National Jun 27, 2023
Beer factory leak turns the sea red in Japanese resort city
Residents in city of Nago on the island of Okinawa awoke to find an area of usually clear blue water had turned a gruesome shade of red.
Business / Corporate May 11, 2023
‘Forest’ of carbon dioxide-sucking vending machines planned in Japan
Starting with about 30 units in the Kanto and Kansai area, the experiment is part of plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Business / Tech Apr 12, 2023
Twitter company ‘no longer exists’ and is now part of Elon Musk’s X Corp.
It’s unclear what the change means. In the past, Musk suggested that buying Twitter would be an "accelerant” for creating X — which he dubbed an "everything app.”
Business / Economy Mar 30, 2023
Japan to face 11 million worker shortfall by 2040, study finds
The working age population is expected to rapidly decline from 2027, according to the study by independent think tank Recruit Works Institute.
National Mar 28, 2023
Fears of societal collapse prompt new push for babies in Japan
Ideas like compulsory paternity leave, canceling student debt for people who have a baby, and ¥10 million ($76,445) payouts for a third child have been thrown around in recent weeks.
Business Mar 15, 2023
Tokyo startup tells new hires they need to know ChatGPT for a job
As concerns grow over how the AI tool will affect businesses, LayerX is making it compulsory for new recruits to use the technology and even testing them on it.
National Mar 3, 2023
Anger among Japan's opposition over plan to clear student debt for having babies
On social media, opposition politicians and others said the proposal discriminated against those who don’t — or can’t — have children.
National / Social Issues Jan 25, 2023
Japan tries to fix a child custody system under fire from all sides
In Japan, child welfare in divorce often turns on single-parent custody, where one parent can be largely excluded from a child’s life.
National / Social Issues Oct 15, 2022
Japan set to drop archaic paternity rule for divorced women
The bill will also end a ban on pregnant women remarrying within 100 days of divorce, ostensibly imposed to avoid disputes over paternity.
National Oct 6, 2022
Missile-alert panic triggers calls to ramp up Japan's defenses
By the time many people were aware of the alert on Tuesday, North Korea's missile had already splashed down in the Pacific Ocean more than 3,000 kilometers away.