Public Policy & Governance
Latest news and updates on public policy & governance for expats in Japan
Akita Official Suspended After Attending Online Press Conference from Love Hotel
An Akita Prefecture official received suspension after attending an online press conference from a love hotel in a bathrobe while smoking, then lying ...
Putin's Visit to Etorofu Island Sparks Strong Protest from Japan
President Putin's first visit to disputed Etorofu Island on August 13, 2026, drew strong protests from Japan's government. Prime Minister Takamichi ca...
Japan's Top Prosecutor Changes Amid Transparency Push for Investigations
Japan's new Prosecutor General Takashi Kawahara emphasizes transparency as oversight of interrogation recordings begins. The changes follow scandals u...
Ohi Nuclear Plant Unit 3 Shuts Down Automatically After Equipment Failure
Ohi Nuclear Plant Unit 3 automatically shut down August 8 due to equipment failure. KEPCO confirms no radiation release or public danger. Investigatio...
Nagasaki Peace Ceremony Marred by Mayor's Error and Taiwan Dispute
Nagasaki's 81st atomic bomb anniversary ceremony faced controversy as Mayor Suzuki skipped speech portions and Taiwan's representative boycotted over ...
Japan Post System Outage Disrupts Package Deliveries Nationwide
Japan Post experienced a nationwide system outage on August 8, 2026, temporarily disrupting package deliveries and pickups across the country. The iss...
Japan Expands Publicity Rights to Protect Voices from AI Misuse
Japan's Ministry of Justice expert panel recommends protecting voices under publicity rights, responding to AI voice cloning concerns. Voice actors an...
Popular Photo App SNOW Penalized for Stealth Marketing Violations
SNOW photo app penalized by Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency for stealth marketing after using influencers without proper ad disclosures. The case high...
Japan and US Launch Historic Joint Currency Intervention to Halt Yen Slide
Japan and the US conducted historic coordinated currency interventions totaling over 11 trillion yen on July 30-31, strengthening the yen to 155 per d...
Japan's Rice Stockpile Hits Record High as Price Stabilization Debated
Japan's private rice stocks have reached record highs, prompting government consideration of reserve buybacks. The Agriculture Ministry will decide on...
Japan Formalizes Voice Rights Protection Against AI Misuse
Japan's Ministry of Justice expert panel has formalized that voices receive publicity rights protection against unauthorized AI use, particularly bene...
Japan's New 'Deputy Capital' Law Sparks Competition Among Major Cities
Japan's new deputy capital law has sparked competition among Osaka, Fukuoka, and Aichi prefectures. The designation could redistribute government func...
Rice Prices Drop as Japan's Inventory Hits All-Time High
Rice inventory in Japan reached a record 243 million tons in June 2026, driving retail prices down for four straight weeks to 3,373 yen per 5kg—the lo...
My Number Cards to Link with AI Agents as Mandatory Acquisition Shelved
Japan will integrate My Number cards with AI agents while postponing mandatory acquisition. The cabinet decision advances digital services but maintai...
China and Russia Conduct Live-Fire Drills in Japan's Economic Waters
Chinese naval vessels conducted live-fire machine gun drills inside Japan's EEZ near Okinotorishima on July 19, with Russian ships also present. Japan...
Diet Extends Session to Pass Imperial Household Law Allowing Male Adoptions
Japan's Diet extended its session to July 25 after passing Imperial Household Law amendments allowing adoption of male heirs from former imperial fami...
Single-Elderly Households Hit Record 9.3 Million as Japan Ages Rapidly
Japan's single elderly households reached a record 9.3 million, the highest since 1986. This demographic shift impacts housing, healthcare jobs, and c...
Food Prices Rising in Japan as Packaging and Material Costs Surge
Major Japanese food manufacturers are raising prices on biscuits, beverages, and other products due to increased packaging and raw material costs, imp...
Imperial Household Law Amendment Passes Lower House in Historic Vote
Japan's Lower House passed historic Imperial Household Law amendments allowing female royals to retain status after marriage and permitting adoption f...
Rice Prices Fall Below ¥3,500 per 5kg for First Time Since Early 2025
Rice prices at Japanese supermarkets dropped below ¥3,500 per 5kg for the first time since early 2025, reaching ¥3,458 as inventory levels normalize, ...