News On Japan

Golden Toilet Symbolizes Era of Excess

TOKYO, Feb 24 (News On Japan) - As the Nikkei reaches historic highs, investors are reminiscent of the last time the market reached such dizzy heights in 1989, the end of an era as Heisei began, marked by the emergence of the Recruit scandal, considered the largest corruption scandal in the post-war era, leading to the formation of a new government led by Prime Minister Takeshita.

It was the peak of the bubble economy, where everyone, not just in stocks, seemed to be flourishing. One of the iconic symbols of that era was the appearance of gold toilets, a sign of excess wealth.

In the Tokai region, attention was drawn to a company that even built a disco for its employees. Metec, a company that grew through the dispatch of technicians, made headlines with its president at the time, who surprised society with innovative ideas. However, looking back, one might wonder if they went too far. During the bubble era, doing something modest wouldn't excite young people, so every day was filled with extravagant ideas.

A luxurious Bugatti, displayed inside a car showroom designed by a famous designer, cost a staggering ¥2.4 billion, and a Ferrari could be bought by teenagers and lent to others for a ride. They didn't think much about spending ¥10,000, treating it more like ¥1,000.

Platinum Plating Industry, which manufactures automobile bumpers and door handles, employs about 220 people and supplies parts to Toyota Group, among others. The company experienced a significant drop in production and sales due to the impact of the corona crisis, but it has since recovered. Sales of automobile parts are strong, but there are concerns, such as Toyota and Daihatsu's suspension of shipments. Foreign investors find Japanese stocks more attractive, but the rapid rise is not felt by everyone.

The gap in wealth is likely widening, with only the wealthy and individual investors benefiting, while ordinary salaried workers who only invest in savings accounts are likely to see few benefits from the rising stock prices, possibly widening the wealth gap.

Source: NEWS ONE

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

The 33rd Summer Olympics in Paris officially commenced with an opening ceremony held on the Seine River in the city center on the 26th (27th Japan time).

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has initiated the creation of guidelines for taking home leftovers as part of its efforts to reduce food waste. Restaurants are hopeful for clear directions on preventing food poisoning.

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.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Business NEWS

Temp job matching service 'Timee' has gone public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange amidst increasing labor shortages and diversified work styles.

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.