Mar 9, 2012

The pay-cut bandwagon

Wage cuts for national public servants under a special law recently enacted will have repercussions in various areas. The law, jointly written by lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, was enacted by the Upper House on Feb. ...

Mar 1, 2012

Reform and a livable pension

The Democratic Party of Japan has finally made public its preliminary financial calculations for pension reform it is advocating. Although the DPJ’s proposal is not perfect, both the government and political parties should accelerate their discussions on how to strengthen Japan’s pension system as ...

Jan 29, 2012

A victory for women

Voters in Otsu, Shiga elected Japan’s youngest-ever female mayor last week. Congratulations go out to Ms. Naomi Koshi, who is only 36, almost half the age of the outgoing mayor, Mr. Makoto Mekata, 70. Mr. Mekata held the post for two terms supported by ...

Jan 11, 2012

Pension cuts coming

The government plans to reduce public pensions over three years starting in fiscal 2012, saying that it has overpaid by 2.5 percent. The overpayment has resulted from the Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito government’s decision. Public pensions are supposed to decrease in accordance with falls in ...

Nov 25, 2010

Surviving the currency competition

by Shinji Fukukawa

The yen’s exchange value is considered likely to top the rate of ¥79.75 to the dollar registered in 1995 for an all-time high sooner or later. At a meeting that ended Oct. 23, Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors managed to ...