After receiving massive support last year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe seems to be losing the public’s backing over his economic policies – despite the fact that it remains to be seen whether ‘Abenomics’ will be able to get the country out of its 20-year fight against deflation.

When you're sick, sometimes it's the simple things that can help you the most. Music has long been proven to soothe symptoms of patients who are uncomfortable or in pain, and music therapy is now increasingly being used in Japan to treat the ill and elderly in times of need.

‘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?

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.