Article Archive
Browse all published articles about living in Japan
Japan to Launch GPS Monitoring Pilot for Paroled Sex Offenders in 2027
Japan's Ministry of Justice plans to pilot GPS monitoring for paroled sex offenders starting fiscal 2027. The experimental program aims to prevent rec...
Tokyo Court Orders Ramen Chain to Pay ¥1 Million for Illegal Wage Deductions
Tokyo court ordered ramen chain to pay ¥1 million to Myanmar worker whose first salary was zero yen due to illegal deductions, reinforcing labor prote...
Bank of Japan Expected to Raise Interest Rates to 1.25% in September
The Bank of Japan is expected to raise interest rates from 1.0% to 1.25% at its September 17 meeting, responding to inflation concerns. This affects e...
Japan's Food Tax Cut to 1%: What Foreign Residents Need to Know
Japan will reduce food consumption tax to 1% from current 8%. Government finalizes guidelines September 15, with legislation following. Implementation...
Government Network Breach Exposes 246,000 Officials' Personal Data
A cyberattack on government networks potentially exposed personal data of 246,000 officials, including names and addresses. Digital Minister announced...
Japan Requests Correction of Northern Territories on UN-Endorsed Map
Japan's government requested corrections to the UN-endorsed Equal Earth map after the Northern Territories appeared in Russian colors. The map's creat...
Japan Detects First Infectious Foot-and-Mouth Virus at Airport Quarantine
Japan detected its first infectious foot-and-mouth disease virus in meat at airport quarantine in January 2026. The discovery highlights biosecurity r...
Chubu Electric to Refund ¥1.2 Billion After Overcharging 5 Million Customers
Chubu Electric overcharged 5 million customers ¥1.2 billion since 2024 due to power generation cost calculation errors. The company will refund all af...
Aichi and Mie Regional Banks Call Off Merger Plans
Aichi Financial Group and Sanjusan Financial Group cancelled their merger agreement on September 10, maintaining independent operations. Banking custo...
Nidec Founder Faces ¥28.7 Billion Lawsuit Over Accounting Scandal
Nidec founder Shigenobu Nagamori faces a ¥28.7 billion shareholder lawsuit over accounting irregularities. The derivative lawsuit highlights corporate...
NHK Dismisses Reporter for Sexual Misconduct in Landmark Case
NHK dismissed a reporter for non-consensual sexual contact, reflecting stricter enforcement of workplace harassment policies in Japan. The case highli...
Japanese Researchers Win Prestigious Lasker Award for Sleep and Cancer Research
Four Japanese researchers won the 2026 Lasker Award for groundbreaking work in sleep and cancer research. Professor Masashi Yanagisawa and three Chuga...
Apple Unveils First Foldable iPhone 'Duo' Starting at ¥364,800
Apple announced its first foldable iPhone, the Duo, priced from ¥364,800 in Japan. The premium device enters a market dominated by competitors, offeri...
Real Wages in Japan Rise 2.4% in July: Seventh Consecutive Month of Growth
Real wages in Japan rose 2.4% in July 2026, the seventh straight monthly increase, with total cash earnings up 4.7%. This benefits expats through impr...
Yen Surges to 152 Per Dollar in Sharpest Rally Since February
The yen strengthened to 152 per dollar on September 8, its highest level in seven months, driven by speculation of coordinated intervention. This impa...
Major Japanese Banks Compete for Deposits with Enhanced Customer Services
Major Japanese banks are competing for deposits by improving inheritance procedures and increasing credit card rewards. The shift reflects Japan's tra...
Tokyo Districts Tighten Minpaku Rules as Resident Complaints Surge
Shinjuku and Taito wards are implementing stricter minpaku regulations following over 1,300 resident complaints. Taito will ban new vacation rentals i...
JR East Suica Expansion: Area-Crossing Coming March 2027, New Mascot Vote
JR East will enable area-crossing Suica functionality across six zones from March 2027, ending travel restrictions. Public voting is open until Septem...
Rice Prices Expected to Fall Further as New Harvest Reaches Markets
Rice prices in Japan are expected to continue falling as new harvest arrives, with industry outlook remaining at record lows. Expats can anticipate gr...
Yen Strengthens to 154 Per Dollar, Highest Level Since February
The yen strengthened to 154 per dollar on September 7th, its highest since February. This affects expats' purchasing power, international transfers, a...