Japan to Tighten Screening of Foreign Investments

TOKYO, Apr 02 (News On Japan) - The Japanese government approved a cabinet ordinance on April 1st to introduce a new pre-screening system for foreign companies investing in Japan. The revised regulation will take effect on May 19th.

Under the change, investors who are obliged to cooperate with foreign governments in intelligence gathering will be defined as "specified foreign investors" and will be required to submit prior notification without exception.

The move is seen as aimed at individuals and companies from China.

Source: テレ東BIZ

Japan's Teachers to Receive Higher Pay and Shorter Hours

A bill to revise the Kyūtoku Law, aiming to improve the treatment of Japan's public school teachers by gradually raising the salary supplement in place of overtime pay from 4% to 10%, was approved by the Lower House Committee on Education on Wednesday after ruling and opposition parties agreed on revisions.

Student Fights for the Right to Be Taught in Japanese Sign Language

A lawsuit over the right to education in Japanese Sign Language concluded at the Sapporo High Court on May 13th, with a junior high school girl using the language in court to state that "Japanese Sign Language is my identity."

Teenage Girl Found Dead After Abduction, 36-Year-Old Man Arrested

A 36-year-old unemployed man has been arrested on suspicion of abducting a teenage girl who was later found dead in Yamagata Prefecture. The suspect, Hiroki Kishinami from Fukushima City, has previously been arrested three times for offenses including the abduction of minors and assisting in suicides.

Singapore Drama Begins Filming in Saga for the First Time

A Singaporean drama has begun filming in Saga City after the Saga Film Commission successfully attracted its first production from the Southeast Asian nation. The filming is taking place at the former Koga residence, a historic building constructed in 1884.

Manga Sparks Earthquake Fears and Flight Cancellations from Hong Kong

Greater Bay Airlines, which resumed regular flights between Sendai and Hong Kong last December for the first time in 13 years, currently operates four round trips per week. However, starting this week and continuing through the end of October, the airline will reduce that to three weekly round trips due to declining travel demand. The number of flights to Tokushima will also be cut. What is behind this sudden downturn?

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Over-the-Counter Drugs to Be Sold in Japan's Convenience Stores

The revised Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act, passed by Japan's Upper House on May 14th, will allow over-the-counter drugs to be sold at convenience stores if consumers first receive online guidance from licensed pharmacists or other qualified professionals.

Zensho Becomes First Japanese Restaurant Company to Surpass 1 Trillion Yen in Sales

Zensho Holdings, operator of the Sukiya beef bowl chain, reported a 17.7% rise in annual revenue to 1.1366 trillion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2025—marking the first time a domestic restaurant company in Japan has exceeded 1 trillion yen in sales.

SoftBank Posts First Profit in Four Years on AI and Stock Gains

SoftBank Group has returned to profitability for the first time in four years, reporting on May 13th a net profit of 1.1533 trillion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2025, driven by a global rebound in stock markets that sharply boosted the value of its investment holdings.

Japan Watches Closely US-ChinaTariff Talks

There has been a major development in the so-called "Trump tariffs" negotiations, in which Japan is also involved. The United States and China, which had been imposing more than 100% tariffs on each other, agreed on May 12th to reduce those tariffs by 115%.