FOCUS - JAPAN: Japanese consumers set own trends

<p>Japanese consumers are health and environmentally conscious in line </p><p>with most of the developed world but in fashion lifestyle they continue </p><p>to have a peculiarity all their own. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>According to Dentsu's hit products of 1999, a healthy lifestyle was </p><p>uppermost on most people's minds and this was reflected by the fact that </p><p>a majority gave genetically modified foodstuffs the thumbs-down. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>They also emphasised the need for energy efficiency in homes, and </p><p>environmentally friendly cars. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>However, a significant number of Japanese have a craving for audio </p><p>equipment disguised as furnishings and guidebooks to unrecommended </p><p>products. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Women seem to go for 'invisible' necklaces, body wires, body-attached </p><p>bags, arm warmers and liquid-padded bras. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>