Language | COMMUNICATION CUES Aug 17, 2015
Humanoid robots start work in a bank in Tokyo and a hotel in Kyushu amid concerns over a labor shortage in Japan's aging society.
How-tos | LIFELINES Aug 2, 2015
Moriumius project brings young life and learning back to the Tohoku disaster zone
by Rob Gilhooly
A unique educational project aims to revitalize the Miyagi town of Ogatsu, which lost around 80 percent of its buildings and 10 percent of its 4,300 population to the 3/11 disasters.
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Jul 11, 2015
Japan should re-examine the idea of marriage to help spur a baby boom
by Philip Brasor
After decades of a national conversation about the need for more babies, there is still disagreement as to what sort of measures Japan should take in order to increase its birthrate. The obstacles are financial, social and physiological, and before they can be addressed ...
Editorials Jul 8, 2015
The government is coming up short in developing fresh ideas to halt the population exodus to the big metropolitan areas.
Editorials Jul 4, 2015
The recent survey showing that a large minority of young Japanese aren't interested in romantic relationships has troubling implications for the already low birthrate.
Commentary / World Jun 25, 2015
A bellicose China only for the foreseeable future
by Masahiro Matsumura
Careful analysis of China's coming demographic changes — rapid graying unprecedented in human history — shows that Beijing's seemingly unstoppable rise is heading for a brick wall.
Editorials Jun 13, 2015
Revitalizing rural areas, in addition to slowing the exodus of people to big cities, could also lead to improved environmental conservation.
Editorials Jun 5, 2015
Current employment statistics may look good, but they belie a drop in the quality and earning power of available jobs.
National / Social Issues May 27, 2015
Law to allow razing of abandoned dwellings seen not going far enough
Tuesday's enforcement of a law allowing municipal governments to order the demolition of hazardous vacant houses has sparked concern among local groups and activists who say the legislation is not enough to address the growing problem. While communities have been working to demolish empty houses ...
National / Social Issues May 16, 2015
by Eric Johnston
The projected drop in the country's population raises some fundamental questions about its political and social future.
Issues | LAW OF THE LAND May 10, 2015
Perfect storm of factors conspires to empty Japan
by Colin P.A. Jones
While "empty-house syndrome" may seem like a problem mostly afflicting rural Japan, it is already an issue in metropolises such as Tokyo and Osaka, and will become more so in the years to come.
National / Politics | LOCAL POLLS '15 Apr 24, 2015
Vanishing communities find themselves facing shortage of leaders
by Reiji Yoshida
At a glance, the town of Kanna in southern Gunma Prefecture looks like just another beautiful rural community, surrounded by deep mountain forests stretching along the Kanna River, which is touted as having some of the clearest water in the Kanto region.