Japan’s jobless rate in 2024 falls to 2.5%

Japan’s average unemployment rate in 2024 fell 0.1 percentage point from a year earlier to 2.5 percent, as fewer workers were dismissed amid a labor shortage, government data showed Friday.

The average job availability ratio last year fell 0.06 point from the previous year to 1.25, marking the first…[Read more]

Japan records biggest jump in foreign workers in 2024

Japan saw its biggest year-on-year jump in foreign workers since records began, government data showed Friday, as the country seeks to address labor shortages exacerbated by its aging population.

In October 2024, the nation’s foreign workforce stood at 2.3 million — an increase of around…[Read more]

Osaka bans street smoking ahead of World Expo

The city of Osaka on Monday imposed a smoking ban on public streets as part of efforts to become more visitor-friendly ahead of this year’s World Expo.

Around 160 countries and regions are participating in Expo 2025, the latest edition of an event held every five years in different global…[Read more]

Japan’s dirty secret

This is not a story of romance or consent but of coercion and power wielded with devastating consequences

The recent sexual misconduct scandal involving Masahiro Nakai, a prominent talk show host and former member of Japan’s legendary boy band SMAP, is likely just the tip of the iceberg — a glimpse into the disturbing reali…[Read more]

Top Fuji TV executives in Japan resign over sex scandal

Chairman and president step down to take responsibility for a widening sex assault scandal linked to celebrity host.

Japan’s Fuji Media says its chairman and the head of its TV unit will step down immediately amid a probe into alleged sexual misconduct by a celebrity TV host.

Chairman S…[Read more]

CDP chief Noda rejects grand coalition with LDP

Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, on Saturday rejected the idea of forming a grand coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
“We want to focus on uniting the power of opposition parties to change the government,”…[Read more]

Biden blocks Japan’s Nippon Steel from buying US Steel

US President Joe Biden has blocked the takeover of US Steel by a bigger Japanese firm, delivering on a political promise despite fears the move could hurt Washington’s relations with Tokyo and scare off other foreign investors.

Biden cited threats to national security in rejecting the Nippon…[Read more]

World’s oldest person dies in Japan aged 116

Tomiko Itooka died on December 29 at a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo prefecture, in central Japan.

Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman who was the world’s oldest person according to Guinness World Records, has died at the age of 116.

Yoshitsugu Nagata, an official in charge of elderly policies, said Ito…[Read more]

Japan Govt Eyes Jan. 24 Start of Ordinary Diet Session; Upper House Election Likely to Be Held on July 20

The government and ruling bloc on Thursday began making adjustments to the schedule in order for the ordinary Diet session to convene on Jan. 24, 2025.

Considering the Public Offices Election Law, the start of the campaign period for the…[Read more]

Foreign visitors to Japan top 33 mil in Jan-Nov, breaking annual record

The number of foreign visitors to Japan topped 33 million from January to November, setting a new annual record, driven by a tourism boom and a weak yen, government estimates showed Wednesday.

The total stood at 33,379,900, surpassing the previous full-year high of 31.88…[Read more]

Mount Fuji access fees to be doubled as authorities address overcrowding

Climbers using the most popular trail on Mount Fuji are expected to be slugged with a doubled fee of 4,000 yen from next summer as the Yamanashi prefectural government seeks to tackle overcrowding, a source close to the matter said Thursday.

The prefectural government also…[Read more]

Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average Set for Weekly Decline Despite Weak Yen Tailwind

Japan’s Nikkei share average on Friday was headed for its worst week since early November despite the tailwind of a weaker yen, as weakness on Wall Street and caution ahead of major central bank policy decisions weighed.

The Nikkei rose 0.2% to 38,889.95 at the mid…[Read more]

Honda and Nissan are in merger talks

Honda and Nissan are discussing a possible merger, potentially bringing together two Japanese automaking titans that have recently fallen on hard times.

The companies said in statement that they have been in talks, but they offered no details or timeframe for when a deal – if one should develop – may be com…[Read more]

Japan’s Q3 capex accelerates, firms case for more rate hikes

Japanese corporate spending on plant and equipment accelerated in the third quarter, signalling solid domestic demand was underpinning the country’s fragile economic recovery and strengthening the case for further interest rate hikes.
Capital spending surged 8.1% year-on-year in the…[Read more]

Japan’s factory activity falls at fastest pace in 8 months, PMI shows

Japan’s factory activity shrank at the fastest pace in eight months in November as soft demand prompted firms to trim production, a private-sector survey showed on Monday.
The final au Jibun Bank Japan manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) slipped to 49.0 in November,…[Read more]

Japan to offer ¥5 billion to four countries in latest OSA military aid tranche

Japan is more than doubling the budget for its military aid program, with the Foreign Ministry earmarking ¥5 billion ($33 million) for this fiscal year, compared with ¥2 billion a year earlier, as Tokyo seeks to strengthen the security and deterrence capabilities of li…[Read more]

Ishiba questioned on political reform, social issues and the economy

In parliamentary questioning Monday, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was grilled over issues ranging from the Liberal Democratic Party’s approach to political reform and his stance on social issues to the content of a supplementary budget.
Ishiba reiterated his skepticism about a…[Read more]

Fund-raisers in Tokyo generated 942 million yen for parties in ’23

Some 108 organizations held 274 political fund-raising parties in Tokyo in 2023, generating 942.21 million yen ($6.1 million) in total, a political fund balance report showed.

The report was released by the Tokyo metropolitan government’s Secretariat to Election Adm…[Read more]

Tokyo inflation likely exceeded BOJ’s 2% target again in November – Reuters poll

Consumer inflation in Tokyo for November likely surpassed the Bank of Japan’s 2 per cent price target following a reduction in fuel subsidies and with an increase in food costs, a Reuters poll showed on Friday.

The core consumer price index (CPI) in Tokyo, a leading…[Read more]

India, Japan Discuss Defense Pact to Boost Military Cooperation, Tech Ties

The proposed pact was discussed at a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani that took place on the sidelines of a regional security conclave in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos.

India and Japan on Friday deliberated on…[Read more]