Minimalist styles dominate the global furniture market, led by Swedish brand IKEA, which Japanese brand Nitori wants to challenge. In their current battleground, Southeast Asia, Nitori attempts to get ahead by tapping into locals’ preferences for more practical and convenient living.

Homes half the size of studio apartments are popping up all over Tokyo. In addition to being more affordable, these properties neatly fit into the concept of 'small living', which is gaining traction among younger adults looking to adopt more considered forms of consumption.

On Chinese New Year's Eve, Japanese monk Kanho Yakushiji played a sold-out EDM show. His fusion of Buddhist sutras, rock, and electronic music reflects a trend of Chinese youth blending modernism with ancient traditions in a quest for stability and escape from societal pressures.

The surprise success of a Japanese book proposing degrowth to deal with environmental issues echoes the sentiments of young people eager to break with a status quo of political and economic pessimism. How can brands respond to the needs of this growing cohort and its feelings about the future?