Article Archive
Browse all published articles about living in Japan
Heavy Snowfall Crisis Claims Lives, Damages Infrastructure Across Northern Japan
Multiple deaths and infrastructure damage reported across northern Japan due to record snowfall. Warming temperatures from February 4th increase risks...
Retirement Agency Scandal Exposes Labor Rights Gaps Amid Spring Wage Talks
Executives from retirement agency Momuri arrested for illegal referral fees, exposing regulatory gaps. Meanwhile, Japan's spring wage negotiations emp...
Record Snowfall Triggers Military Deployment and Safety Crisis in Japan
Record snowfall across Japan's Sea of Japan regions has triggered military deployment in Aomori and multiple fatal snow removal accidents, prompting u...
Coordinated Cash Heists Target Money Couriers Across Tokyo
Coordinated robberies in Tokyo netted over 600 million yen from money couriers. Police found counterfeit plates on getaway vehicles, with some stolen ...
Fatal Snow Removal Accidents Highlight Winter Safety Crisis in Japan
Multiple snow removal deaths across northern Japan have prompted urgent safety warnings. Authorities emphasize using safety equipment, working with pa...
Japan's Economy in Focus: Stable Jobs, Rising Prices, Record Egg Costs
Japan's December unemployment held steady at 2.6% with improving job openings, while Tokyo inflation reached 2% in January. Egg prices hit record high...
JR Joban Line Halted 7 Hours: 230,000 Commuters Affected by Cable Failure
JR Joban Line suspended service for 7 hours on January 30 due to severed cables at Ueno Station, affecting 230,000 commuters. Service resumed at 2:00 ...
97% of Major Japanese Companies Plan Wage Increases Amid Labor Crunch
97% of major Japanese companies plan wage increases in 2026 spring negotiations, driven by labor shortages and inflation. Small businesses face challe...
Cash Heists Target Currency Couriers: ¥400M Tokyo Robbery, ¥58M Hong Kong Attack
A series of cash robberies in Tokyo and Hong Kong targeted currency couriers, including a ¥400M Tokyo heist and ¥58M Hong Kong attack, revealing organ...
Japan's Foreign Worker Population Hits Record 2.57 Million in 2025
Japan's foreign worker population reached a record 2.57 million in 2025, marking three consecutive years of 10%+ growth. The government pledges to imp...
Heavy Snowfall Hits Japan: Safety Tips for Winter Weather Emergencies
Heavy snow continues across Japan through January 30th, causing transportation disruptions and snow removal injuries. Expats should prepare for travel...
Rising Costs Hit Japan: Utilities, Gold, and Rice Prices Surge
Utility bills rise in February despite subsidies due to fuel costs. Gold hits record 30,000 yen per gram. Rice imports surge 96-fold as domestic price...
Recent Medical Malpractice Cases Highlight Patient Safety Concerns in Japan
Recent court rulings awarded 180 million yen for a daycare choking incident and 6.1 million yen for surgical gauze left in a patient, highlighting pat...
Fatal Government Vehicle Crash and Violent Robbery Highlight Safety Concerns
A fatal government vehicle crash at 130 km/h and a 400-million-yen armed robbery disrupted Tokyo this week, while multiple morning train suspensions a...
Japan's 2026 Spring Wage Negotiations Show Mixed Signals Amid Economic Uncertainty
Japan's 2026 spring wage talks show divergence: automotive unions moderate demands amid trade tensions while JR Tokai seeks record 13,000 yen monthly ...
Measles Outbreak in Kanto and Record Whooping Cough Deaths Alert Expats
Measles cases surge in Kanto region while whooping cough killed seven infants in 2025, the highest toll in 20 years. Expats should verify vaccination ...
Yen Volatility Intensifies as US Treasury Rules Out Market Intervention
The yen fluctuated sharply on January 28, ranging from 152 to 154 per dollar, as US Treasury Secretary Bessent denied market intervention while Presid...
Major Bank Fraud Ring Used Fake MyNumber Cards to Steal ¥600 Million
Police arrested four suspects who used fake MyNumber cards to open 160+ bank accounts and commit ¥600 million in fraud. The group distributed cards ac...
Winter Weather and Incidents Cause Major Train Disruptions Across Japan
Major train disruptions hit Tokyo area on January 28 due to accidents, while heavy snowfall forecast through January 30 threatens wider transportation...
Winter Weather Cripples Hokkaido Transport as 330,000 Affected
Heavy snowfall in Hokkaido affected 330,000 rail passengers over two days, stranding 2,000 at New Chitose Airport overnight. Tokyo area commuters also...