Rakuten Group posted a 177.8 billion yen loss for its seventh straight year despite record sales, driven by mobile network investments. Core services like banking and e-commerce remain strong for expat users.
Seven-Eleven raises prices on 30 rice-based products including onigiri and bento from February 12, 2025, due to Japan's ongoing rice shortage. The increases affect staple convenience foods relied upon by many expats.
JAL's same-day luggage delivery service suffered a data breach exposing names and phone numbers of up to 28,000 customers. Expats who used the service should watch for suspicious calls and phishing attempts.
Sony will stop producing Blu-ray disc recorders due to declining demand from streaming services. Other manufacturers continue production, but the move signals shifting media consumption in Japan.
An overhead wire failure on JR's Utsunomiya Line disrupted service for 20 hours, affecting 190,000 passengers. Damage occurred across 100+ locations over 4 kilometers between Koga and Nogi stations.
The LDP won 316 Lower House seats, securing a supermajority that enables constitutional amendments. The opposition suffered devastating losses, creating a dominant single-party political landscape.
ICE operations have sparked protests in Milan during the Olympics and ongoing unrest in Minnesota following a fatal shooting. Growing international concern reflects tensions over US immigration enforcement practices.
Tokyo prosecutors arrested a fourth person in Nidec insider trading case while Japanese corporate earnings held steady. The Dow hit 50,000 as global markets rallied, highlighting compliance risks and investment opportunities.
Japan's February 2026 House election saw record early voting with 20.79 million ballots cast, up 4.36 million from the previous election, amid uncertainty over whether PM Takaichi's coalition will retain its majority.
Severe snowfall across Japan has caused multiple deaths and major transportation disruptions. Expats should avoid snow removal alone, monitor transportation updates, and prepare for continued severe weather through February 8.
Japan faces multiple disaster challenges: severe blizzards hitting Hokkaido through February 9, an uncontrolled wildfire in Chichibu, drought conditions causing low reservoir levels, and continued earthquake monitoring.
Japan's Engel coefficient reached a 44-year high in 2025 as food inflation squeezes household budgets. Rice prices continue rising, with five kilograms now averaging 4,194 yen, impacting expats' purchasing power.