Article Archive
Browse all published articles about living in Japan
Japanese Summer Bonuses Break 1 Million Yen Barrier for First Time
Major Japanese companies paid record summer bonuses averaging 1,008,000 yen per employee in 2026, up 1.88% from last year. This milestone primarily af...
Japan Cuts Passport Fees by Up to 7,000 Yen from July 1
Japan reduced passport fees by up to 7,000 yen starting July 1, but processing times may extend to one month due to expected application surges. Offic...
Japan's National Civil Servants See 4.5% Bonus Increase to ¥738,500
Japan's national civil servants received summer bonuses averaging ¥738,500, up 4.5% from last year. This marks the fourth consecutive annual increase,...
Aflac Life Insurance Reports Data Breach Affecting 4.38 Million Customers
Aflac Life Insurance Japan reported a data breach affecting 4.38 million customers through unauthorized access to its policyholder portal. Personal in...
July Food Price Increases Hit 2,566 Products Amid Rising Living Costs
Over 2,566 food products will increase in price this July, continuing a five-year trend of annual increases exceeding 10,000 items. Middle East instab...
Japan Passes Imperial Household Law Allowing Female Royals to Retain Status
Japan's government has passed Imperial Household Law amendments allowing female royals to retain status after marriage and permitting adoption of male...
Yen Plunges to 162 Per Dollar: What Foreign Residents Need to Know
The yen hit 162 per dollar on June 30, its weakest in 39.5 years, driven by US-Japan interest rate differences. Expats face higher import costs but st...
Kintetsu Railway Incident Raises Safety Concerns for Foreign Passengers
A Chinese passenger's unauthorized entry into a Kintetsu train control room after mistaken boarding sparked safety concerns. The incident highlights t...
Diet Debates Seat Reduction and Imperial Succession as Session Ends
Japan's Diet faces heated debates over reducing House seats by 45 and imperial succession reforms as the session ends. Opposition parties are boycotti...
Twin Typhoons Trigger Widespread Disasters Across Japan's Eastern Regions
Typhoons 7 and 8 caused landslides, flooding, and infrastructure damage across eastern Japan on June 27th, affecting over 130,000 residents with evacu...
Magnitude 5 Quake Hits Iwate and Aomori, Nuclear Facilities Safe
A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Iwate and Aomori on June 28, following a magnitude 7.2 quake three days earlier. All nuclear facilities reported no da...
Mixed News for Household Budgets: Utility Bills Drop, Food Prices Rise
Electricity and gas bills will decrease in July due to government subsidies, but food prices continue rising, with rice prices up and Calbee announcin...
Twin Typhoons 7 and 8 Bring Heavy Rain and Travel Chaos to Japan
Typhoons 7 and 8 approach Japan on June 27, bringing Level 4 landslide warnings, potential Tokaido Shinkansen suspensions, and highway closures. Expat...
Magnitude 5.6 Earthquake Hits Yamanashi: What Foreign Residents Need to Know
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Yamanashi on June 26, registering intensity 6-lower in Fujikawaguchiko. Authorities warn of similar aftershocks for ...
Japan Postpones ¥1,500 Minimum Wage Target to Early 2030s
Japan postponed its ¥1,500 minimum wage target to the early 2030s from the original 2030 goal. This affects foreign workers in minimum wage positions ...
Japan Introduces Numerical Standards for Dangerous Driving Prosecutions
Japan enacted new dangerous driving law with numerical standards including 0.5mg/L breath alcohol threshold. The reform takes effect July 2026, establ...
Shareholder Activism Surges at Japanese Companies as Board Battles Intensify
Shareholder activism reached record levels at Japanese AGMs in June 2026, with investors challenging management at Nissan, KADOKAWA, and Rohto Pharmac...
Japan's Consumption Tax Reduction Debate: 1% Proposal Faces Opposition
A cross-party proposal to reduce consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027 faces strong opposition. Opposition parties prefer direct payments, and...
Two Fuji Electric Employees Detained in China Under Suspected Law Violations
Two Fuji Electric employees were detained by Chinese customs authorities in Dalian in May 2024. The Japanese government confirmed both are in good hea...
Japanese Yen Hits 161 Per Dollar as Intervention Concerns Mount
The yen weakened to 161 per dollar, approaching a 40-year low. Finance Minister Katayama confirmed Japan-U.S. agreement on potential intervention, cre...