by James Norton | Aug 14, 2026 | Age-Tech Japan, Category Insights
Walk into any convenience store, variety shop, or pharmacy in Tokyo this summer and you’ll find something that barely exists anywhere else: an entire section devoted to cooling down. Cooling towels. Cooling mists. Neck wraps. Patches for your forehead, your...
by James Norton | Jul 17, 2026 | Gaming, Leisure and Entertainment, Insight
Juggling five boyfriends is harder than it sounds. Ask any otome game player. Don’t worry, we only mean virtual boyfriends here. What are Otome games? Otome games are narrative-driven games designed for women, built around developing romantic relationships...
by James Norton | Jun 5, 2026 | Category Insights
In Japan, a satisfied patient and an unmet need are often the same person. “Are you satisfied with your current treatment?” The patient says yes. A few questions later, it’s clear that the yes was doing a lot of work. The weekly hospital trips...
by James Norton | May 7, 2026 | Ageing and Generations, Category Insights
In March 2026, Suntory launched Guilty Carbonated NOPE, its first major new soft drink brand in 14 years. The product arrived with unusually loud visual language, unapologetically sweet flavor, and a concept built around “guilty consumption.” At face value, NOPE...
by James Norton | May 7, 2026 | Category Insights
At Carter, we love a good Japanese series, and with Vivant and Shogun in production for their second series, we ask- what makes a great series in Japan? Over the past twenty-five years working alongside broadcasters, studios and streaming platforms in Japan, we have...
