Panel to suggest ending Japan's controversial 'trainee' scheme

Apr 11 (breitbart.com) - A Japanese government panel is set to recommend the closure of a controversial vocational training scheme for young people from developing countries, an immigration official said Tuesday.

The country’s “technical intern” programme was launched three decades ago and has long been criticised by campaigners as a hotbed of abuse and discrimination.

The scheme is supposed to offer skills to overseas “trainees” in sectors such as construction, agriculture and food processing.

But Japanese firms have been accused of treating participants as cheap, temporary workers, some of whom take on huge debts to come to Japan.

Draft recommendations by an immigration agency expert panel called for replacing the system with one that recognises Japan’s need for labour and its wish to train people from less developed countries, the official told AFP. ...continue reading

Dust Storms Forecast To Hit Tokyo

Rain affected parts of Japan on Tuesday morning as a low-pressure system and front moved through, bringing heavier downpours in some areas. Skies are expected to clear across much of the country this afternoon. However, yellow sand drifting in from the Asian continent is forecast to spread over a wide area, raising concerns over reduced visibility and worsening health conditions.

Japan Gov't Warns of Possible Megaquake

Japan's weather agency and the Cabinet Office issued a 'Hokkaido-Sanriku Offshore Subsequent Earthquake Advisory' after an earthquake measuring upper 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale struck off Sanriku.

New Shinkansen Reservation Service Lets Users Book in One Minute

JR East has launched a preview version of its new online Shinkansen booking platform, JRE GO, promising reservations in as little as one minute and easier handling of sudden schedule changes.

Bear Found in Bushes in Central Sendai Finally Culled

A bear that had remained in a residential area in central Sendai since early Sunday morning was euthanized last night in an emergency cull. No injuries were reported.

Father Admits Killing and Body Abandonment in Kyoto

Police investigating the death of an 11-year-old boy whose body was found in a forest in Kyoto Prefecture believe his father moved the remains between several locations over a number of days in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Education NEWS

Japan Starts Nationwide Test for Sixth Graders and Ninth Graders

Japan's annual National Academic Achievement Test began on Monday for sixth-grade elementary school students and third-year junior high school students nationwide.

Future Takarazuka Performers Take First Step

An entrance ceremony was held on April 18 at the Takarazuka Music School in Hyogo Prefecture, where 40 new students took their first step toward becoming members of the famed Takarazuka Revue.

Japan Is Facing Critical Nurse Shortage

Japan's medical sector is facing an acute shortage of nurses, triggering a wave of ward closures and even hospital shutdowns. Once regarded as an admired profession and often described as 'angels in white,' nurses are now under mounting strain from long working hours and wages many say do not match the demands of the job.

Ronald McDonald Teaches Children Traffic Safety in Akita

In a traffic safety class held at a certified childcare center in Akita, Ronald McDonald made a special appearance, teaching young children how to cross the street safely.

Tokyo University Students Shy Away From Bureaucratic Careers

The number of Tokyo University students pursuing careers as government bureaucrats is declining, even as rising wages in skilled trades and shifts driven by artificial intelligence are reshaping perceptions of high-paying jobs.

Japan Big Chains Dominate Cram Schools

Japan’s cram school industry is seeing a growing divide, with major operators expanding their market share while smaller firms struggle to survive amid declining birthrates and shifting education trends, according to expert analysis.

Private High Schools in Aichi Gain Popularity

An estimated 800 junior high school third-year students and their parents gathered in Nagoya on April 12th to attend a seminar explaining the structure of high school entrance examinations and preparation strategies ahead of next year’s admissions cycle.

WWII-Era Fighter Aircraft Recovered from Sea Decades After Crash Landing

A former Imperial Japanese Navy fighter aircraft that had remained submerged off the coast of Akune City in Kagoshima Prefecture was raised from the seabed on April 9th, marking its first return to land in 81 years since a wartime crash landing during the final stages of World War II.

< 2 3 4 5 >