Public Policy & Governance
Latest news and updates on public policy & governance for expats in Japan
Prince Andrew Arrested: Royal Crisis Unfolds as King's Brother Detained
Prince Andrew arrested by UK police in unprecedented royal crisis. King Charles expresses deep concern as details remain undisclosed. British expats s...
Fukuoka Library Stabbing: Three Injured in Random Attack
A 61-year-old man stabbed three strangers at Fukuoka City General Library on February 19th, seriously injuring one. Police arrested the suspect immedi...
Fatal Arson Attack in Higashihiroshima Highlights Home Security Concerns
A fatal arson attack in Higashihiroshima on February 16 resulted in one death after an intruder forced entry, attacked residents, and set fire to the ...
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant Resumes Power Generation After 14 Years
TEPCO resumed power generation at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Plant Unit 6 on February 16, 2026, after 14 years. The reactor will enter commercial oper...
Police Search Former Ito Mayor's Home Over Academic Fraud Claims
Police searched former Ito City Mayor Maki Takubo's home for over seven hours on February 14, investigating academic fraud allegations and potential e...
Fatal Stabbing in Osaka's Dotonbori: Teen Killed, Suspect at Large
A 17-year-old boy was killed and two teens injured in a stabbing in Osaka's Dotonbori district on February 14. Police are searching for a suspect in h...
Seven-Eleven Raises Prices on Rice Balls and Bento Amid Rice Crisis
Seven-Eleven raises prices on 30 rice-based products including onigiri and bento from February 12, 2025, due to Japan's ongoing rice shortage. The inc...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
Japanese Courts Rule on Fukushima Liability and North Korea Repatriation
Supreme Court rejected government liability for Fukushima disaster while upholding TEPCO responsibility. Tokyo District Court issued landmark ruling o...
Corporate Compliance Scandals Hit Major Japanese Firms This Week
Major Japanese firms face compliance scandals: Lotte recalls gum with unapproved additives, Meiji Yasuda Life discovers 39 data breaches, and Tokyo Un...
Japan's House of Representatives Election: What Foreign Residents Need to Know
Japan's House of Representatives election runs January 27 to February 8, with 1,280 candidates competing for 465 seats. While most expats cannot vote,...
University of Tokyo Professor Arrested in Major Bribery Scandal
A University of Tokyo professor was arrested for accepting bribes from a research partner organization. The case involves multiple academics receiving...
Japan's House of Representatives Election Campaign Officially Begins
Japan's House of Representatives election campaign begins January 27, with voting on February 8. Party leaders are debating economic policies and infl...
Tokyo University Professor Arrested in ¥1.8 Million Bribery Scandal
A University of Tokyo medical professor was arrested for accepting ¥1.8 million in entertainment bribes related to research partnerships, highlighting...