Every two weeks, I break down the news that actually affects your daily life - new visa rules, policy changes, seasonal quirks - plus one story about the stuff that sneaks up on you. This isn't about selfies in the scramble or green tea ceremonies. It's about the small victories, everyday frustrations, and unexpected moments that make up life in Japan.
I'm Very Sleepy and I Blame The Cold
I'm Very Sleepy and I Blame The ColdThis week has a lot of news on Takaichi’s planned and upcoming policy, an escalation in response to the bear attacks, and some year-end accolades and reflections. It’s a bit weird to think about the year almost being over, but indeed, we have less than 2 months left! “The days are long, but the years are short.” Truly, they get shorter every year, it feels. Some things to watch for: - we are entering flu season, so get your shots and stay hydrated and masked up - if you live near mountains or bear sightings, keep an eye out - if you don’t have an emergency kit already, it’s never a bad idea I’ll be honest, readers - I am very tired today, for no particular reason, so I don’t have much else besides putting together the links and summaries. Stay warm, stay safe, and let someone know how much you appreciate them this week! topicsConsumer and family economicsAmid growing economic pressures, the union group UA Zensen will seek an intimidating 6% wage hike in upcoming negotiations, a topic also of interest to the Bank of Japan. These pressures include the rising educational expenses for schoolchildren and a warning from the president of a major rice wholesaler that the state may need to intervene by buying excess rice to prevent a price collapse.
National economicsIn a major political move, six ruling and opposition parties agreed to abolish the provisional gasoline tax rate this year, though this has created a funding shortfall, delaying the search for a stable, alternate funding source. Amid this fiscal challenge, Prime Minister Takaichi is pushing for economic growth, appointing scholars who favor aggressive fiscal policy to top economic posts, while a major tech fund remains optimistic, stating that Japanese AI stocks are not yet in a bubble.
Current events and societyCulturally, Japan is marking the arrival of winter with the “first winter gust” and celebrating the legacy of Japanese creativity, as Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii was among the 4,067 recipients of the Autumn Decorations. Meanwhile, Japanese women photographers are gaining recognition, and new generations of designers continue the legacy of Issey Miyake, with the top baby names for 2025 reflecting an appreciation for nature’s imagery.
PoliticsPrime Minister Takaichi began her administration’s first parliamentary debate defending her cabinet choices against questions from CDP leader Noda on “politics and money,” even as a government report highlighted a ¥54 billion waste of tax money in fiscal 2024. In response, Takaichi is pushing forward with key policy moves, ruling out a snap election, planning a pay cut for herself and her ministers, and aiming to finalize a new economic growth plan by next summer.
TechnologyJapanese industry and technology are pivoting toward sustainability and next-generation innovation, as Japan joined 18 other nations in a declaration to quadruple the use of sustainable fuels by 2035, with major corporations like Suntory exploring the use of hydrogen. Meanwhile, in the tech sector, Nintendo has raised its sales forecast for the new Switch 2 console, and Tokyo police are planning to deploy AI to strengthen anti-stalking measures.
SafetyIn response to record numbers of bear attacks, the Japanese government has deployed the Ground Self-Defense Force to provide logistical aid in capture efforts, with riot police also authorized to use rifles for culling bears, while a Tokushima company has developed a new repellent spray. Separately, the Ministry of Health reported that flu cases have exceeded the national alert level, and a consumer watchdog issued a warning about a rise in solar panel inspection scams.
Closing OutGot any anecdotes or stories you'd like to share or questions you'd like to ask? Send them in! Whether it's part of the news or just a story from your life, I'd love to hear from you. 600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246 |
Rough Edges Japan
Every two weeks, I break down the news that actually affects your daily life - new visa rules, policy changes, seasonal quirks - plus one story about the stuff that sneaks up on you. This isn't about selfies in the scramble or green tea ceremonies. It's about the small victories, everyday frustrations, and unexpected moments that make up life in Japan.
Feb 7 Daily Newsletter Hey readers! After a long hiatus I'm back and we're going to try some daily newsletters for a while. This week’s selected Japanese news highlights shifts in corporate governance, emerging labor issues, and key technological breakthroughs. Financial news was dominated by an activist investor’s move against Toyota Industries, while local economics dealt with the negative consequences of overtourism near Mount Fuji. Safety concerns remain a constant, addressed through...
New Week, New Challenges Late again. I wonder if it’d be easier to do this daily! The brief phase of political excitement seems to have passed, as Takaichi’s government is mostly doing normal things like policy making and debates. Some of which is good news for most folks: we could see some subsidies for essentials, vouchers for rice, and changes to the costs of high school education. Prices of goods remain high, though, so the positives are more of a dampening effect on the pressure on our...
November Begins Happy Halloween, and welcome to November! This year we tried to put our toddler in a pumpkin suit, but he wasn’t a fan. I don’t know if anyone else had already submitted to the idea of winter, but Friday morning I woke up sweating under the blanket, and the temperature is supposed to go back to the 20C area in the next week. And somehow I caught a cold in that brief taste of the chill. The biggest news of the week was around President Trump’s visit to Japan to meet Prime...