Public Policy & Governance
Fatal Stabbing in Osaka's Dotonbori: Teen Killed, Suspect at Large
A 17-year-old boy was killed and two teens injured in a stabbing in Osaka's Dotonbori district on February 14. Police are searching for a suspect in his twenties who may have known the victims.
Healthcare
Japan Approves ¥300 Million Gene Therapy and Expands Palliative Care Coverage
Japan approves ¥300 million gene therapy under public insurance and expands palliative care beyond cancer patients, affecting all insured residents including expats.
Financial Services
Rakuten Reports Record Sales But 7th Straight Annual Loss
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.
Public Policy & Governance
Seven-Eleven Raises Prices on Rice Balls and Bento Amid Rice Crisis
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.
Technology & Startups
JAL Luggage Delivery Service Breached: 28,000 Customers Affected
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.
Technology & Startups
Sony Ends Blu-ray Recorder Production as Streaming Dominates Japan
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.
Transportation & Infrastructure
JR Utsunomiya Line Overhead Wire Failure Disrupts 190,000 Commuters
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.
Public Policy & Governance
LDP Wins Historic Supermajority in Lower House Election Landslide
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.
Immigration & Visas
US Immigration Enforcement Operations Spark International Protests
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.
Financial Services
Insider Trading Scandal Rocks Nidec TOB as Dow Hits Historic Milestone
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.
Public Policy & Governance
Japan's House Election Sees Record Early Voting Amid Political Shift
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.
Disaster Preparedness
Heavy Snowfall Disrupts Transportation and Causes Fatal Accidents Across Japan
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.