Commentary / World Oct 20, 2021
America’s superstar cities aren’t what they used to be
by Justin Fox
The 10 biggest U.S. cities, while large and growing, now account for less than 7.9% of the country’s population.
Business / Corporate Sep 13, 2021
KDDI teams up with SpaceX to provide better mobile access in remote areas
Musk's Starlink satellites will connect to 1,200 remote mobile towers in Japan so rural customers can experience urban-level mobile connectivity.
National Jul 12, 2021
A deserted Akita town offers a glimpse of Japan's demographic future
by Ying Zhou
A lack of jobs is causing younger people to move away, which results in stores and other industries losing business and leaves mainly the retired population.
Business / Economy | FOCUS Jun 10, 2021
Japan pushes higher wages in bid for regional revitalization
A draft of the government's annual economic and fiscal policy guidelines calls for efforts to raise minimum wages, aiming to achieve a national average of ¥1,000 per hour.
Business Jun 9, 2021
Japan to list 10,000 workers keen to leave Tokyo in rural revitalization plan
The government aims to "rectify" the Tokyo-centric economy and population to help revive regional areas, according to a draft of its annual economic policy guideline.
Business Feb 1, 2021
Push to go electric could wipe out Japan’s cheap microcars
by Shiho Takezawa and Tsuyoshi Inajima
Electrification can add ¥1 million to ¥2 million to the price tag of a smaller kei vehicle, potentially doubling its price.
Issues Nov 28, 2020
Remote Nagasaki island 'getting energy' from Vietnamese students
An island suffering from the effects of depopulation has offered Vietnamese students a discount to study Japanese there.
Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT Nov 23, 2020
Cheap, spacious, crowd-free: Rural Japan is having a moment with the foreign community
by Jessop Petroski
Laura Blackhall took a risk purchasing an empty house in the Ibaraki countryside. Amid and following a pandemic, though, it's a choice that just might pay off.
Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT Nov 16, 2020
An outsider's look at the problems plaguing rural Japan
by Eric Margolis
When new people come to town they bring a flurry of new ideas with them. In the small town of Nakatsugawa, this has meant an exciting cultural exchange.
Business Nov 4, 2020
As Japan moves to revive its countryside, pandemic drives many out of cities
by Tetsushi Kajimoto
In September, 30,644 people moved out of Tokyo, up 12.5% year-on-year, while the number moving in fell 11.7% to 27,006, data showed.
National | Regional Voices: Hiroshima Sep 25, 2020
Rules on buying farmland eased in rural Hiroshima amid depopulation
Smaller plots are being made available in a bid to attract younger people from the cities to the countryside.
National Jul 26, 2020
Tokyoites leaving bustle behind for space and nature as pandemic proves catalyst for change
by Su Xincheng
As companies close offices in central Tokyo or encourage employees to work from home to stay safe from the coronavirus pandemic, young people are relocating to the suburbs where rents are cheaper, space less at a premium and nature nearer the doorstep. With Japanese work ...