Rough Times

These past couple weeks have been awfully eventful for this humble island nation. The positives were few, and only important as matters of national pride - Japan adds 2 Nobel prizes to their trophy cabinet, and Tokyo topped a poll of worldwide "best large city" again.

But everything else...is rough. Household economics continue their decline on the triple threat of: the yen's purchasing power suffering; consumable items getting more expensive; and wages not going as far as they used to. Uncertainty at the top of politics is yet another erosion of Japan's famed stability, and the evident legitimization of far-right parties in recent elections may be another tremor of things to come.

And the bears are making a real mess of things too.

Household Economics

Wages are still failing to keep up with rising prices of essentials and the continued assault of inflation. An overwhelming majority of households have taken note, and the difficulty in building up savings affects, unfortunately, most everyone.

• ​Japan’s real wages fall for eighth month in August​
• ​10月の食品値上げ3000品目超、10カ月連続増 飲料や調味料が中心​
• ​Prices to rise for 3,024 food products in Japan in October​
• ​Over 80% of households in Japan feel impact of rising prices, survey shows​
• ​Over half of needy pregnant women in Japan have no savings​
• ​Business management visa requirements to be tightened from next week​

Country Economics

The yen has seen some turmoil as a result of Takaichi’s ascension to head of the LDP, but now that the premiership itself is in question after Komeito’s exit from their long-standing coalition, who knows where it goes? Unemployment reached a height for the year, and medical expenses and credit card fraud continue to find new records.

• ​Japan’s jobless rate edges up to highest in over a year​
• ​Takaichi’s win to support Japanese stocks but weigh on yen and bonds​
• ​Takaichi’s LDP leadership win makes BOJ rate hike uncertain​
• ​Yen dives to 150 against dollar; Nikkei rises to record high​
• ​円安進み153円台に、高市新総裁に市場が反応 [Yen Weakens to 153 Level; Market Reacts to New LDP Leader Takaichi]​
• ​Government cuts to Izumisano’s tax grants illegal, Osaka High Court rules​
• ​Medical expenses in Japan hit record ¥48 trillion in fiscal 2023​
• ​止まらぬクレカ不正利用、1～6月被害は315億円 最悪ペース更新 [Unstoppable credit card fraud, damages in Jan-Jun reach 31.5 billion yen; Updating worst pace]​

Current Events

Japan takes another 2 Nobel prizes, one in Chemistry to Susumu Kitagawa, and one in Medicine to Shimon Sakaguchi, both professors at Kyoto University! Conde Nast readers voted Tokyo the best large city in the world for a second year in a row - but a group at Mie University concluded that Japan's summers have been extended by 3 weeks in a 42 year stretch from 1982 to 2023.

• ​Japanese immunologist among three Nobel medicine prize winners​
• ​Tokyo named world’s best big city for second straight year​
• ​Japan summers lengthened by 3 weeks over 42 yrs: researchers​
• ​Japan group to launch AI service for saury size predictions​
• ​Internet becomes Japan’s top daily news source for first time​
• ​Susumu Kitagawa Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Joins List of Japanese Winners That Includes Nihon Hidankyo​
• ​Japan’s Susumu Kitagawa among three chemistry Nobel winners​

Politics

Sanae Takaichi won the election for LDP leadership, but it’s now looking like a contentious road to the premiership after Komeito left their longtime coalition. Opposition parties - the Constitutional Democratic Party, Japan Innovation Party, and Democratic Party for the People - seek an end to the LDP’s dominance in the upcoming election for the prime minister.

• ​Citing unease over graft, Komeito leaves coalition; says it won’t vote for Takaichi for PM​
• ​公取委、官製談合の防止体制を調査 国・自治体職員の秘密漏洩相次ぐ [FTC Begins Investigation into Administrative Bodies for the First Time in 8 Years to Prevent Government-Led Bid-Rigging]​
• [公明失った自民、多数派戦略見直し 「押し込まれれば解散しか…」 LDP reviewing majority strategy after losing Komeito: ‘If pushed, dissolving [the Diet] is the only option…’​
• ​After ruling bloc collapses, LDP and opposition scramble to find needed votes for PM​
• ​Japanese business groups concerned over ruling coalition split​
• ​LDP lawmakers urge Takaichi to reconcile quickly with Komeito​
• ​Heads of 3 opposition parties meet to discuss vote for next PM​

Technology

Fax machines are still useful, as Asahi demonstrated after losing access to their typical computer systems to handle logistics and ordering. AI investment is seeing some upticks, as the government looks to reduce reliance on outside firms even while NVidia and Fujitsu partner on an “AI infrastructure” for robotics, health care, and several other key domains.

• ​Asahi resumes beer supplies in Japan after crippling cyberattack​
• ​Asahi ships beer using paper and fax after ransomware attack​
• ​Retro-wrapped trains mark 100th anniversary of Tokyo’s Yamanote Line​
• ​Japan to promote domestic AI development for national security​
• ​田園都市線の脱線、二子玉川駅と新横浜駅の計3カ所でも信号設定ミス​
• ​Nvidia, Fujitsu to work together on AI robots and other technology​

Public Safety

Bears are becoming bolder lately, even wandering into supermarkets in Gunma, attacking tourists, and doing worse to some locals. The Den-en-toshi line in Tokyo and Midosuji line in Osaka encountered separate incidents, with the Tokyo derailment causing a full day’s suspension of services, and the Osaka battery fire leaving a few injuries before being handled.

• ​Spanish tourist injured in latest bear attack​
• ​One dead, one missing in northern Japan after bear attack​
• ​脱線事故の東急田園都市線、7日は始発から運行 計約65万人に影響 [Derailment-hit Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line to resume service from first train on 7th, affecting about 650,000 people in total]​
• ​地下鉄車内で乗客のモバイルバッテリーが発火、乗客降ろし消火…大阪・心斎橋で２人軽傷 [Mobile Battery Ignites on Subway Train, Passengers Evacuated and Fire Extinguished… Two Slightly Injured in Shinsaibashi, Osaka]​
• ​Bear injures two in Japan supermarket; man killed in separate attack​

Closing Out

Got 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.

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