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JAPAN
Mar 23, 2000

Pension bills approved by Upper House

A package of bills designed to save the nation's financially strapped pension system cleared the Upper House on Wednesday, paving the way for the introduction of new pension measures in April.
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2000

LDP forces pension bills further

Ignoring protests from the opposition bloc and pensioners, the ruling triumvirate on Tuesday rammed through an Upper House committee a package of bills that is supposed to save the nation's nearly bankrupt pension system.
ENVIRONMENT
Jan 10, 2000

This is last chance to get straight with environment -- UNEP report

This is last chance to get straight with environment -- UNEP report ft,b For those of us who get a kick out of odometers hitting big round numbers, this is it, a new century. Environmentally speaking, though, 100-year blocks of time are almost irrelevant.
EDITORIALS
Dec 9, 1999

This pension reform slights Japan

When a Lower House committee voted late in November in an attempt to enact a bill to reform the nation's pension system, many Japanese must have been pained to see politicians play games with a national issue that will affect the livelihood of almost every one of us in our old age. The bill passed the...
JAPAN
Nov 26, 1999

Pension bills rammed through opposition's boycott

The ruling coalition rammed controversial pension reform bills through a Lower House welfare committee on Friday amid a boycott by opposition parties.
JAPAN
Mar 16, 1999

Slash corporate levies, raise sales tax, think tank urges

The government should scrap the 5.4 percent residential tax for businesses and halve the 9.9 percent local corporate tax to reinvigorate business activity, a private think tank proposed Tuesday.
JAPAN
Aug 19, 1998

Medical schools to slash enrollment

To avoid an oversupply of doctors and dentists in the country, the Education Ministry is considering cutting the number of student admissions to medical and dental schools at Japanese universities by about 200 over the next few years, beginning next spring, it was learned Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 1997

Tax Commission solicits public opinion on reform

In an unusual move, the government's Tax Commission on Jan. 24 submitted a report asking the public for its opinion on the best taxation system for the nation.Rather than simply providing its own analysis, the commission wants to get people to voice opinions on its report through mail, fax and e-mail,...
JAPAN
Jan 3, 1997

Designer gives nursing homes new look

In the past three years, architect Sadakazu Furuya has drawn up 15 designs for small-scale nursing homes, although he has received orders for none of them.Undeterred, he has devoted all his spare time to coming up with designs for what he calls group homes for the elderly. "I believe group homes are...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jun 22, 2023

Dementia-related missing person cases doubled over past 10 years

A total of 18,709 people with dementia were reported missing in 2022, up 6.1% from the previous year.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jun 22, 2023

Japan hopes to inspire more men to take paternity leave

In fiscal 2021, only 13.97% of eligible men took child care leave. The government has raised the target for fiscal 2025 from 30% to 50% and aims to push up the share to 85% by 2030.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2023

Mazda eyes EV battery supply partnership with Panasonic Energy

Such an effort on lithium-ion batteries is likely to carry Mazda a step closer to ramping up production of electric vehicles.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 21, 2023

The Carlos Ghosn show has a bizarre sequel

A provocative lawsuit brought by Carlos Ghosn, the fugitive architect of the Renault-Nissan alliance, makes it harder for the French and Japanese carmakers to move on.
JAPAN
Jun 21, 2023

Public opposition grows over My Number and health insurance merger

Resistance to the integration of the two cards has been driven by reports of errors and privacy breaches when the cards have been linked.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 20, 2023

Yamato and Japan Post announce tie-up for mailbox and small parcel deliveries

The two companies are working together to tackle anticipated truck driver shortages, expected when overtime work restrictions come into effect in April next year.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 19, 2023

A 2023 recession wouldn’t be so bad for Biden. A downturn in 2024 would.

If a recession is going to come in the next 12 months — and most economists surveyed say it probably is — then U.S. President Joe Biden should hope it begins sooner rather than later.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2023

Japan government to establish council to revitalize regional transportation

Possible measures include effectively integrating public bus and school bus operators to reduce workload and improve profitability.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 17, 2023

Inside the race to remake lithium extraction for EV batteries

The global battle to reshape the lithium industry is sucking in oil producers and tech startups, each jockeying to be the first to reinvent how the key metal is produced.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 17, 2023

Japan, U.S. and Philippine national security chiefs hold first meeting

The senior officials are looking to expand cooperation in the face of China's military threats in the East and South China Seas.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jun 16, 2023

Kylian Mbappe says staying with PSG 'my only option for now'

Kylian Mbappe on Thursday said staying at Paris Saint-Germain was his "only option for now," after the France superstar told the club he would not be extending his contract beyond 2024.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 16, 2023

Japanese parliament enacts bill to increase defense spending

The bill was approved by a majority vote at a plenary meeting of the Upper House, with support mainly from the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 14, 2023

Give overworked sumo wrestlers a break — literally

A mid-summer pause would allow rikishi to heal up ahead of the two most arduous and punishing months on the schedule.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Jun 14, 2023

Beijing uses its more militarized coast guard like a navy

Beijing’s patrol vessels often resemble warships, and now other nations are trying to compete with tougher coast guards of their own.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 13, 2023

Japan delays possible tax hike period for defense, draft documents show

Japan has set ¥6.8 trillion for defense spending in this fiscal year, jumping from last year’s ¥5.4 trillion.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 13, 2023

Tesla's shrewdest product is proving to be its charging network

Selling a car is one thing; selling consumers an EV fueling experience is another, and one that provides an ongoing revenue stream.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2023

Major Japanese steelmakers face high bar for decarbonization

Carbon dioxide emissions from the steel industry account for roughly 50% of the total from the domestic industry sector.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji