Article Archive
Browse all published articles about living in Japan
Japan Bans Mobile Battery Use on Flights, Limits Carry-on to 2 Per Person
Starting April 24th, Japan bans mobile battery use on all flights and limits passengers to two units in carry-on luggage. The new rules address safety...
ANA Receives Business Improvement Order Over Falsified Maintenance Records
Japan's transport ministry issued a business improvement order to ANA on April 14 after discovering falsified maintenance records. The airline must su...
TOTO Halts Bathroom Orders as Iran Crisis Disrupts Supply Chains
TOTO suspended system bathroom orders from April 13 due to petroleum supply disruptions from the Iran crisis. Expats planning renovations or moving in...
Tokyo's Ogasawara Village Effectively Greenlights Nuclear Waste Survey
Ogasawara Village Mayor effectively approved a nuclear waste literature survey for Minamitorishima by deferring the decision to national government, m...
SoftBank, NEC, and Honda Launch National Physical AI Development Company
SoftBank, NEC, and Honda have established a new company to develop domestic Physical AI technology, marking Japan's coordinated effort to compete glob...
Zero Food Tax Proposal: What Price Changes Could Mean for Expats
Lawmakers debate eliminating Japan's 8% food consumption tax, but questions remain whether retailers would pass savings to consumers. The cross-party ...
Japan Invests ¥631.5 Billion in Rapidus Semiconductor Initiative
Japan's government commits ¥631.5 billion to Rapidus for advanced semiconductor development, aiming to restore domestic chip manufacturing capabilitie...
Japan Launches New Support Program for Employment Ice Age Generation
Japan's government has launched a new support program for the "employment ice age generation" (born 1970-1984), focusing on improving working conditio...
Iran Crisis Drives Fuel Prices Up: Japan Orders Direct Oil Sales
Japan's government orders oil companies to prioritize critical facilities amid Iran-driven fuel price surge. Bathhouses reduce hours, strategic reserv...
Proposed Food Tax Cut Faces Industry Resistance Over System Upgrades
Japan's proposed elimination of consumption tax on food faces strong business opposition due to system upgrade challenges. Industry groups cite techni...
Japan Secures Alternative Oil Supply Routes as Iran Crisis Escalates
Japan has secured alternative oil routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran tensions, ensuring supplies beyond the new year. The government plan...
Rice Prices in Japan Expected to Drop Due to High Inventory Levels
Rice prices in Japan are expected to fall over the next three months due to high inventory levels. Industry outlook index at 27 signals continued down...
Mazda Halts Middle East Production as Hormuz Strait Crisis Continues
Mazda suspended Middle East vehicle production until May 2026 due to Hormuz Strait blockade, while shifting output to European markets. Three Japan-re...
Domestic Flight Costs Set to Rise as Airlines Eye Fuel Surcharges
Major Japanese airlines are considering introducing fuel surcharges and raising fares on domestic routes due to surging oil prices, potentially ending...
Japan Signals Public Spending Cuts as Energy Crisis Looms
Japan's government signals upcoming public spending cuts and potential energy conservation requests amid rising costs. New policies will ensure govern...
Fukushima Daini Reactor Cooling System Halted: Safety Protocols Explained
Fukushima Daini's Unit 1 cooling system stopped due to pump failure on April 5. TEPCO confirms no immediate danger as water temperatures remain low. E...
Japan Secures Oil Supply Through Alternative Routes Amid Iran Crisis
Japan has secured alternative oil supplies bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, reaching 60% of normal levels by May 2026. The government is cautiously con...
New Employee Salaries Surge While Existing Workers Face Widening Pay Gap
Starting salaries in Japan are rising sharply, with some companies offering up to 400,000 yen monthly to new hires. This creates pay gaps with existin...
Japan Enables Digital Wills and Reforms Guardianship System
Japan's government approved Civil Code amendments allowing digital will creation and ending lifetime adult guardianship requirements, offering more fl...
Microsoft Commits $16 Billion to AI Infrastructure in Japan
Microsoft will invest $16 billion in AI infrastructure across Japan, partnering with SoftBank to build data centers. This creates potential job opport...