Man dies, 3 are missing as Japan gets pounded by torrential rain.

Local authorities said that a man died and at least three people went missing after torrential rain battered large sections of Japan. The meteorological agency issued a warning about an increased risk of landslides and river flooding in eastern Japan, including Tokyo.

From Friday mornin...

There are some real perks to the My Number card. Isn't it time you got it.

As a worker in Japan, doing paperwork can sometimes be a nightmare. But that no longer holds true for my taxes. This year, I was happily surprised to find that I could pay them online in less than an hour with the My Number card. It was easy and safe.

The My Number card is an ID that ca...

Sony claims to have developed humanoid robot technology but is unable to put it to use.

Japanese electronics and entertainment giant Sony Group Corp said on Tuesday that it has the ability to rapidly produce humanoid robots once it determines their best application. In an interview with Reuters, Sony's Chief Technology Officer Hiroaki Kitano said, "In terms of technology, s...

10 Japanese fashion trends that will be big in 2023

When you visit Japan, it's easy to see the strong and unique mix of traditional and new styles. From the busy street fashion scene in Tokyo to the high-end couture brands in Kyoto, Japanese designers push the limits and make fashion that is both visually striking and makes you think.

The IKEA Story in Japan: A Look Back with Heart

Since opening its first shop in Japan in 2006, IKEA has become a household name there, with numerous locations and a steady stream of loyal consumers. The Japanese market was IKEA's second target after the country itself. The company first sold its wares in Japan in 1974, but by 1986, it had ...

In FY2023, Japan's businesses will increase base pay by 62 percent.

According to a poll conducted by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, 62.1% of enterprises in Japan have raised or intend to boost base pay in fiscal 2023, up significantly from 38.7% the previous year. The shift is most pronounced outside of the manufacturing sector, where 56.0% of businesses have ...

New ground is broken for women in politics in a small Japanese town.

Only a few tiny cities in Japan have been able to elect women, unlike the rest of the nation.

Men controlled more than 80% of the seats in the nation's city councils and assembly as of 2021. However, voters in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, a suburb of Osaka, awarded 14 of 26 seats t...

Ueda, head of the Bank of Japan, promises to keep rates low for the time being but hints at a possible rate hike in the future.

Kazuo Ueda, governor of the Bank of Japan, emphasized on Tuesday the need of maintaining a low interest rate environment for the time being but left open the possibility of a rate hike if inflation and wage growth exceeded expectations. Ueda told lawmakers that "monetary easing, now conducte...

Soon, Chinese tourists will no longer be required to submit to a negative Covid test in Japan.

Passengers from mainland China will no longer need to provide documentation of a negative coronavirus test done 72 hours or less before departure, as long as they have received at least three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. This change in policy is expected to take effect in early April. According t...

A ChatGPT programmer has a meeting with Kishida and is keen to set up shop in Japan.

On Monday, the developer of ChatGPT said that his company would be opening an office in Japan in response to rising worries about the chatbot's improper acquisition of personal data and impact on educational settings. Sam Altman, CEO of the United States-based OpenAI, met with Japanese Prime ...

Kishida's ruling bloc's candidates do well in state wide elections.

On Sunday, candidates endorsed by the ruling alliance of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida easily defeated their opponents backed by the largest opposition party in the first round of nationwide municipal polls. There has been speculation that Kishida may dissolve the lower house for a snap e...

Haruhiko Kuroda becomes less dovish as he leaves the Bank of Japan after a decade of enormous stimulus.

Haruhiko Kuroda adopted a slightly less dovish stance in his farewell speech as the head of Japan's central bank on Friday, concluding a decade of unconventional policy that included a "bazooka" of stimulus aimed at boosting inflation and sustainable growth.

Kuroda, upon h...

The IKEA Story in Japan, Told Again, This Time with Feeling

Since 2006, IKEA has steadily built a loyal customer base in Japan, and the company now has multiple stores across the nation. The Japanese market was IKEA's second target after the country itself. The company first sold its wares in Japan in 1974, but by 1986, it had to pull out due to its i...

The Latest and Greatest in Japanese Style

Do you count yourself among the many who admire Japanese style? If that's the case, I'm confident you'll enjoy what you read here. One of the most ubiquitous styles in history is Japanese street style. Community as a cultural focal point and a willingness to take chances are two of th...

Is there hope for Korean movies in April's releases? Movies to watch out for this April

Hollywood and Japanese films have continued to break box office records in the first quarter of 2023, while Korean films have been struggling. In February, the top two movies were "The First Slam Dunk," a Japanese anime, and "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," a Marvel superh...

Through international theater collaboration, new Japanese plays are being put on in London.

In January, three plays by Japanese women were put on in London as a way to show people from other countries some of the best new dramatists from Japan. Foreign theatregoers may know more about Japan's kabuki dramas than its modern plays, but the British and Japanese theater companies behind ...

Fujitsu is speeding up digital transformation with its AI Demand Forecast Service

Fujitsu and Toridoll said that Fujitsu's AI demand forecast service would be used in 823 Toridoll-run Marugame Udon noodle shops in Japan. Based on weather data and POS data that Toridoll already has, the service will allow Toridoll to accurately predict the number of customers and sales for ...

These are the 10 Newest Spring 2023 Fashions from Japan.

If you're into clothes, you need to know what's happening in spring 2023 Japanese fashion. You should expect to see these 10 trends popping up all over the place. We can't wait to see how individuals interpret and wear these trends, which range from bright hues to unusual patterns. Wi...

South Korea has made an announcement regarding a proposal to settle a labour dispute with Japan that dates back to the war.

On Monday, South Korea unveiled a controversial plan to raise local civilian funds to compensate Koreans who won damages in cases against Japanese businesses that enslaved them during World War II.

The proposal is a reflection of conservative South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's d...

Japan will reduce COVID-19 to flu status and relax rules even further.

COVID-19 is currently classified as a Class 2 disease in Japan, alongside SARS and tuberculosis, and is subject to restrictions on patient and close contact movement while permitting central and local governments to take emergency measures. Downgrading it to Class 5 would result in the abolition ...