Despite its precision aluminum molding capabilities, Sakamoto Tomomi returned home to find her father's business struggling to stay afloat. Inspired by her passion for gardening, she turned things around by designing and producing an award-winning flower vase. [In Focus: 50 Years on, Japan-China Ties Not Aging Well] Japan and China have little to celebrate despite this year marking half a century of normalized relations. We see how straining economic and political ties are prompting Japanese companies to take their business elsewhere. [Global Trends: Keeping Social Media Real] A new social media platform shuns made-for-Instagram moments and glossy photos in favor of authentic images. The app's embrace of the mundane is gaining a following among young users. We try the service out and see what life is like on the mild side.