News On Japan

Japan's Paternity Childcare Leave Acquisition Rate Tops 30%

Aug 01 (NHK) - The percentage of male corporate workers in Japan who took childcare leave hit a record high in fiscal 2023.

Japan's labor and welfare ministry conducted its annual survey last October. Some 3,400 businesses responded.

The paternity childcare leave acquisition rate in the business year that ended in March was 30.1 percent, up 13 points from the previous fiscal year. Both the acquisition rate and the margin of increase were record highs. The rate in 2019 was just 7.48 percent.

The Japanese government aims to raise the paternity childcare leave acquisition rate to 50 percent by 2025.

The percentage of women who took childcare leave was 84.1 percent, up 3.9 points.

The paternity childcare leave acquisition rate was 34.2 percent at businesses with 500 or more employees and 31.1 percent at those with 100 to 499 employees.

The rate at businesses with five to 29 employees was 26.2 percent.

While more than 90 percent of women were on leave for six months or longer, 37.7 percent of men were off work for less than two weeks.

Ministry officials say businesses are now obliged to confirm whether employees who report pregnancy or childbirth would like to take childcare leave, and this may have led to the increase in the acquisition rate.

They plan to bolster measures, such as by mandating businesses to raise the childcare allowance rate, and to publicize the percentage of male workers who took childcare leave.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

A passenger car was captured speeding across the frame from left to right by a security camera just moments before a fatal crash in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, that claimed the lives of four vocational school students.

A fire broke out on the evening of April 25th on an electronic billboard attached to the Yodobashi Camera commercial complex in front of JR Osaka Station, prompting a large emergency response. No injuries were reported.

Organic fluorine compounds known as PFAS—suspected to be harmful to human health—have been detected at concentrations exceeding the national provisional target in rivers and groundwater at 242 sites across 22 prefectures, according to a government survey.

The Japanese government will begin issuing blue tickets for bicycle traffic violations in April 2026, with fines including 5,000 yen for ignoring stop signs and up to 12,000 yen for riding while using a smartphone.

A 26-year-old woman was arrested in the early hours of April 24th in Kasuya Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. While admitting to the offense, she claimed, "I ate chocolate that contained alcohol."

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Education NEWS

There are some English words that are harmless. But to Japanese, they sound FILTHY! Yes, simple words like chin, napkin, and even people's names like Gary and Ben can sound very inappropriate in Japan! Today, I'll share all of these words with you! (Mrs Eats)

Japan has seen a dramatic surge in tourism over the past decade, with visitor numbers tripling, bringing both economic benefits and greater intercultural exchange. However, this growth has also led to issues of "overtourism," especially on trains—the country's most popular means of transport—where overcrowding and cultural misunderstandings about behavior have caused concern among locals.

Achieving academic success isn’t only about securing good grades—it’s about learning how to continuously improve, developing effective study methods, and building the confidence to face challenges.

What happens when you ditch the brushes and just use your fingers? You get something... unexpectedly beautiful.

As Japan enters the era of 100-year lifespans, attention is turning to ways to maintain a youthful appearance and healthy body without relying on costly treatments or devices. One growing trend is facial muscle training — a method of exercising the face to address sagging skin, wrinkles, and double chins, all without the use of tools or surgery.

In Japan, business cards are more than just a way to exchange contact information. They carry a deeper significance, reflecting a person's professionalism, respect, and attention to detail.

The MBTI personality assessment has become popular among Japanese youth as a tool for self-understanding and social interaction, reflecting a change toward individualism.

Balancing career and family is challenging for working mothers, with cultural pressures often leaving personal well-being overlooked.