National Mar 24, 2022
Keen to attract young talent, Japan's civil service faces work-life balance hurdle
Staff asked about how to attract competent workers into Japan's bureaucracy have suggested a "reduction of overtime and late-night work."
Business Nov 26, 2021
Female graduates to outnumber men for first time at Japan’s financial regulator
by Takashi Umekawa and Takashi Nakamichi
Women account for eight of the 14 fresh bureaucrats planning to join the Financial Services Agency in April.
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Oct 23, 2021
Behind the scenes, younger bureaucrats are fed up with overtime
by Philip Brasor
Many young bureaucrats are working late to make leading party lawmakers look good, and it’s taking a toll.
National | FOCUS Aug 30, 2021
Japan's new Digital Agency prepares for daunting task of overhauling tech policy
by Kazuaki Nagata
Past efforts have stumbled due to insufficient resources and bureaucratic divisions, and an ability to overcome these structural issues will make or break the new agency.
Commentary / Japan | API Geoeconomic Briefing Aug 22, 2021
Private sector key to the success of Japan's digital agency
by Jun Mukoyama
In order to breathe life into the agency, it is necessary to break away from longstanding bureaucratic practices.
National Jul 4, 2021
Women hold only 5.9% of director-level jobs in Japanese government
The data show how deeply entrenched traditional gender roles are in Japan and the hurdles that remain toward narrowing the gender gap.
National May 28, 2021
Women account for record 37% of Japanese government's new recruits
A total of 9,090 new recruits joined the central government at the start of fiscal 2021, including 3,362 women.
Business Apr 7, 2021
Child care firms benefit from stock boost as Suga looks to shake up sector
by Gearoid Reidy
Reports suggest the prime minister aims to form a new government-wide "Children’s Agency” to oversee and strengthen policy for infants and children.
National Mar 8, 2021
Concern after Japan virus officials averaged 124 hours of overtime in January
One staffer at the Cabinet Secretariat's Office for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control was in the office for 391 hours outside of regular working hours in the month.
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Feb 27, 2021
Progress in the government's bid to digitalize public services
by Philip Brasor
One woman found that re-entering Japanese society as a citizen was more difficult than trying to enter British society as a foreign national.
National Jan 26, 2021
Record 16% of fathers in Japan's civil service took child care leave in 2019
The health ministry reported the highest ratio among eligible male staff at 59.2%, while the Defense Ministry and the Imperial Household Agency recorded figures of just over 5%.
National / Politics | FOCUS Oct 19, 2020
Could reform mission put Taro Kono on path to succeed Suga?
by Eric Johnston
Driving reforms is giving the media- and social media-savvy 57-year-old the opportunity to raise his political profile by playing to his strengths. Will it be enough?