‘Tug of war’ between cells: Cell‐cell junction development depends on the forces applied . The cover image shows adherens junctions (magenta) with actin filaments (green) in an NRK fibroblast sheet. This type of adherens junction has an actin filament bundle oriented perpendicularly to the plasma membrane. Because actin bundles on both sides of the adherens junction are oriented along a straight line, it is obvious that both actin bundles are pulling each other and that adherens junctions are responsible for transmitting forces between cells. Recent studies reported that structure/function of adherens junctions/cadherin‐mediated cell adhesions changes according to the forces applied to them. In this issue ( pages 732–736 ) Shigenobu Yonemura gives an overview of mechanotransduction at adherens junctions and its possible molecular mechanism. The importance of α‐catenin in the cadherin‐catenin complex in a force‐balancing mechanism for morphogenesis in multicellular organisms is highlighted. Cover by S. Yonemura