Early summer is high season for the Fast Lane’s inbox as the column shifts from being a receptacle for compliments and debate to acting like a seasonal travel agency. Over the past few weeks, some of this column’s more interesting requests have been for me to appear at 50th birthday parties or to be a surprise lunch guest for someone’s 40th and for my input into honeymoon plans.

While I try to get back to all reasonable requests, I’m thinking of talking to my editors about creating a page on this newspaper’s website devoted to the Fast Lane’s Frequently Asked Questions. This would provide a forum for rapid responses to the identical questions that continue to pop up week after week. I’m thinking it would go something like this:

Q: I notice you travel a hell of a lot. Does the FT really finance your globetrotting?
A: Fortunately for the investors in this newspaper’s parent company [Pearson plc], they do not. I pay my own way every day and also don’t accept press trips.

Q: What is the cure for jet-lag?
A: I don’t think there is a cure but I tend to not eat too much when I fly, drink two to three glasses of white wine and then pass out until the cabin crew announce “10 minutes until landing”. I’m quite fortunate as I can sleep anywhere, anytime.

Q: Is Tyler Brûlé your real name?
A: Yes – a child of 1968 of French-Canadian and Estonian provenance.

Q: I know you’re not a big fan of wheely bags but if you had to buy a suitcase with wheels, what would it be?
A: If I absolutely had to resort to wheels (and I’m sure that at some point in my greying years I will), then it would have to be Rimowa in class aluminium. They look best battered and are the most masculine wheely a man can tow.

Q: What time of year is the best time to visit Japan? I know it’s very hot in the summer, but I’ve never been there, so should I wait to visit?
A: No! If you’ve never been then seize whatever opportunity comes your way. Yes, it’s dreadfully hot in summer but it’s not to be missed. In fact, I’m penning this column from the tropical heat of Tokyo and, while it can be uncomfortable, it is also bearable if you have the right tools.

Armed with Gatsby freezing face wipes, a fan from Kyoto and a tenegui to mop my brow (and also an extra shirt in my tote bag), it’s all you need to keep you reasonably fresh throughout the day. I landed in Tokyo on Sunday, and for the past few days my thoughts have returned to an earlier column about all those products and concepts that Japan should pack into NYK containers and start shipping around the world. Aside from the basic cooling tools mentioned above, which will become increasingly necessary for a warming planet, Japan’s captains of industry might want to also start pushing the following into hungry markets:

The 28ºC Summer Work Environment: A meeting at the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Wednesday was perfectly comfortable with the air conditioning set at 28ºC rather than at 19ºC. With my jacket slung over the back of the chair and a fan close to hand, it’s an agreeable climate to work in and a concept that other governments and companies should follow. I’m sure it’s also better for your health, as it prevents the body from being thrown into the extremes of freezing temperatures and then blasts of heat during the working day.

A Cooler Way of Dressing: On a flight from Haneda to Seoul on Monday morning, I was really envious of a handsome man in his jinbei (a traditional summer pyjama-type combo, consisting of open weave shorts and kimono-style short coat), flip-flops and jaunty travel cap. While other passengers were looking a bit beady on the brow, he floated through the terminal looking like the coolest man at the airport.

Sky Barber Shop: Tucked away in a basement in Tokyo’s Marunouchi district, Sky might be standard in Japan but it’s the type of barber required by men the world over. In 10 minutes flat, a series of talented hands will shave and trim your beard, tidy eyebrows, sharpen the hairline on your neck, deal with stray nose hairs, moisturise your face, style your hair and send you on your way for just over £10.

Cool Tunes: Japan’s pop machine doesn’t do enough to export its top talent, so I decided to help out on Tuesday by bringing the songstress Bird and the very danceable Immigrant Bossa Band into the studio to play a few songs for our audio programme The Monocle Summer Series. If you’re keen to buy Japanese pop then www.cdjapan.com is an excellent resource.

The Prius Taxi: Toyota’s electric/ petrol hybrid, the Prius, is becoming the industry standard on the streets of Tokyo, and is just the car that other cities should specify for companies seeking taxi licences. While London has allowed bigger (in fact, too big, Mercedes) to join the ranks of black cabs, they should also allow something smaller and more nimble, such as the Prius, to prowl the streets.

Tyler Brûlé is editor-in-chief of Monocle magazine

tyler.brule@ft.com
More columns at www.ft.com/brule