Article Archive
Browse all published articles about living in Japan
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, creati...
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 co...
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 m...
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 uncerta...
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 transpor...
Japan Weather Alert: Blizzards, Wildfires, and Earthquake Updates for Expats
Japan faces multiple disaster challenges: severe blizzards hitting Hokkaido through February 9, an uncontrolled wildfire in Chichibu, drought conditio...
Japan's Food Costs Push Engel Coefficient to Highest Level in 44 Years
Japan's Engel coefficient reached a 44-year high in 2025 as food inflation squeezes household budgets. Rice prices continue rising, with five kilogram...
Toyota Appoints New CEO as Japanese Automakers Face Tariff Pressures
Toyota reaches historic 50 trillion yen revenue while appointing new CEO, as SUBARU faces 70% profit decline from tariffs and Kirin sells U.S. whiskey...
Weather Disrupts Japan Election Day: Polling Changes and Safety Concerns
Severe weather forecasts have prompted Japanese election officials to adjust polling station hours and advance voting dates on remote islands for the ...
KDDI Subsidiary Fraud and Japan Post Violations Rock Corporate Japan
KDDI subsidiary faces investigation over 33 billion yen fraud and 246 billion yen accounting overstatements since 2017. Japan Post investigated for vi...
Influenza B Surge in Tokyo: What Expats Need to Know About Symptoms
Tokyo's influenza cases doubled in early February 2026, with Influenza B increasing significantly. This strain spreads easily as it often lacks high f...
Retirement Service Scandal Exposes Legal Violations Affecting Workers
Executives from retirement service Moomuri were arrested for illegal lawyer kickback schemes, with two lawyers referred to prosecutors. The case highl...
Winter Weather Hazards: Snow-Related Deaths and Transportation Disruptions Across Japan
Severe winter weather is causing fatalities and major disruptions across Japan through February 8th. Multiple deaths from snow removal accidents highl...
Japanese Startups Raise Over ¥4 Billion for AI and Business Innovation
Japanese startups raised over ¥4 billion in early February 2026, with major investments in AI-driven supply chain management, restaurant business tool...
Japan Disciplines 28 Medical Professionals in Latest Accountability Review
Japan's health ministry disciplined 28 doctors and dentists with penalties ranging from license revocations to practice suspensions, demonstrating the...
Japan Weather Update: Earthquake, Typhoon, and Winter Safety Alerts
Recent earthquake in Kagoshima posed no tsunami threat. Typhoon Pennya won't affect Japan. Three snow-removal deaths highlight winter safety risks as ...
Market Volatility and Corporate Shake-ups Challenge Expat Portfolios
Market turbulence affects expat investors as Japanese corporations restructure, the yen weakens to 156 per dollar, and AI concerns shake tech stocks, ...
Retirement Service Scandal Exposes Legal Gray Zones in Japan's Gig Economy
Tokyo police arrested executives from retirement proxy service Momuri for illegally referring clients to lawyers for compensation. Two lawyers also fa...
Tokyo's Population Surge Continues as Rural Areas Face Voting Challenges
Tokyo gained over 65,000 net residents in 2025, continuing population concentration trends. Meanwhile, rural depopulation forces innovative solutions ...
Nikkei Soars to Record High as Yen Weakens and BOJ Begins ETF Sales
The Nikkei hit a record 54,720 on February 3 amid yen weakness, while the BOJ began selling its ETF holdings. These developments significantly impact ...