No matter how many children you have, parenthood always has its challenges. This is especially the case for single mothers in Japan, many of whom also struggle financially. The average annual income of single mothers in Japan is 2.43 million yen...
Cafes in Japan are popular and comprise sleek designs that create an atmosphere that makes each and every customer feel at home. Cafe culture in Japan is quite widespread; even in the smallest country side towns have something to offer its residents...
Takeo City, in southern Japan of Saga prefecture, has started a project to reuse the remains of wild boars as fertilizer in a rare innovation that aims to benefit farmers whose crops are often damaged by the animals. As in many farming communities...
Creating a more sustainable society and economy takes time, effort and planning. Thankfully, Japan has several initiatives towards this goal. In May, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced “Industrial Technology Vision 2020.” It is a...
Imabari City in Ehime Prefeture is known to be one of Japan’s leading shipbuilding towns in the Setouchi region, facing the Seto Inland Sea. The city prides in building beautiful ships that travel the world, but shipbuilding has its drawbacks: tens...
It’s the moment we have all been waiting for: the completion of Kamikatsu town’s Zero Waste Center. It’s been more than a year since we first heard of its plans. Now, the town’s efforts has come to fruition, and the execution is better than...
Japan Women’s University announced last month that it will start accepting transgender students, joining a recent trend among women’s universities here. In consideration of its current enrollment, it has set 2024 as the start date for entrance of...
The outbreak of COVID-19 has disrupted sources of income and reduced work opportunities in Japan. This has impacted the living situation of foreign residents. Furthermore, even after the COVID-19 State of Emergency was lifted, the food and beverage...
Significant action against climate change is required in order to avoid the worst of its effects. According to a 2018 report by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we have to reduce our carbon emissions to zero by...
Food waste is not a new problem in Japan. Every year, 6.12 million tonnes of food is being thrown out. This amounts up to 132 grams of food waste per person, the equivalent of tossing out a bowl of rice every day. Furthermore, with the ongoing...