Japan’s first fully unmanned mini store operated by major discount retailer Don Quijote opened on July 1st inside Osaka Electro-Communication University in Neyagawa City, Osaka Prefecture.
Japan’s land values have risen nationwide for the fourth consecutive year, with the National Tax Agency releasing new roadside land prices on July 1st that show a continued upward trend driven by suburbanization and redevelopment.
Japan’s ambitions to become a rare earth powerhouse are gaining attention as China tightens its grip on global supply chains. Despite a mid-June agreement between the U.S. and China, rare earth supplies remain constrained, and Japan’s enterprises—alongside global manufacturers—continue to face uncertainty.
China has announced the partial resumption of Japanese seafood imports for the first time in nearly two years, following a suspension imposed in response to the discharge of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
A growing wave of fraudulent restaurant bookings is raising alarm among small eateries across Japan, with multiple cases now reported beyond Tokyo. The scam involves a man falsely claiming to be a school employee and reserving tables under the name "Koga," before canceling at the last minute and demanding that restaurants pay for expensive wine.
Japan is home to a thriving language services industry, with companies offering world-class translation and interpretation solutions across diverse fields such as business, academia, gaming, and government. From innovative AI-driven platforms to long-established localization experts, these firms support global communication in one of the world’s most demanding linguistic markets.
Some of Japan’s leading companies are stepping up efforts to tackle the gender pay gap, even as the country continues to rank the lowest among G7 nations on this issue. A new corporate ranking published by Nikkei Cross Woman highlights firms that are actively working to reduce disparities—not by listing companies with zero wage gaps, but by evaluating how seriously they are addressing the root causes and disclosing detailed strategies for change.
Fuji Media Holdings convened its annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday morning, as the company moves to rebuild governance and restore advertiser confidence after a series of scandals involving former executive Masahiro Nakai. Shareholders approved the slate of eleven directors proposed by current management, while rejecting all twelve candidates put forward by major shareholder Dalton Investments.