Cafés have provided a relaxed atmosphere where people can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and a light meal or snack for many years. In Japan a number of interesting and innovative choices are available to the café-goer who may get more than the coffee and cake they bargained for.

‘Concept Cafes’ are a growing trend in Japan, they aim to meet the needs of customers in new ways. Some concept cafes are encouraging a relaxing and therapeutic atmosphere while others offer a space to undertake a favourite hobby with like-minded people.

Café Slow is located in Tokyo’s Kokubunji district and offers patrons a chance to relax and reflect by candlelight. Every Friday night is ‘café in the dark’ night, lights are turned off and candles are lit on every table, while soft soothing live music plays in the background. Café Slow encourages patrons to take it easy and be at one with nature. Using candles instead of electricity aims to promote environmental consciousness and the café only serves organic food, further instilling the idea of an environmentally responsible lifestyle.

‘Picture Book Cafes’ are becoming a popular destination for Japanese women wanting something a little bit different. These cafes resemble bookstores with walls covered in shelves of books. At Ehon House in Tokyo’s Mejiro district you can choose from over 4000 picture books from all over the world while sipping your cup of tea.

The use of mobile phones and other technology has made people use their thumbs more and more. These electronic devices have made it necessary for us to rely on the thumb to type, and have thereby once again established the thumb’s high place in the hierarchy of the hand. From the very beginning, when we humans sapiens started to look like we do today, we have used our opposable thumbs for various things, that no other animal can do. From grasping rudimentary tools and weapons, to vote, to show our displeasure, to hitch hiking, the thumb defines us and makes us human. Now of course that isn’t to say that without thumbs we wouldn’t be human, but it sure did help.

Over the years we have found new uses for the thumb, and in this high-tech age is no exception. The thumb is the preferred tool of 21st - century communication. The younger Japanese generations are often referred to as the oya yubi sedai or the thumb generation. This generation has grown up sending text messages through mobile phones and playing video games on consoles, where the finger that is most used to play the game, is the thumb.