News On Japan

Manga artists, taxi drivers hit as Japan tax frustrations mount

Nov 22 (Business Mirror) - From manga artists to independent taxi drivers, Japanese freelancers and small businesses frustrated with the potential loss of a tax break are among the growing numbers pushing down Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s approval rating to record lows.

About 4.6 million businesses that were previously exempt from paying sales tax have been impacted by a new invoice system that came into operation last month, according to the Cabinet Secretariat.

Exempt businesses that pocketed the sales tax they charged clients will now have to hand that extra income over to the government if they adopt the system. Those that don’t switch to the new procedure may lose customers or face demands to lower their prices. All those embracing the new invoices will have a lengthier billing process to follow. ...continue reading

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The impact of rising prices is being felt at summer festivals, with essential items like ice shavings and goldfish scooping seeing significant price increases.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare have announced the average life expectancy for Japanese people last year, with women having an average life expectancy of 87.14 years, and men 81.09 years, both about half a month higher than the previous year.

Theft of air conditioner outdoor units has surged as Japan's heatwave continues, leaving some businesses unable to run critical cooling systems.

As power harassment allegations against the governor of Hyogo Prefecture continue to swirl, it has been revealed that another prefectural employee has passed away, with the prefecture delaying a formal announcement of the death by 3 months.

Osaka has topped the 'Japan Urban Power Rankings' for the fourth consecutive year. Conducted by Mori Building's think tank, the ranking evaluates 136 cities across Japan in six categories, including economy, culture, and environment.

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Starting in October, the Japanese government will introduce a new support measure aimed at addressing the logistics industry's labor shortage, known as the "2024 Problem," by offering up to 5 yen in points per delivery for using services like "Leave Delivery," where packages are left at the door.

Convenience store giant Lawson was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market on July 24, as it enters a joint management system with Mitsubishi Corporation and KDDI.

A new multi-use complex has opened in Shibuya, Tokyo, an area experiencing a significant development boom, often described as a once-in-a-century transformation.

The national average minimum wage for this fiscal year has been set at 1,054 yen per hour, with the increase of 50 yen marking the largest ever.

When inflation picked up a few years ago, no one was happy - well, apart from Japan, who might be able to pick itself up from its deflationary funk. So, could a sudden inflation spike be the beginning of Japan's long-awaited recovery? (TLDR News Global)

Amazon has launched a new service in Japan called Amazon Pharmacy, which delivers prescription drugs to customers' homes.

NTT West announced that it will end its 'Town Page' phone directory and '104' phone inquiry services in March 2026.

Crane games, where players attempt to grab prizes, are now found not only in game centers but also in convenience stores. Since March 2024, major convenience store chain Lawson has been actively installing crane game machines and aims to expand to 1,000 stores nationwide by fiscal year 2025.