Society

Shrinking, aging pool of workers push Japan to find new ways to fill jobs

Dec 04 (Bloomberg) - Japan's shrinking and aging population is spurring efforts by businesses to find new ways to keep the elderly employed for longer, as they seek to address a chronic and expanding labor shortage.

Earlier this year, the government committed ¥3.5 trillion ($23.6 billion) on measures to increase the birthrate, but the shortfall in available workers has been challenging employers for some time. Although Japan has taken steps to relax immigration controls, that hasn’t been enough to make up for a shortfall.

All of this has forced companies to come up with new ways to find labor and keep their operations running smoothly, sometimes with novel ideas. Here are some of the steps that shops, restaurants and other businesses are taking to attract and retain older staff. ...continue reading

China Set to Lift Japanese Seafood Ban

The Japanese government and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have decided to enhance their monitoring system for the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, as efforts to resume seafood imports from Japan to China gain momentum.

Tohoku Shinkansen Unexpected Detaches at 315 km/h

The Tohoku Shinkansen came to a halt for five hours on Thursday due to an unexpected mid-journey separation of the linked Hayabusa and Komachi trains, 30 minutes after passing Furukawa Station with a total of 320 passengers on board.

Eruption Warning for Izu's Sumisu Island

The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued an eruption alert for Sumisu Island in the Izu Islands, following the detection of discolored water in July.

'Convenience Store of the Future' Launched with AI Cameras and Robots

Lawson and KDDI have teamed up to launch a 'convenience store of the future' that integrates the latest technology with communications, aiming to address labor shortages and enhance store operations.

Japanese boy attacked near school in China dies, consulate says

A ten-year-old boy who was attacked on his way to a Japanese school in southern China has died of his injuries. (NHK)

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

YouTube Breast Pumping Videos Garner Millions of Views, Raising Ethical Concerns

A search for 'breast pump' 「搾乳機」on YouTube returns numerous videos with titles like 'Introduction to Breast Pumping.' But what exactly are these videos?

Teenage Gang Attacks Boy with Airgun in Tokyo Park

Four high school students, aged 16 to 18, have been arrested on suspicion of injuring a third-year junior high school boy in a park in Machida City, Tokyo, in May of this year.

500-Year-Old Sacred Tree Burns at Ibaraki Shrine

A fire broke out at a shrine in Ami-machi, Ibaraki Prefecture, burning a sacred tree over 500 years old, with police investigating the cause as a lightning strike.

Operator of sightseeing boat that sank off Hokkaido in 2022 arrested

A regional headquarters of the Japan Coast Guard has arrested the head of the operating company of a sightseeing boat that sank off the coast of Hokkaido, northern Japan, in 2022. (NHK)

Chinese Dragon Members Arrested over Apple Store Clash

Seven members of the organized crime group 'Chinese Dragon,' including 50-year-old Kazujirou Shirai, were arrested for disrupting business operations by causing a public disturbance in front of an Apple store in Omotesando, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo.

Large Sinkhole Opens On Tokyo Road

A large hole suddenly appeared in the middle of a road near a train station in Tokyo's Ota Ward on Tuesday, with aging sewer pipes suspected as the culprit.

Yamaha President Injured, Daughter Arrested for Attempted Murder

Yoshihiro Hidaka, president of Yamaha Motor, sustained minor injuries on Monday after being slashed in the arm at his home in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture. Police have arrested his daughter, Hana Hidaka, who lives with him and is currently unemployed, on suspicion of attempted murder.

Yakuza Gang Boss Shows Me The Dark Side of Japan

In this video, I meet with Yuyama Shinya, a former Yakuza gang boss who spent over eight years behind bars in Japan. Yuyama shares his experiences as a high-ranking member of the notorious Japanese mob, having been arrested 11 times before leaving the Yakuza in 2012. (Go With Ali)

< 2 3 4 5 >