Steampunk has gone from an obscure science fiction genre to a style all its own. Here are 15 exceptionally creative works of steampunk art, design and fashion for your viewing pleasure.

What is it with Japan and weird drinks? Part of the answer lies in the love Japanese have for soft drinks – surveys show that about 40% of the nation's citizens drink at least one soft drink every day. That's about 50 million people!

Hello Kitty may be Japan's most successful cultural export but not everyone loves the omnipresent epitome of animated cuteness. For those precious few, we present the Hello Kitty pincushion. Me-OWW, that's gotta hurt!

Tokyo is plagued by crows. Not crowds (well, that's debatable) and definitely not cows, but crows. Noisy, aggressive flocks of crows have become such a huge problem that Tokyo city authorities have turned to nature in a desperate effort to combat the rave

A series of stark, black & white aprons and totes emblazoned with the Hakodate Juvenile Prison logo in both Japanese and English have taken off like a lifer who's loosed the lock on his leg-irons.

Feminine protection – whether it's pads, napkins or liners, this essential women's hygiene product has been the last frontier for marketers who seek to embellish every product with “designer” cachet. No longer, at least not in Japan where new colorf

Japan's asbestos cancer “time bomb” ticks louder day by day as the nation's average population ages and decades-long incubation periods for asbestos-caused cancers end. Now, several new technologies may make cleaning up the asbestos mess easier and sa

Is the ultimate brand, no brand at all? It may seem strange, but in this world of pervasive advertising and relentless globalization a quiet movement is underway that rejects distinctive branding in favor of pure, unadulterated design.