More and more women these days are sporting beautifully manicured nails, from natural French nails to nail art that makes generous use of such accents as rhinestones and laminate coatings - and even nails so long that they make one wonder how the wearer manages to function in daily life. Artificial sculptured nails have been also been gaining in popularity. Despite costing around ¥10,000 ($90 at ¥110 to the dollar), a surprisingly large number of women frequent nail salons to decorate their nails with these lavish creations.
Nail Expo Pulls in the Crowds

In a reflection of the nail boom, nail salons are opening up all over Tokyo's downtown core, with districts like Shibuya, Omotesando, and Aoyama home to especially large numbers of outlets. Additionally, do-it-yourself nail kits that include tools for applying nail art are appearing on store shelves, as are specialty magazines offering the latest trends and tips for nails. The cosmetic nail market is growing: Currently, the Japanese market is estimated to be worth approximately ¥100 billion ($900 million) a year, with roughly 8,000 salons in operation and some 30,000 registered manicurists.