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.

Death might be a subject avoided in many cultures, but in Japan the attitude toward to the inevitable termination of life is open, honest and frank. So much so, in fact, that coffin-trying services and other ‘death businesses’ in the country – known asshukatsu– are thriving.

The Japanese termkodokushi– 'lonely death' – refers to a person who dies alone. These bodies can go unnoticed for weeks or even months, which makes for a tragic story and a large problem – who cleans it all up? Keepers Co. handles the uncomfortable aftermath of dealing with the dead.

Is Japan really light-years ahead with technology? Is sex really a taboo? Is sipping on sake still the drink of choice? In our 2015 cultural snapshot of Japan, we debunk cultural myths, shed light on the country’s economic outlook, and explore the emerging and established trends across 12 sectors.