Driven by an increasing sense of loneliness, the concept of a shared house is being adopted by Japan's young singletons. Yet with so many people in Japan struggling with social anxieties, how are these micro-communities forming?

Studies show that three quarters of us are born with the inclination to make poor spending decisions - spurring the creation of Japanese money management app PhotoMoney. And while it's not the first, developers believe it's unique enough to effectively alter spending habits.

In the homeland of geishas and love hotels, it should come as no surprise that for adultery website Ashley Madison, business is booming. Of the 37 countries the site operates in, growth in Japan has been the fastest: it reached a million users within nine months.

Japan houses one of the most overworked populations on the planet – 60% of workers would describe themselves as stressed. The advent of a new national holiday – Mountain Day – signifies Japan's attempt to progress towards a more realistic and healthy work/life balance.