Japan's initial fiscal 2020 budget to top ¥100 trillion again, hitting new record
Japan's initial budget for fiscal 2020 will hit a record high and top ¥100 trillion ($920 billion) for the second straight year due to swelling social security and defense costs, government sources said Monday. The initial general account budget for the current fiscal year ending ...
Japanese man, 71, arrested for 'making 24,000 complaint calls'
A Japanese retiree has been arrested after ringing a phone company 24,000 times to complain they had violated his contract, police and local media reported. Tokyo police said they took 71-year-old Akitoshi Okamoto into custody last week after he made hundreds of toll-free calls over ...
As forestry work gets easier in graying Japan, young hires opt for paths less taken
Young Japanese are increasingly joining the forestry industry thanks to a government program and labor-saving improvements made possible by the expanding use of machines. Many also see the sector as an opportunity to escape urban life. "It's tough to deal with nature, but I enjoy ...
A world in disarray but Japan appears to sidestep turmoil
The world is furious. From Hong Kong to Chile, Indonesia to Bolivia, France to Iraq, Haiti to Iran, Egypt to Peru, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, have declared war on their governments and social systems, decrying dictatorship, corruption, mismanagement, incompetence, inequality, numbness to ...
New state funds proposed to help hospitals dump excess beds amid soaring medical costs
The finance and health ministries are thinking of setting up funds in each prefecture to support private hospitals trying to rid themselves of excess beds that are driving up medical costs, it has been learned. The idea calls for setting up a fund in each ...
Japanese health ministry draws outrage for 'inconsiderate' poster on terminal care
The health ministry's attempt to use comedy to encourage people to discuss hospice care options with their families in advance fell flat with the public and was criticized as being in poor taste, prompting its withdrawal. The poster, released Monday, was meant to promote a ...
Japan aims to offer subsidies to elderly drivers for cars with safety systems
The government plans to subsidize the purchases of cars with extra safety functions for those age 65 or over as part of steps to reduce traffic accidents, sources have said. Up to ¥100,000 will likely be provided per new vehicle equipped with an automatic braking ...
Abe becomes Japan's longest-serving prime minister
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the nation’s longest serving prime minister on Wednesday, beating previous record holder Taro Katsura by having served for a total of 2,887 days.
Roaming beauty services give Japan's elderly a new lease on style
Barber and beauty care providers have started making visits to people's homes and nursing care facilities as they adapt their services to the demands of Japan's rapidly aging society. As elderly regular customers tail off their visits to beauty salons, businesses are taking their full ...
71-year-old woman suspected of murdering three older family members due to stress of caregiving
A 71-year-old woman in central Japan suspected of murdering her husband has told investigators she strangled her in-laws as well, local police said Monday, pointing to the stress of being the sole caregiver in the family as a possible motive. Masako Kishimoto was arrested Sunday ...
The gray wave: Japan attempts to deal with its increasingly elderly population
Eighty-one-year-old Sachiko Miura wakes up at 6 a.m. every day to prepare breakfast at her newly renovated apartment located near a large supermarket, spa and a hospital in the suburbs of Japan's third largest city. After cleaning her room and doing her laundry, she takes ...
Old dogs, new tricks: 10,000 pets needed for study on aging
Can old dogs teach us new tricks? Scientists are looking for 10,000 pets for the largest-ever study of aging in canines. They hope to shed light on human longevity too. The project will collect a pile of pooch data: vet records, DNA samples, gut microbes ...
