Japan panel urges convenience stores to shorten hours and lower labor cost burden
Convenience store chains should consider shortening their business hours, and help franchise owners cover rising labor costs, a government panel said Thursday. The recommendations come as some franchise owners are struggling to keep convenience stores open 24 hours a day, despite plateauing demand from consumers ...
Japan's METI recommends releasing Fukushima radioactive water into sea
The industry ministry Friday recommended releasing treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant into the ocean, saying it would be preferable to releasing it into the atmosphere by boiling it. The government has been exploring ways to dispose of more than ...
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Friday that it will launch a trial next week at convenience stores at three government ministries and an agency to test ways to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags. The test will be conducted for three ...
Japan, the United States and the European Union on Tuesday proposed expanding a ban on market-distorting subsidies under World Trade Organization rules, a measure apparently targeted at China. The three economies hope to win support for the proposal from a wide range of WTO members ...
Trade minister Hiroshi Kajiyama and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer exchanged views Monday on reforming the World Trade Organization, which has become largely dysfunctional due to a shortage of members in its appellate body. Meeting in Washington, the Japanese and U.S. trade chiefs also confirmed ...
Japan and India boost cooperation on digital infrastructure for new technology era
Eyeing a new digital society where a variety of data will be better utilized for people's lives and industrial activities, Japan and India have stepped up cooperation in the area of digital infrastructure. The two countries are particularly focusing on sharing information on the development ...
METI panel calls for flexible hours at Japan's convenience stores
A panel of experts under the industry ministry published a draft report Monday recommending that major convenience store chains allow stores to have flexible operations amid a severe labor shortage. The draft report said major chains should review their around-the-clock operations due to a changing ...
China, Japan and South Korea trade chiefs vow to accelerate FTA talks
The trade ministers of China, Japan and South Korea pledged Sunday to step up their negotiations on a trilateral free trade agreement and a wider Asia-Pacific deal. Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshi Kajiyama and South Korean Industry Minister ...
Tokyo court rules limit on washroom use for transgender METI official was illegal
The Tokyo District Court ordered the government Thursday to pay damages to a transgender ministry official, ruling that it was illegal for her workplace to impose restrictions on her use of women's washrooms. The court ordered the state to pay the Economy, Trade and Industry ...
Japan won't ease export controls in South Korea talks, METI chief says
The removal of Japan's tightened export controls on South Korea will not be on the table in an upcoming meeting between senior trade officials from the countries, industry minister Hiroshi Kajiyama said Friday. "I don't think so," he said when asked at a news conference ...
Japan's METI says it's safe to dump radioactive water from Fukushima nuclear disaster into ocean
Storage tanks for the waste water at Fukushima No. 1 are getting full, Tepco says.
New Japanese trade minister hopes for RCEP agreement by the end of the year
Japan is ready to take a leadership role in finalizing an Asian free trade deal by the end of the year, newly appointed trade minister Hiroshi Kajiyama said Tuesday, days after his predecessor stepped down over a gift scandal. With the United States adopting more ...
