NEWSWORTHY
Immigration pact needed to thwart dodgy brokers targeting Nepalese heading to Japan, experts say
As Japan prepares to welcome a wave of new foreign workers, experts are cautioning Nepalese over unethical immigration brokers and urging their government to conclude an agreement with Japan for greater transparency in movements of migrant workers. In April, Tokyo will introduce a new program ...
Aeon rolls out real-time video interpreting service for non-Japanese customers in 10 languages
In light of an increasing number of foreign customers, supermarket giant Aeon Co. on Friday launched a real-time video interpreting service. Shop clerks at about 550 Aeon stores now carry smartphones or tablet devices that can access interpreters through video chat software to assist non-Japanese ...
Two Israeli Tokyo residents arrested over bid to smuggle 220 kg of gold bars into Japan by airmail
The police believe the men belong to a group suspected of similarly smuggling a total of some 4 tons of gold since March 2017, and selling it in Japan.
For me, 2018 was the year Japan began to listen
One day next year, and the year after that, someone will ask me in the course of a conversation why I decided to stay in Japan. I know this because it ranks among the top questions I'm asked — by Japanese and non-Japanese alike ...
Fukushima launches multilingual emergency call service as number of foreign residents rebounds
The prefectural police and fire departments in Fukushima have started multilingual services aimed at non-Japanese speakers making emergency calls amid a rising number of foreign visitors in the run-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. On Dec. 1 the prefectural police began offering services ...
Tokyo firm to help non-Japanese find work under new visa category
A company called one visa Inc., which supports online visa applications, has announced plans to launch new services for foreign workers hoping to come to Japan under a newly created visa category. The Tokyo-based company will collaborate with Kansai University and Seven Bank to help ...
Labor union says 3,000 foreign workers laid off at Sharp plant in Japan
The companies told the labor union the job cuts resulted from Sharp’s cutback in production of liquid crystal display panels for smartphones.
46 Chinese workers disappear in Hokkaido after 11 arrested over visa issues
The investigation started when one of the workers died of an illness on Nov. 25.
Japan's Upper House begins debate on bill to expand use of foreign labor
Debate on a bill to accept more foreign blue-collar workers begins in the House of Councilors after the ruling bloc forced it through the Lower House the previous day.
The government plans to require companies hiring foreign nationals with planned new work visas to shoulder costs for their return home if the individuals cannot pay their own way.
Views from Tokyo: How long is your commute? What do you do during that time?
Those long commutes to work can be rough, luckily smartphones can help pass the time.
Views from Tokyo: Should Japan follow Canada and legalize recreational marijuana?
What do Tokyoites and tourists think of Canada legalizing pot for recreational use? Could or should it ever happen in Japan?
