Ten years have passed since a system was adopted to provide research academics with long-term job security by setting their employment periods at 10 years (and transferring employees to unlimited-term positions after 10 years). Now, researchers are being terminated one after another, dealing a further blow to Japan’s research capabilities.   At RIKEN, the nation’s largest research organization for basic….Read more

Semiconductors are becoming increasingly important from the perspective of economic security. The Japanese government is scrambling to attract investment in Japan by major foreign manufacturers to revive the Japanese chipmaking industry.

TOKYO — Japan’s ruling party on Tuesday approved a government proposal to expand the scope of a blue-collar skilled worker visa that effectively allows holders to live in the country indefinitely.   In a possible major shift in the country’s foreign labor policy, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government is expected to formally endorse the plan next month in response to….Read more

Facing pressure from both investors and the government, top Japanese companies Canon and Toray Industries plan to appoint women to their board of directors for the first time, in a step toward gender equality.

While Japan’s economic indicators have improved, it may be difficult for many citizens suffering from price hikes to feel the difference.   Real gross domestic product (GDP) for the January-March period increased from the previous quarter to 1.6% on an annualized basis. This is the first positive growth for the country since April-June 2022.   Consumer spending, which accounts for….Read more

The government is considering expanding the scope of duties foreign carers can perform to alleviate chronic labor shortages in the nursing care sector, it has been learned.   The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry plans to review current regulations, including a rule that blocks foreign workers from conducting home visits.   As of the end of October 2022, there were….Read more

EUGENE LANG, Nikkei staff writer   TOKYO — Japan looks to expand the range of foreign workers eligible to stay in the country longer under visas for skilled labor, aiming to stem a potential exodus under the current program.   The “specified skilled worker” visa implemented in 2019 grants residence status to foreigners employed in 12 fields. Nine of those….Read more

usiness leaders from the Group of Seven major countries issued a joint proposal Thursday calling for the creation of a new trade and investment framework to avoid global market fragmentation.