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.
Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT Jun 11, 2013
Hague Convention on child abduction may shape Japan's family law — or vice versa
by Colin P. A. Jones
Giant Hello Kitty-emblazoned kudos to Japan for finally signing the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. Now comes the hard part: actually making it work. Mistakenly identified by some press accounts as an accomplishment of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan’s accession is probably more ...
Voices | HOTLINE TO NAGATACHO Jun 11, 2013
Please, prime minister, just let me be a father
Dear Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, As a boy growing up in America, my mother and father would have frequent arguments. It was a stressful time for everyone, and eventually they got divorced when I was in 2nd grade in elementary school. During the divorce ...
Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Jan 1, 2013
The year for non-Japanese in '12: a top 10
by Debito Arudou
Back by popular demand, here is JBC’s roundup of the top 10 human rights events that most affected non-Japanese (NJ) residents of Japan in 2012, in ascending order. Bubbling under • China’s anti-Japan riots (September) and Senkaku-area maneuvers (October to now). • North Korea’s ...