An increasing number of prefectural governments and ordinance-designated major cities are expanding the scope of disabled people eligible to take exams for regular jobs at public-sector offices to include those with mental or intellectual disabilities. Previously, the job exams had been available to people with ...
New law holds government responsible for teaching Japanese to all foreign residents
The legislation places the onus for providing learning opportunities on the state but does not contain any concrete measures to fund.
Toilet manners and traffic jams are top concerns amid Japan tourism boom, say local governments
Traffic jams and tourists' manners are recognized by many of Japan's tourist destinations as major issues that need to be addressed amid the sharp increase in foreign visitors in recent years, a government survey showed Wednesday. The Japan Tourism Agency survey, conducted in October and ...
Osaka Ishin no Kai candidate Hideki Nagafuji wins Sakai mayoral election
A candidate from regional party Osaka Ishin no Kai (One Osaka) won Sunday's mayoral election in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, likely giving a boost to the party's push for local administrative reorganization. Hideki Nagafuji, a 42-year-old former Osaka Prefectural Assembly member, defeated two other contenders. Voter ...
Sakai voters poised to decide key mayoral race for Osaka Ishin and LDP ahead of Upper House poll
Voters in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, will head to the polls Sunday to elect a new mayor in a key local race ahead of next month's Upper House election, with an Osaka Ishin no Kai (One Osaka) candidate reportedly the frontrunner in a closely contested ...
To help simplify complex tasks, Diet passes legislation allowing online administrative procedures
The Diet on Friday enacted legislation that enables online administrative procedures in order to enhance residents' convenience by simplifying complex procedures related to events such as changes of address, death and property inheritance. The bill was approved at a plenary meeting of the House of ...
Japan's Finance Ministry proposes cuts to local government workforce as population drops
The Finance Ministry on Wednesday issued a set of proposals on the reform of local finances, including a call for cuts to the number of local government employees in line with the country's shrinking population. According to the package, local governments should streamline clerical duties ...
Journalist sues city of Nagasaki over alleged sexual violence by senior official
A journalist Thursday filed a damages lawsuit against the city of Nagasaki over alleged sexual violence during her newsgathering activities by a senior municipal official, who has since taken his own life. The suit was filed with Nagasaki District Court. She is seeking some ¥35 ...
Abe likely to use upcoming big events to distract Japanese public from election routs, experts say
The Liberal Democratic Party's defeat in two by-elections on Sunday is likely to prompt the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to use upcoming diplomatic events to deflect domestic attention from recent political setbacks, as he looks ahead to a key Upper House election ...
Cosplaying eccentric Mac Akasaka of the Smile Party snags seat in Tokyo ward assembly
He clambers out from under the table, wearing a pink Hooter's tank top while sporting fluffy angel wings and a halo, before bowing deeply toward the camera and taking a seat. "People of Tokyo — have you been smiling lately!?" he says suddenly, breaking into ...
Record six women secure mayor jobs in Japan's local elections, though two won uncontested
A record six women have secured city mayoralty in this year's quadrennial unified local elections. On Sunday, the second and final round of the elections took place. There were mayoral elections in 59 cities (including three prefectural capitals, Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture, Nagasaki and Oita), 11 ...
Youth turnout a worry in Japan's first quadrennial elections under new voting age of 18
The first quadrennial unified local elections to be held after the voting age was lowered to 18 in June 2015 are being hampered by concerns about the youngest voters' low voting rate. Since most are going through important life changes in April, such as entering ...
