Page 10 - Japan

Japan's new norm of working into your 70s may spread to rest of world soon

To coax companies to keep elderly people employed, the government is already providing subsidies to firms employing those aged 65 and older

Era of free mortgages over in Japan with central bank raising interest rate

Japan's central bank had maintained benchmark interest rates near zero since the mid-1990s. As a result, many home buyers have gotten used to paying between 0.3 and 0.4 per cent

7-Eleven's retail empire includes banking, US' now bankrupt Tower Records

The Japanese retailer originated as a clothing store a century ago and evolved into a general merchandiser, selling everything from groceries and sundries, to clothing and home goods

China warns Japan of economic retaliation for possible new chip curbs

One fear in Tokyo is that Beijing could react to new semiconductor controls by cutting Japan's access to critical minerals that are essential for automotive production

Tropical storm creeps through Japan, brings heavy rainfall to some spots

Tropical Storm Shanshan brought torrential rain Sunday to Japan's Shizuoka area, 180 km (110 miles) southwest of Tokyo, as weather officials warned the storm would linger for several more days. Shanshan, packing winds of 65 kph (40 mph), made landfall Thursday, leaving landslides, flooded rivers, torn branches and scattered debris in its path. In southwestern Japan, people were busy cleaning up muddied homes and throwing out broken appliances. The storm is so far connected with at least six deaths, including three people who were trapped in a mudslide. It left one person missing and 127 people injured, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, which compiles reports from local governments. Shanshan was travelling extremely slowly and barely moving at all as of Sunday morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. It triggered rainfall in an extensive area, even in places not in its path, such as the northernmost main island of Hokkaido, according to the agency. Some homes beca

Japan pushes four-day workweek amid labour shortage, faces cultural hurdles

Despite the Japanese govt's support for a shorter workweek since 2021, the concept has been slow to catch on, with few companies offering this flexibility

Japan protests over Chinese survey ship entering its territorial waters

Japan lodged a formal protest via China's embassy against what it called an incursion by a Chinese survey ship into its territorial waters Saturday, the Japanese foreign ministry said. The ministry expressed strong concern after the ship was spotted near Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, early in the morning. The Chinese ship, confirmed in territorial waters at 6 am local time, left shortly before 8 am, according to Japan's Defence Ministry, adding it was monitored by a Japanese military vessel and plane. Recently, China's increasingly assertive activity around Japanese waters and airspace has caused unease among Japanese defence officials, also concerned about the growing military cooperation between the Chinese and Russian air forces. This follows Tokyo's protest after a Chinese military aircraft briefly entered Japan'ssouthwestern airspace on Monday. It was the first time the Japanese Self Defence Force detected a Chinese military aircraft in Japan's airspace. Chinese .

Typhoon Shanshan disrupts Japan: Factories closed, 3 dead. Top updates

One of the most powerful storms to hit Japan in recent years, Typhoon Shanshan made landfall in Kyushu on August 29, causing widespread disruptions to transportation and prompting mass evacuations

Japan's defence ministry seeks record budget amidst growing Chinese threat

Japan's Defence Ministry Friday sought a record 8.5 trillion yen (USD 59 billion) budget for the next year to fortify its deterrence on southwestern islands against China's increasing threat, while focusing on unmanned weapons and AI to make up for the declining number of servicemembers as a result of the country's shrinking population. The ministry's request for 2025 marks the third year of Japan's rapid five-year military buildup plan under the government's ongoing security strategy. Japan aims to spend 43 trillion yen (USD 297 billion) through 2027 to double its annual military spending to around 10 trillion yen, making it the world's third-largest military spender after the United States and China. The budget request was approved at the Defence Ministry meeting Friday ahead of a submission to the Finance Ministry for negotiations through December. Japan has been rapidly building up the defense of the southwestern region in recent years amid China's growing military threats and

Slow tropical storm dumps rain around Tokyo after flooding southern Japan

A slow-moving tropical storm had a far-reaching impact in much of Japan on Friday, dumping heavy rain around Tokyo and flooding roads and riverside areas in the south. Flooding was reported in a number of areas in Kanagawa prefecture, west of Tokyo, where floodwater blocked roads, stalling vehicles and traffic. Warnings for heavy rain and potential landslides included the densely populated capital, Kanagawa and nearby Shizuoka prefecture. Muddy water flowed down the Meguro River in one of Tokyo's popular cherry blossom viewing spots, the water significantly swollen from its usual levels, NHK television footage showed. In Hiratsuka town, dozens of cars in a parking lot sat in water just below their windows. A pedestrian waded through floodwater as high as his thighs. In another Kanagawa town, Ninomiya, floodwater from a river stalled vehicles on a street and broken tree branches were stuck on a bridge over the swollen water. Tropical Storm Shanshan made landfall Thursday morning on

