IInduced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), the work of Nobel Prize laureate Dr Shinya Yamanaka, are featured; we discover how heart muscle sheets made from such cells can benefit heart patients.
Vacant homes are a pressing problem in Japan and efforts by two companies - Akiya Katsuyo which redevelops such properties and MUJI which redesigns them - to tackle this are highlighted this week.
A revamped amusement park with a retro Showa-era atmosphere, immersive theatre and a glamping facility at Mt Rokko are the Katana company's innovative initiatives which are highlighted this week.
Sustainability in the apparel industry is this week's theme; we highlight Uniqlo's efforts to promote recycling and the relaunching of Forever 21 in Japan, with its environmentally friendly goods.
We look at how saunas are being used to promote tourism and boost visitor numbers; examples are Yokohama Chinatown's first sauna facility and sauna tents along the Otozure River in Nagato Yumoto.