Automobiles Maintaining production and preventing GDP drop in Japan will require triple ratio of foreign workers Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda says the automaker will defend domestic production “at all costs.” (Photo by Takayuki Yao) NAGOYA, Japan — Toyota Motor plans to build an auto plant in its hometown of Toyota, Aichi prefecture, in the 2030s, its first […]

Consumer Users snap up last-minute birthday presents and date-night lipstick Special lockers hold items for Meituan personnel to deliver. (Photo by Kohei Fujimura) DALIAN, China — As a 30-something woman in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian headed to a dinner with friends, one of them casually mentioned in a group chat that it was […]

Bonds Higher yields compared with bank deposits attract new source of funding Retail investors have emerged as a key source of demand, becoming an increasingly important contributor to corporate financing for growth. TOKYO — Corporate bond issuance in Japan reached a record high in the fiscal year ended March, rising 5% from the previous year […]

Food & Beverage Hanamaruki plans to sell liquid shio koji as healthy seasoning Hanamaruki Foods showcased its liquid shio koji products at Natural Products Expo West 2026 held early March in Anaheim, California. TOKYO — Japanese miso company Hanamaruki Foods plans to begin retail sales of its flagship product, liquid shio koji, in the U.S., […]

Iran was Middle East conflict has unleashed turmoil in global energy markets People fuel their vehicles at a Karachi gas station on April 3. Pakistan’s government has hiked prices for gasoline and diesel amid fallout from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. © Reuters ISLAMABAD — Pakistan this week drastically hiked gasoline and diesel prices to the […]

@AI-generated image A new portrait of the Brazilian job market reveals a problem that goes far beyond the lack of vacancies. The unprecedented research “Common Horizon”, by the PROA Institute, reveals that the main challenge of youth employability is the mismatch between expectations, social reality and corporate practices that are still not very inclusive. Rectangular […]

Travel & Leisure Smartphone-enabled system promises more vacation time, less running around Osaka Metro in March began installing Multi-cube reservable lockers in some of its stations. (Photo by Kai Ishizaki) OSAKA — Osaka Metro has begun installing smartphone-reservable luggage lockers at its five major stations in the city, an effort to help tourists stow their […]

Human rights group Voices Switzerland is conducting workshops to teach Uyghurs and Tibetans in Switzerland how to protect themselves against tactics Chinese agents might use. (Voices Switzerland) HAMBURG, Germany — A human rights group is conducting workshops in Switzerland to help the country’s Uyghur and Tibetan communities deal with attempts by agents of China to spy […]

Tea Leaves Kichijoji’s attractions collide with problems such as aging and immigration The bustling streets of Tokyo’s Kichijoji neighborhood reflect its status as one of the capital’s most desirable places to live. (Photo by CK Tan) After calling the western Tokyo enclave of Kichijoji home for the past two years, I have come to understand why it is […]

Japan has 4.12 million foreign residents, accounting for 3.3% of the total population. (Photo by Takayuki Yao) TOKYO — Japan is considering a proposal to tighten income requirements for obtaining permanent residency, part of measures being considered by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to curb the rapidly rising number of foreigners living in the country amid pressure from other […]