Convenience Stores to Start Selling Over-the-Counter Drugs

Nov 14, 2024 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has announced plans to allow the sale of over-the-counter drugs at convenience stores without on-site pharmacists.

Currently, over-the-counter drugs can only be sold at stores where a pharmacist or registered seller is present.

The ministry aims to make it possible for convenience stores and vending machines without qualified staff to sell these drugs, provided certain conditions are met.

One of these conditions is that pharmacists working within the same prefecture will regularly monitor the storage and sales procedures for the drugs.

Customers would likely be able to purchase these drugs by consulting with a pharmacist through a smartphone app beforehand, with a confirmation issued that allows for drug collection at convenience stores.

The initiative seeks to improve accessibility for those needing medication during nighttime hours or in areas with limited pharmacy options.

The ministry plans to formalize this policy within the year and will aim for legislative changes in the regular Diet session next year.

Source: ANN

Deadly Landslide and Major Flooding Follow Typhoon No. 25

Typhoon No. 25 was moving away from Japan over waters to the east on September 22, bringing an end to rainfall across the Kanto region while the extent of flooding and landslide damage left behind by the storm was becoming clearer.

Typhoon No. 25 Continues to Disrupt Transportation

Transport disruption from Typhoon No. 25 continued across Chiba Prefecture on September 22 even as flights and major highways returned toward normal, with entire sections of the JR network remaining suspended for the day and all Narita Express services canceled because of flooding, landslides and damage to railway infrastructure.

Japan Takes 12 Medals on Asian Games Day 3

Japan collected another 12 medals on Day 3 of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 21, with 17-year-old swimmer Shin Ohashi and karateka Kakeru Nishiyama winning gold, while the host nation also advanced strongly in women's volleyball, baseball, soccer, handball and hockey.

Japan's Elderly Population Hits Record 29.6%

People aged 65 and older accounted for a record 29.6% of Japan's population in 2026, the highest proportion among major countries worldwide, while the number of elderly people in employment also reached an all-time high as Japan marked Respect for the Aged Day on September 21.

Emperor and Empress Watch Asian Games Basketball

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako watched Japan defeat Kazakhstan in a women’s basketball preliminary-round game at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Tokyo Market Closed as Yen Intervention Watch Dominates Silver Week

Tokyo’s stock market was closed on September 21 for Respect for the Aged Day, leaving the Nikkei 225 without a cash close after finishing the previous session at 65,019, while currency and futures markets focused on the yen, the Bank of Japan’s latest rate hike and intervention risks during Japan’s Silver Week holiday.

Five-Day Holiday Puts Japan's Cost-of-Living Pressures in Focus

Japan's first five-day Silver Week holiday in 11 years has put renewed attention on household finances, with persistently high food prices and a weakening yen threatening to erode the benefits of the government's planned consumption tax cut on food.

Seventeen Tabs Open and Still No Decision

A list of providers with identical promises turns selection into brute-force sorting. The differences do exist; they are just hidden somewhere other than the homepage.

Japan's Return to Higher Rates Squeezes Households and Firms

The Bank of Japan raised its policy rate from 1.0% to 1.25% on September 18, taking borrowing costs to their highest level in 31 years and accelerating the pace of monetary tightening as persistent inflation and concerns over fiscal expansion put upward pressure on interest rates.

Yen Strengthens Sharply as Intervention Warning Rattles Market

The yen strengthened by more than 1 yen against the dollar in a short period late on September 18 after the Bank of Japan conducted a rate check, a step commonly taken in preparation for possible intervention in the foreign exchange market.

Nikkei Rallies as BOJ Rate Hike Weakens Yen and Lifts AI Shares

Tokyo stocks rose sharply on September 18, with the Nikkei 225 climbing to around 65,350 in afternoon trading after the Bank of Japan raised interest rates to 1.25%, as the yen weakened and investors bought artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares.

BOJ Raises Policy Rate to 1.25% as Yen Weakens

The Bank of Japan raised its policy interest rate from 1.0% to 1.25% on September 18, lifting borrowing costs to their highest level in 31 years as policymakers moved to contain growing inflation risks, but the yen weakened sharply after the decision as markets focused on two dissenting votes and uncertainty over the pace of further increases.

Market Spreads: Understanding Bid-Ask Spreads, Trading Costs and Spread Strategies

A market spread is generally the difference between two market prices. Most commonly, traders use the term to describe the bid-ask spread: the difference between the highest price a buyer is currently prepared to pay and the lowest price a seller is prepared to accept.

< 2 3 4 5 >