves.

On Feb. 1, 2021, during the biggest blizzard to hit New York City in five years, snowboarders turned city spots into their playground. Hollis DuPre, 23, […]
February 25, 2023

Where’s the Snow? Snowboarding Brands Are Trying to Find Out for Themselves.

On Feb. 1, 2021, during the biggest blizzard to hit New York City in five years, snowboarders turned city spots into their playground. Hollis DuPre, 23, […]
January 18, 2023

In Japan, a Visit to the Casio G-Shock Factory

Most of the durable wristwatch’s models — and a number of other electronic items — are made at Yamagata Casio. HIGASHINE, Japan — Yamagata Prefecture, in […]
November 27, 2022

Beauty Over Brains: Japan’s Skin-Deep University Pageants

The contests reflect a culture that often judges women by their appearance and slots them into rigid, gender-defined roles. Yuki Iozumi was fretting about how her […]
October 20, 2022

‘Modern Love’ Goes Global in New Television Series

The latest iteration of the “Modern Love” franchise, “Modern Love Tokyo,” begins streaming on Oct. 21. Times Insider explains who we are and what we do […]
August 31, 2022

Designers From Around the World Use

Designers from around the world find inspiration in traditional garment making in their quest to eliminate fabric waste. This article is part of a series examining […]
March 27, 2022

At 83, a Japanese Master Still Makes Martial Arts Gear by Hand

Kiichiro Ito spends his days creating uniforms for kendo, an ancient form of fencing. TOKYO — When my 6-year-old son recently joined a local kendo club, […]