Whether it’s Secret Cinema taking people Back to the Future, or the revival of classic shows like Twin Peaks, the promise of a nostalgic experience is a big consumer draw. Andrew Abeyta, who studies the psychology of nostalgia, explains to Canvas8 how reflecting on the past can affect us today.

The Japanese term hikikomori refers to people who haven't left their homes or interacted with others for six months or more. And new research suggests that 541,000 15- to 39-year-olds in Japan are adopting this lifestyle, avoiding the anxiety attached to social rejection by rejecting society first.

‘No sex please, we’re Japanese!’ Sensational headlines suggest that Japan’s sexual appetite is waning; half the population aren’t having sex. But as a country that boasts more sex establishments than there are McDonald’s outlets in America – with 1.4 million couples visiting them daily – is this lack of libido a myth?

From Lolitas to Genderless Kei, fashion subcultures are rife in Japan. And all-American yankiis are pushing back against the country’s uniformity, opting to embody a retro-punk aesthetic. And their separation from Japan’s mainstream attitudes is opening up a market for yankii style.