Japan's ruling coalition shelved a controversial seat reduction bill to ease Diet tensions, prioritizing Imperial Household Law amendments addressing succession concerns through cross-party cooperation.
Shizuoka approves Linear Chuo Shinkansen construction after years of delays, while Osaka officials debate Hokuriku Shinkansen extension routes. Both projects will reshape Japan's high-speed rail network over the coming decade.
Hand, foot and mouth disease has reached warning levels in 15 prefectures, prompting health officials to urge thorough handwashing. Meanwhile, the government plans to revise medical costs for elderly patients by year-end.
KDDI confirmed a breach exposing 12.23 million email addresses and 7.62 million passwords from its corporate email system. The attack began May 16 through an unknown vulnerability, with no secondary damage reported yet.
A survey shows 60% of residents don't understand Japan's disaster warning levels eight years after reforms. Foreign residents face even greater risks due to language barriers during emergencies.
Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft successfully completed a high-speed flyby of asteroid Trifune on July 5, continuing its extended mission six years after returning Ryugu samples to Earth.
Northern Kyushu faces dangerous linear precipitation bands through July 6th, with Level 3 evacuation advisories issued in Asakura City. Expats should monitor warnings, prepare emergency kits, and know evacuation routes.
Japan plans to nearly double Narita Airport railway capacity through new elevated infrastructure, enabling expanded JR and Keisei express services and new Narita-Haneda connections for improved traveler convenience.
The Japanese government is developing a new learning program for foreign residents to study Japanese language and rules. The ICT-based program will target medium to long-term residents and include pre-arrival access.
Japan Post will increase Yu-Pack delivery fees by 10% from October 2025 due to rising logistics and labor costs. Click Post and shipping materials will also see price increases, affecting expats who regularly use postal services.
Japan will increase permanent residence application fees from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 starting October 2026. The twenty-fold increase represents a major cost change for foreign residents seeking long-term status.
Japan's fiscal 2025 tax revenue hit a record 84.2 trillion yen, up 9 trillion yen from the previous year, driven by wage increases and strong corporate performance that directly impact expat income taxes.
Japan's government has launched a nationwide USB security audit of all municipalities after malware was found on Defense Ministry devices. The investigation will examine local government data handling practices.