Mascots have long been used to front brands in Japan, but Gudetama – a lazy anthropomorphic egg – is a far cry from the cutesy characters typically seen. It now appears on around 1,700 items, boasting its own Twitter feed and pop-up cafés, but how has it won the hearts of people nationwide?

What’s got Japanese people worried about their work-life balance? Why are more men staying at home to raise the kids? And how did Halloween become a national holiday? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats and case studies to explore behavioural norms shared by Japanese people in 2017.

In Japanese convenience stores, tourists can now manage their Airbnb reservations and pick up their room keys. As travellers the world over flock to Japan, the country is reshaping its tourism industry to be more customer-driven, while still retaining the authentic Japanese experience.

Tabete is one of a number of Japanese startups that are helping to reduce food waste in the country by raising awareness around the issue. By selling rescued food to consumers for a discounted price, the app is helping wasteful Japanese people think twice about throwing out usable food.