What We Do

Japan News provides daily English-language news coverage focused on topics that matter to foreign residents living in Japan. We synthesize information from major Japanese news sources to deliver clear, accurate reporting on immigration, taxation, healthcare, labor law, housing, and public policy.

Why We Exist

Living in Japan as a foreign resident means navigating complex systems in a language you may not fully understand. Important policy changes, new regulations, and legal updates often go unnoticed by the English-speaking community until it's too late.

Japan News bridges this gap by monitoring Japanese-language news sources and delivering relevant information in clear, accessible English. We focus on practical, actionable news that directly impacts your daily life in Japan.

Our Editorial Approach

Multi-source synthesis: We don't simply translate articles. Instead, we analyze reporting from multiple trusted Japanese news sources (NHK, Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Nikkei, and Kyodo News) to provide comprehensive, contextual coverage.

Focus on relevance: We filter out entertainment, sports, and sensationalized content to concentrate on news that affects foreign residents: visa policies, tax regulations, healthcare access, employment rights, and housing rules.

Transparency: Every article cites its sources. We provide links to original reporting so you can verify information and dive deeper if needed.

Who We Are

Japan News is created by Mike Sewell, a Canadian software developer and expat living in Japan. After years of struggling to keep up with policy changes that affected his residency, taxes, and daily life, he built this site to solve a problem he personally experienced.

The site uses AI-powered content synthesis (Claude by Anthropic) to process Japanese news sources daily, ensuring timely coverage without the overhead of a traditional newsroom.

Our Commitment

Accuracy: We synthesize information from reputable sources and cite all references. If we make an error, we correct it promptly.

Independence: Japan News is independently operated. We don't accept payments from government agencies, businesses, or advocacy groups for editorial coverage.

Privacy: We don't sell your data. Email subscriptions are used solely to deliver news digests. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Contact Us

Questions, feedback, or corrections? Reach us at hello@japannews.com

For editorial corrections or to report an issue with an article, please use our contact form.