Typhoon lashes Japan with heavy rain, strong winds on slow crawl north

A typhoon lashed southern Japan with torrential rain and strong winds Thursday, causing at least three deaths as it started a crawl up the length of the archipelago and raised concerns of flooding, landslides and extensive damage. Typhoon Shanshan made landfall in the morning near Satsumasendai in southern Kyushu, where up to 60 cm (23.6 inches) of rain could fall in 24 hours, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. It also said the typhoon would bring strong winds, high waves and significant rainfall to most of the country, particularly the southern prefectures of Kyushu, and issued its highest-level warnings. People living in the warned areas were urged to take shelter at community centers and other public facilities. Shanshan was still around the southern island of Kyushu by midmorning, moving north at 15 kph (9 mph) with sustained winds of 144 kph (89 mph) and higher gusts, JMA said. Ahead of the typhoon's arrival, heavy rain caused a landslide that buried a house in the central

Typhoon Shanshan begins dumping rain on parts of Japan, leaves 1 dead

A typhoon moving at a bicycle speed began dumping rain on parts of Japan Wednesday, leaving one person dead and several injured as weather officials issued the highest-level warnings in the country's south, expected to be the most hard-hit. The Japan Meteorological Agency says Typhoon Shanshan is set to reach southern Kyushu and possibly make landfall Thursday where it forecasts up to 60 centimetres (23.6 inches) of rainfall in 24 hours. It also said the typhoon will bring strong winds, high waves and significant rainfall to most of the country, particularly the Kagoshima prefecture. The warm, humid air around the typhoon and a separate high-pressure system caused heavy rain in the central Japanese city of Gamagori, where a landslide buried a house with five people inside. Four of them were rescued but one later died and a fourth was found unconscious. Workers were searching for the fifth person, according to the city's disaster management department. On the southern island of Amami

Rice on the ropes: As Japan faces a supply crunch, govt appeals for calm

The shortage of rice in Japan has become so severe that several stores are limiting consumers to one bag per person

Japan prepares for Typhoon Shanshan affecting transportation, services

Japan was preparing for powerful typhoon as it slowly approached the country's southwest at a bicycle speed, threatening to bring heavy rains and strong winds and causing airlines to cancel flights and train operators to delay or suspend services through the weekend. Typhoon Shanshan was at about 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of the southern island of Yakushima on Wednesday morning as it headed north toward Kyushu, packing winds of up to 180 kilometers (112 miles) per hour, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The agency said the typhoon is expected to reach southern Kyushu and possibly make landfall Thursday, and issued a high-level warning against violent winds, high waves and heavy rain for the Kagoshima prefecture. Disaster Management Minister Yoshifumi Matsumura, at a taskforce meeting Wednesday, urged residents in Shanshan's predicted path to take precautionary measures early, such as by checking their nearest shelters, to save their own lives. Matsumura urged ...

Seven & I seeking govt protection tests Japan's appetite for reform

The Japanese operator of 7-Eleven stores is seeking designation as a core company under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act

Pilot shortage in Japan threatens its goal for 60 million tourists by 2030

Japan currently has about 7,100 pilots and the government projects another 1,000 will be needed by 2030 to help meet its target of attracting some 60 million tourists that same year.

Japanese technology firm NTT Data aims to double market growth India

Company wants all units to clock 'hyper growth', says CEO of NTT Data India

Japanese firms interact with K'taka colleges to enable young Indians hiring

The Japan External Trade Organisation organised University Connect, an interactive event here to bring together Japanese businesses that are keen on hiring Indian talent and the best colleges of Karnataka. University Connect is a global campaign to connect with universities outside of Japan in order to encourage students to pursue employment opportunities in Japanese businesses. "This was the first one held in Bengaluru. Ten Japanese companies and seven Indian institutions attended. There was a more than anticipated exchange of view points and excitement. The Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) is determined to keep growing its network of universities in Karnataka actively and will do everything in its power to assist Japanese businesses in hiring skilled Indians," said Toshihiro Mizutani, Director General of JETRO Bengaluru. During the event, held on August 26, seven of Karnataka's best universities presented an overview of their institutions, programmes, placement procedures

Why convenience store chain 7-Eleven is indispensable part of life in Japan

For many residents, more than 55,000 cheerful, jingle-filled stores, known as konbini, are an indispensable part of daily life.

116-year-old Japanese woman all set to be named as world's oldest person

According to Guinness World Records, Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka will soon be named as world's oldest woman after the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas