Real Wages in Japan Drop by 0.6 percent in January

TOKYO, Mar 07 (News On Japan) - In January, workers' "gross cash earnings" saw a 2.0 percent increase compared to the same period last year, yet the "real wages," adjusted for price fluctuations, decreased by 0.6 percent. This marks the 22nd consecutive month of real wage decline.

According to the "Monthly Labour Survey" released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the total amount of cash earnings received by workers in January was an average of 282,270 yen, a 2.0% increase from the same month last year, continuing a 25-month streak of growth.

The consumer price index rose by 2.5% compared to the same month last year, though the rate of increase was somewhat moderated.

However, considering the impact of prices, real wages fell by 0.6%, resulting in 22 consecutive months of decline.

The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare commented, "The situation where wage increases cannot keep up with the rise in prices is continuing. We will closely monitor future trends."

Source: ANN

Osaka's 'Myakumyaku' Statue Vandalized with 'Free Palestine' Message

The 'Myakumyaku' statue, the official character of Expo 2025, placed in front of Osaka City Hall, has been vandalized with English text saying 'Free Palestine', prompting the city to file a damage report.

Two Policemen Injured in Bear Attack While Investigating Body in Forest

Efforts to retrieve the body of a man found in a forest in Akita Prefecture, where two male police officers were attacked by a bear on Saturday, were abandoned Sunday with the possibility the bear is still lurking in the area.

Sanja Festival Reaches Peak

Temperatures soared above 30C in northern Japan and northern Kyushu on Sunday, marking a true summer day, while weather conditions in western and eastern Japan worsened. In Tokyo, the early summer spectacle, the Asakusa Sanja Festival, reached its climax.

City of Los Angeles names May 17 Shohei Ohtani Day

or as long as Shohei Ohtani plays for the Dodgers -- which will be at least for the next decade -- May 17 will be known as “Shohei Ohtani Day” in Los Angeles County. (MLB)

Two Die After Consuming Toxic Plant

Two residents of Sapporo who died earlier this month likely succumbed to food poisoning caused by mistakenly consuming toxic autumn crocus, according to the Sapporo City Health Department. The department confirmed on May 17 that the deaths were indeed due to poisoning from this plant.

MORE Business NEWS

High-End Apartments Sprout in Osaka's Umeda

The Umeda area in Osaka is seeing a surge in high-rise apartment construction, including a 49-story residential skyscraper south of JR Osaka Station.

'Impersonation Scam' - Akira Ikegami Warns About Fake Voice Messages

Japan's National Police Agency revealed on May 16 that the amount of money lost to impersonation investment scams on social media totaled 21.9 billion yen in just three months from January to March this year.

The Grand Shield Collects 8 Billion Yen Through Illegal Bonds

The president and seven employees of The Grand Shield, previously featured in Japanese media due to financial troubles with dental braces, have been arrested for selling high-yield bonds without registration, promising annual returns of 20%. It is believed that two women among the suspects collected 4.6 billion yen alone.

Japan's GDP Shrinks by 2.0% in Q1 Due to Daihatsu Scandal

Japan's real GDP growth rate for the first quarter of this year, from January to March, was announced by the Cabinet Office to be an annualized minus 2.0%.

Yusaku Maezawa Sues Meta for 1 Yen Over Impersonation Investment Scams

Businessman Yusaku Maezawa has filed a lawsuit against Meta, the company operating Facebook, seeking 1 yen in damages in response to a series of investment scams involving impersonation of famous personalities on social media.

TEPCO Constructs Substation to Meet Rising Data Center Power Demand

As the Japanese government begins discussions on the basic policies for its energy strategy, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has constructed a new substation and other infrastructure in Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture, to address the increasing power consumption of data centers.

Honda to Spend $65 Billion on EVs, Self-Driving Tech

Honda Motor says it will invest 10 trillion yen or roughly 65 billion dollars in electric vehicles and software for self-driving technology through fiscal 2030. (NHK)

Over Half of Japanese Companies in China Report Declining Sales

The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China has released the results of a survey targeting Japanese companies operating in China, revealing that over half of them report worsening sales trends.

< 2 3 4 5 >