Japan’s faltering position on the world stage has been defined by its post-luxury population’s obsession with the good life, Italian style. It’s time for this proud nation to step up and get on with it.

The Foreign Ministry of Japan employs thousands to help build beneficial international relationships. And with the nation recently beginning to emerge from its post-war pacifist stance, staying friends with the right people is now more important than ever.

As a global Japanese image, Doraemon aptly combines cuteness and faith in technology. But with the blue robot cat from the future seeming increasingly rooted in the past, there’s a sense that Tokyo’s soft-power brokers want to have their ‘dorayaki’ and eat it.

Meet the Jazilians: the Japanese population in Brazil shares culture with the nation it calls home while interpreting traditional values within a Latin American society. It is a balancing act still finding the middle ground between old and new.

Kicking over the statues in Spain, Istanbul's Tehran trippers and an overdue fix for Balkan rail travel.

The Chilean president's motorcade of choice and the Central American nations' dry-canal race.

Shinzo Abe's middle-of-the road attire and the man who's determined to send a Singaporean into a space.

Israel's response to the Paris terror attacks and Egypt's upcoming parliamentary elections.

Australia's food bowl for Asia and the rise of the kiwi (the currency rather than the bird - or the fruit).

As a thoughtful exhibition on images of war opens at Tate Modern in London, Monocle visits artist George Butler. His ink-and-watercolour scenes bring a new depth to reportage more often the preserve of combat photographers.

Japan’s culture is steeped in patriarchy but for business to thrive that needs to change. We meet four women who have overcome the hurdles to lead their field.

A national pride – or some might say obsession – with the handwritten has forged an industry exporting more than ever. With innovation showing no signs of letting up, we visited the sharpest tools in the pencil case.

The indigo-dye farmers of Shikoku Island and how Italian racing bicycles are leading the breakaway.

Discovering the heart of Osaka's rare grooves, South Korean TV and a Middle Eastern print collective.

With its outward-looking location facing China and South Korea, a unique local focus and strong sense of civic pride among the city’s residents, Fukuoka’s distinctive media landscape is booming.

From the mountain town specialising in cedar bentwood to the community with its sights set on eyewear domination, Japan’s dedicated craft capitals are an enlightening model of manufacturing.

Cunha in Brazil may be a world away from Japan but the latter’s ancient legacy of firing and glazing is living on in the Latin American city. Monocle meets the people keeping the ceramic tradition alive.

Lustrous Tokyo lacquerwork, handmade lighting from Sweden and a piece of Japan in London

This year’s edition of Pitti Uomo the world’s leading menswear fair, was a full- blooded return to form. Here are our sartorial highlights.

One of the world’s most famous cultural venues provides inspiration for Caruso’s Milanese flagship store. Blending finely tuned tailoring with a decorative visual score to rival La Scala, the menswear destination puts its clients firmly in the spotlight.

Where better to celebrate the intricate art of timekeeping than in Switzerland, a country famed for its luxury products and quality craftsmanship. Monocle headed to Geneva for annual watch fair SIHH 2015.

When one Japanese couple’s search for a roomier home led to a love of traditional living, they embraced classic local architecture, too. But they also found that, even in a cultured college town, older buildings are disappearing at an alarming rate.

From spicing up your lettercraft to adding class to your condiment cupboard plus timeless additions to your kitchen, wardrobe and workspace, here are this month’s most covetable commodities.

From organically growing their first ventures to exploring new horizons, crafty entrepreneurs know it’s the small touches that make their businesses stand out – whether they are making spectacles in London or tableware in Nagoya.

The popularity of Goro climbing boots on and off the mountains is testament to the brand’s unique shoe-making process.

Traditional craftsmen and young designers are combining to create a new Kuramae.

Japanese know-how and UK produce make Dinings a must for in-the-know eaters.

Whether tucking in to deliciously fresh market produce in Perth, seeking out a chocolate shop in Tokyo or cosying up in Berlin’s best new coffee house, we’ve travelled the world in search of the best in fine food.

Legendary mountain climber Yuichiro Miura, who made headlines for conquering Everest at the age of 80, talks inspiration, near-disasters and his passion for steak.

As their cutesy, cartoon profiles – and fanbases – continue to soar, Japan’s cuddly collection of corporate mascots has come to inhabit a central part of the nation’s identity. We meet these celebrated creations and the people who bring them to life.