Society

Japan's top business lobby wants to see 100 unicorns by 2027

Mar 12 (Nikkei) - The Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, aims for the country to become home to 100 unlisted startups worth $1 billion or more by 2027 under new recommendations to the government announced Friday.

Japan now has around 10 of these so-called unicorns. Successful startups are helping to build a positive cycle of economic growth overseas, said Tomoko Namba, a Keidanren vice chair.

"Europe was very conservative until about five years ago, but it changed very quickly," said Namba, the founder and executive chairman of online services provider DeNA, at a news conference.

"We in Japan need to have the sense of urgency that this is our last chance," she said.

Keidanren aims for the country to have 100,000 startups overall. Its new recommendations urge the government to streamline the process of creating new businesses and to lower barriers for startups to bid on government contracts.

The business lobby calls for forming a new government agency as the command center for startup-related policies. It criticizes the current approach, with responsibilities split among multiple agencies, as making it difficult to advance a coherent strategy.

Source: テレ東BIZ

Zao’s Snow Monsters Face Extinction

Zao’s iconic snow monsters, the frost-covered trees known as 'juhyo,' face an existential threat. These towering, snow-laden trees have long been a winter highlight in the region, famously resembling monstrous figures covered in snow. However, their survival is now under severe threat.

Japan Ranks 92nd in English Proficiency, Lowest in History

EF Education First, a global education organization, published this year’s English Proficiency Index on Wednesday, ranking nations worldwide. Japan’s ranking stood at 92nd among 116 countries and regions, continuing a 14-year trend of record lows.

Famed Hot Spring Struggles to Handle Visitor Surge

Ginzan Hot Springs in Yamagata, known for its Taisho-era charm, is now at peak season for autumn foliage. While this secluded onsen town is a well-known destination in the Tohoku region, an influx of foreign tourists has led local officials to implement restrictions on day visitors starting next month.

Convenience Stores to Start Selling Over-the-Counter Drugs

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.

Japan Looks to Limit Continuous Work

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's advisory panel has outlined a proposal for amending the law to prohibit working more than 14 consecutive days. Under the current system, workers can technically work up to 48 days in a row through a system known as 'four-day-off-per-four-weeks,' while labor agreements also allow for holiday work, meaning there are no effective restrictions on consecutive workdays.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

A Day in TOKYO in 1975 | 昭和東京

An hour long documentary looking at the life of the Sugiura family, fish merchants and caterers living in Tokyo. Producer, director, John Nathan Explores the professional and personal lives of a Japanese family, Takes a look at the everyday life of a Japanese family living in Tokyo. (TRNGL)

More Elderly Living Alone in Japan

The number of single-person households in Japan is expected to surpass 40% by 2050, according to recent projections.

Japan's Abandoned Car Issue - Millions in Forgotten Legends

It's no secret that Japan is lined with seemingly forgotten about cars. This is the second video I dedicate to showing you guys what I can sometimes run across in my travels and as much as it is sad to see cars left to crumble away into nothingness, there's always something impossibly visual about seeing grimy decay, especially if on cars we all love so much. (Dino DC)