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July 04, 2025
 

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Hisakazu Kato
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 14, 2019
The 100-year life and public pension reform
Is it possible for people who live to 100 to receive sufficient pension benefits for 35 years?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 10, 2019
Can the social security system be sustained?
Due to demographic changes, the welfare state that many developed countries aimed to create in the mid-20th century is now out of reach.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 12, 2018
Will population decline create a richer society?
Inviting more highly talented and skilled workers from overseas will be crucial to raising Japan's productivity in the future.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 13, 2018
Women, foreign workers or robots?
As its population declines, Japan must make the right policy choices to ensure it has a sufficent labor force.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 5, 2018
In need of new national land planning
The government needs to come up with bold policies to redirect the population flow away from Tokyo.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 5, 2018
We need a sense of crisis over depopulation
With Japan entering unprecedented demographic territory, the time to act is now.
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Onosato's yokozuna promotion causes rare quirk in new sumo rankings
Newly promoted yokozuna Onosato holds a copy of the latest banzuke ranking in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Over 900 earthquakes strike Tokara islands in space of two weeks
A screenshot shows many quakes occurring in the Tokara islands over the past 30 days, in this image taken from the U.S. Geological Survey website.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

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