News On Japan

Job-Hunting Season Kicks Off, Focus on Work-Life Balance

TOKYO - Corporate briefings for students graduating in the coming spring have commenced, marking the start of the job-hunting season.

Amid a labor shortage, there is an increase in companies eager to secure talent, while the number of new graduates is declining.

According to a survey by major job information service "Mynavi," approximately 80% of companies anticipate that recruitment activities will become more challenging.

Aspiring for careers in finance, real estate, and public service, job seekers prioritize:

"I want to choose a company that offers a fulfilling work-life balance and a positive workplace atmosphere."

Those interested in travel, railways, and infrastructure emphasize:

"I'm looking for a job where I can easily take time off, and I'm focusing on the rate of paid leave usage and the rate of parental leave uptake."

With the new regulations allowing companies to use information from internships in their selection process, the competition for talent is expected to intensify further this year.

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Japan’s World Cup campaign ended in the cruelest possible fashion on June 29, as Gabriel Martinelli scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over the Samurai Blue in their knockout match in Houston. Japan had led in the first half and were still level at 1-1 in the final moments, but Martinelli’s late strike sent Brazil into the Round of 16 and eliminated Japan from the tournament.

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Japan advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Sweden on June 25, finishing second in Group F and setting up a Round of 32 clash with Brazil in Houston.

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