No Japan-wide minimum wage planned to tackle urban-rural gap ahead of foreign influx, says Suga
Japan Times -- Mar 08
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga denied a media report Thursday that the government is considering introducing a minimum wage for specific industrial sectors that would apply to workers nationwide, regardless of where they live.
Earlier in the day, labor ministry officials had explained the idea to ruling lawmakers, but Suga said the ministry isn’t considering the move at this time.
The government is set to loosen restrictions on the entry of foreign workers from April to tackle serious labor shortages resulting from an aging population and falling birthrate, and the idea for the minimum wage regulation is seen as an effort to address the urban-rural wage gap that could result in the concentration of laborers in large cities.
Currently, hourly minimum wages are decided by each prefectural government based on the region’s economic situation. The figures are revised every fiscal year after a ministry advisory panel comes up with a rough target for wage hikes sometime in the summer.
In the current fiscal year ending March 31, the national average of the hourly minimum wage stood at ¥874, with Tokyo logging the highest at ¥985 and Kagoshima Prefecture marking the lowest at ¥761.
Some critics say that rural areas could continue to struggle with labor shortages unless the urban-rural minimum wage gap is properly managed.
Last 2 Japanese fraud suspects to be deported from the Philippines
NHK - Feb 08
The Philippine government is planning to deport the two remaining fraud suspects to Japan on Wednesday. The men are also suspected of being involved in a series of robberies in Japan.
Japan’s war on space junk
Nikkei - Feb 08
On a quiet day at work around 10 years ago, Tadanori Fukushima started receiving alarming email messages from a sender he did not recognize. The emails warned that his company's broadcasting satellite -- worth roughly $150 million -- was on a collision course with an unidentified object. The sender turned out to be the U.S. Air Force.
Lawsuit filed over inhumane transport of horses to Japan from Winnipeg
CityNews - Feb 08
Animal welfare advocates in Winnipeg have filed a legal complaint with the federal government, after an inhumane shipment of live horses to Japan left them without food or water for over 28 hours.
Japan's skiing industry hits bumpy patch
Nikkei - Feb 08
With their fine powder snow, hot springs and scenic vistas, Japan's international ski destinations, buoyed by pent-up demand and yen weakness, are booming following a COVID-19-induced slumber lasting more than two years.
10-year-old becomes first official dual-national kabuki actor
Japan Today - Feb 08
A 10-year-old French-Japanese boy will become the first officially recognized dual-national kabuki actor, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, a star of the traditional art form.
Japan govt. plans new advice on mask use after COVID-19 reclassification
NHK - Feb 08
NHK has learned that Japan's government is considering advising senior citizens and other high-risk people to wear masks when they visit crowded places during a coronavirus outbreak.
Why The Marriage System Collapsed In Japan? Part1
Japanese Comedian Meshida - Feb 07
Nowadays in Japan the divorce rate and unmarried rate are increasing. According to a government report in 2020, almost one third of married couples were divorced and the rate of single people who had never married by 50 years old was 28 for men and 17 percent for women, and it's expected to accelerate.
Man, ex-wife nabbed for brainwashing girl with view to sexual assault
Kyodo - Feb 07
Tokyo police on Tuesday arrested a polyamorous 74-year-old man and one of his ex-wives for allegedly brainwashing an adolescent girl with a view to sexually assaulting her.
Philippines deports 2 robbery suspects to Japan
Nikkei - Feb 07
The Philippines deported on Tuesday two of four Japanese men suspected of planning and coordinating a string of robberies across Japan beginning last year, with Japanese police immediately arresting them when they boarded a flight to Japan.
#5 ROLA | Instagram Influencer
News On Japan
Rola (ローラ) is a Japanese entertainer of Japanese, Russian and Bangladeshi descent. As a model, she is known for her regular appearances in the Japanese fashion magazine Vivi and in numerous commercials.
Japan's SoftBank Group logs $5.9 bn loss as tech investments tumble
business-standard.com - Feb 07
Japanese investor SoftBank Group reported Tuesday that it sank into a deep loss for the October-December quarter, slammed by the global plunge in technology shares.
Mitsubishi Heavy Scraps Troubled Passenger Jet Project
capitalfm - Feb 07
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said Tuesday it had abandoned its struggling project to develop a passenger plane, a decade after the jet was due for commercial rollout.
Japanese airline association to make onboard mask-wearing optional
Japan Times - Feb 07
A group of airlines in Japan, including Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, plans to make passenger mask-wearing a “personal choice” in May in line with the government’s planned downgrading of COVID-19, which involves a revision of mask guidelines.
Yamagata City regains top spot for ramen consumption
NHK - Feb 07
The northern city of Yamagata regained the top spot for ramen noodle consumption in Japan in 2022. It last laid claim to the title in 2020.
Financial markets shaken by reports of possible new Bank of Japan chief
NHK - Feb 06
The yen weakened against the US dollar on Monday. Financial markets are speculating that the Bank of Japan will maintain its massive monetary easing policy under a new governor.
Japanese musician Takumi wins Grammy for best global album
Japan Today - Feb 06
Japanese musician and composer Masanori Takumi won a Grammy award on Sunday for his album featuring songs performed with traditional Asian instruments.
