Economy | ANALYSIS
Households to take hit from tax hike
by Tomoko Otake
The consumption tax increase will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people’s financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the hike's impact.
Japan-related | SENTAKU MAGAZINE Sep 29, 2013
Unions mull a 'Labor Party'
The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, feeling somewhat estranged from the Democratic Party of Japan, is mulling the idea of realigning opposition parties into a labor party.
Japan-related | SENTAKU MAGAZINE Aug 26, 2013
Plugging Tepco's brain drain
One reason Tepco paid a uniform ¥100,000 special summer bonus to each of some 5,000 managerial employees is to plug a brain drain. Core workers are quitting.
Japan-related | SENTAKU MAGAZINE Aug 12, 2013
No fluffing up China's slump
The rest of the world has came to know about the start of an economic slump in China from none other than President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
Japan-related | SENTAKU MAGAZINE Jul 28, 2013
Farmers can't bank on Abe
Japan's farmers must scrutinize what Shinzo Abe says so as not to be deceived by him again. The prime minister has never promised to protect their future.
Japan-related | SENTAKU MAGAZINE Jul 21, 2013
Hesitating on sales tax hike?
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is said to be considering delaying the increase in the consumption tax rate currently scheduled to take effect in April 2014.
Global-related | SENTAKU MAGAZINE Jul 1, 2013
Xi regime swinging to the left
Disturbing rumors are spreading that, sometime this fall, there will be a large-scale purge of reformist members from the Chinese Communist Party.
Japan-related | SENTAKU MAGAZINE Jun 17, 2013
BOJ facing new brain drain
The Bank of Japan could face a drain of elite talent as foreign financial institutions mull rebooting their activities in Tokyo after the recent market rebound.
Global-related | SENTAKU MAGAZINE May 27, 2013
South Korea's 'export' crisis
South Korea ranks at the bottom of OECD member nations in "technology trade balance," which doesn't say much for the design capabilities of manufacturers.
Japan-related | SENTAKU MAGAZINE May 13, 2013
Is missile defense useful?
As Japan pours huge sums of taxpayer money into its missile defense system, the SDF is functioning more like a subcontractor for the U.S. armed forces.
Japan-related | SENTAKU MAGAZINE Apr 29, 2013
Nuclear arms card for Japan
The Foreign Ministry has been conducting clandestine studies about the potential development of nuclear weapons in Japan, and the U.S. is nervous about it.
Japan-related | SENTAKU MAGAZINE Apr 22, 2013
ASEAN looking a bit like '97
Amid the economic boom in many ASEAN countries, there is also a feeling of deja vu that current conditions resemble those on the eve of the '97 financial crisis.
Japan-related | SENTAKU MAGAZINE Mar 25, 2013
Risks of using 'my number'
Japan's information technology industry could be the biggest beneficiary of the government plan to introduce a personal ID number system for citizens.