NEWSWORTHY
Young Japanese turn to financial education to prepare for future of uncertain pensions
Education programs to help people make financial plans for their future are spreading as young Japanese face a bleak horizon of uncertain pension benefits. Their worries are well-founded, given the aging population and low birthrate. Japanese are often regarded as being reluctant about making investments, with ...
The sweet smell of an incense workshop success
Incense workshops can be a sweet-smelling way to teach kids about a traditional craft of Japan
A system has been launched to certify medical specialists under a common set of standards. Hopefully, it won't drain too many doctors from general practice or concentrate too many specialists in big cities.
91-year-old actress continues 50-year fight for inclusive society
As Japan's first school for people with disabilities celebrated its 50th anniversary last week, its founder — 91-year-old actress Mariko Miyagi — has been hailed for her "revolutionary" work battling prejudice and working to create an inclusive society. When Miyagi launched Nemunoki Gakuen in 1968, ...
In Japan no one wants to talk about sex education
The English "penis" — which rhymes with "Venice" in katakana — is the preferred technical term when discussing male genitalia in Japan, but even that seems to be taboo in broadcast situations.
English proficiency at Japan's middle and high schools falls far short of government targets
A survey finds the English proficiency of students at public junior and senior high schools is improving but remains well behind government targets.
Some readers' responses to recent stories on the Community pages.
A quarter of U.S. college students surveyed went hungry at some point in previous month
About a quarter of students at 66 U.S. colleges and universities said in a survey that they had gone hungry in the previous month, researchers said on Tuesday. Experts said the findings, which are from the largest survey to measure hunger on campuses, confirmed concerns ...
The Japanese government should reach out to children around the world by endorsing the Safe Schools Declaration.
A Chinese woman pleaded guilty Monday to cheating on a college entrance exam, becoming the latest person to admit wrongdoing amid U.S. probes into international students who use imposters to gain admission to American universities. Leyi Huang, who had been attending Pennsylvania State University using ...
Japanese government to train teachers on how to keep abduction issue fresh among younger generations
The government will start a training program for schoolteachers in the autumn to foster better youth understanding of the abduction issue involving North Korea, officials said. The government's Headquarters for Abduction Issue hopes the training program for elementary, junior high and high school teachers will ...
Foreign Minister Taro Kono urges his newest diplomats to hone their English
Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Monday extended a warm welcome to the ministry's newest recruits, and asked the young diplomats to continue improving their English and other essential skills needed to connect Japan with the rest of the world. "By devoting yourself to studying English ...
