National Jul 28, 2020
Aloha again? Hawaii says Japan looking at easing travel curbs
The U.S. state's governor said details were still being worked out and no timetable has been set for when the program would start.
National Jul 14, 2020
Japan prepares support for foreign technical trainees fired amid pandemic
The government on Tuesday included employment support for foreign technical trainees who have lost jobs due to the novel coronavirus pandemic in a revised package of measures aimed at bringing in more foreign workers. The comprehensive package, which was first revised last year, was revised ...
National Jun 26, 2020
U.S. downgrades Japan on human trafficking due to trainee program
In its annual Trafficking in Persons Report, the State Department placed Japan in Tier 2.
National / Social Issues Jun 8, 2020
Long-term expats in Hamamatsu less confident in Japanese than interns
Over three quarters of those not studying the language said they would like to, with 44 percent saying they had no time to do so because of work.
Business | FOCUS Apr 29, 2020
Japan's farm and hotel sectors cooperate as pandemic halts entry of foreign labor
by Takuya Okamoto
Under entry controls, 220 workers from China, Indonesia and Myanmar bound for one of the Japan's major cabbage production areas have been unable to enter the country.
Business Mar 20, 2020
Japanese businesses hit by lack of Chinese trainees amid virus outbreak
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has dealt a heavy blow to the manufacturing, farming and fishing industries in rural areas, as it has halted the arrival of Chinese trainees they have relied on for labor. A textile manufacturer in Fukui Prefecture said one of ...
National / Crime & Legal Feb 18, 2020
Myanmar man arrested for murder of compatriot in central Japan
Police arrested on Tuesday a 28-year-old Myanmar man on suspicion of stabbing to death a compatriot co-worker in a company cafeteria in Mie Prefecture. Kaung Kyaw Htet was arrested for allegedly stabbing Ye Htet Zaw, 25, in the back sometime between 4 p.m. and 4:25 ...
National Jan 21, 2020
Japan's new visa system on track to fall far short of target
The government is likely to fall far short of its target of issuing work permits under a new visa system to 340,000 non-Japanese over the next five years to alleviate acute labor shortages in 14 sectors. As of the end of September, only 219 foreign ...
National Jan 18, 2020
by Ryusei Takahashi
A survey finds a large majority of Japanese believe the nation needs to create a more welcoming environment for foreign residents.
National / Social Issues Dec 29, 2019
Japan's immigration chief optimistic asylum and visa woes will improve in 2020
by Magdalena Osumi
With Japan expecting to welcome a record 40 million visitors in 2020, including for the Summer Games, immigration authorities are strengthening security to manage the influx and prevent abuse of their policies. "We need to enhance measures to prevent any terror attacks," said Shoko Sasaki, ...
Editorials Dec 15, 2019
To streamline and improve the system for inviting people from overseas to work in this country, the technical intern program should either be drastically overhauled or scrapped.
National Nov 13, 2019
Only 895 granted blue-collar visas since April, immigration agency admits
by Magdalena Osumi
The immigration service had issued just 895 working permits as of early November under the new visa system for skilled blue-collar foreign workers, a far lower number than had originally been forecast for this time, agency officials said Wednesday. The program, which was introduced in ...