Japan is experiencing a tourism boom. But its struggling countryside is absent from most itineraries, with limited access for foreign visitors and areas marred by runaway development. Could spreading the word about Japan’s rural charm bring tourists and locals back to its dying towns?

The global cost of mental healthcare is set to exceed $6 trillion by 2030, and as dementia, depression and anxiety afflict a greater number of people, it’s unlikely that existing treatment options will be able to meet demand. Can tech, drugs or video games provide a viable alternative?

With a culture that emphasises a strong work ethic, the lifestyles of people in Japan are becoming increasingly busy. And it’s stopping them getting sufficient shut-eye. A third of people in the country don’t sleep enough, which can have negative effects on both mental and physical wellbeing.

More than a quarter of people in Japan are over 65. Combined with an extremely low birth rate, Japan’s seniors are an increasingly dominant demographic, and numerous companies are now looking to help the country save on health costs by getting the aged to exercise both mind and body.