Japan is rarely associated with poverty. Its nominal GDP remains the world’s fourth largest after the U.S., China and Germany, and it has the lowest unemployment rate among the top seven advanced economies. Yet Japan slips to the 24th spot when...
The Japanese are long known for working hard and long hours. We do not take long vacations. Many of us remain at desks beyond office hours, partly because everyone else does and partly because there is too much work to do. The shrinking population...
It is heartbreaking, and yet so common, to see old men in the 70s manning construction and car parking sites in Japan, waving traffic control lights in blue uniforms and apologizing to passing-by pedestrians for the inconvenience, even under the...
The number of working women in Japan reached a record high of 30 million in 2022, but it is still second last among developed countries after South Korea. Moreover, half of these women are employed on a part-time basis. There is still a conventional...
Coming out is a life-changing experience that requires courage and the right timing. Many LGBT people find that the process of job hunting in Japan can force that timing and expose them to a non-understanding environment. More than 40% of...
Technical intern trainees made use of to compensate for labor force The number of foreign workers in Japan is on the rise. Japan’s Technical Intern Training, which accounts for the largest percentage of work qualifications, has been denounced...
“Karoshi” is a major social issues in Japan. This phenomenon, which leads to death from diseases and mental disorders caused by overwork, is on the rise worldwide. In 2021, WHO/ILO Joint estimated that long working hours are killing more...
Young people all over the world face challenges regarding their life and employment. The job market is increasingly competitive, with more unstable work and a decreasing supply of career-track jobs. This is especially true for Japanese young people...
Economic development and job opportunities are crucial for any society. While the Coronavirus has caused economic damage in Japan and worldwide, Japan is in a fortunate position as the world’s third-largest economy. Over the years, Japan has been...