japan

MOFA: Opinion Poll on Japan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned research agencies to conduct an opinion poll on the image of Japan in the United States, Canada, five European countries, Russia and four Central Asian countries from January to February in 2019. The results of the poll are as follows. 1. United States The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan contracted with […]

Continue Reading
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

Path to Power: New METI Report on Corporate Law and International Competitiveness

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) said it has released a report on Corporate Law and International Competitiveness, covering ideal approaches to legal functions in Japanese companies. It is the result of work by the Study Group for Development of Ideal Approaches to Legal Functions in Japanese Companies for Enhancement of International Competitiveness, which aims at discussing policy […]

Continue Reading
Society 5.0 Japan

How Society 5.0 Will Change Japan

The Japanese vision of Society 5.0 promotes the Super Smart Society, in which Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence will change a plethora of things. Much that is now performed by humans will then be carried out by computers. Sweeping changes in business and production will make jobs obsolete and create new ones at the same time. Society 5.0 will change […]

Continue Reading
Japan Bitcoin Innovation

Japanese Regulation Paves the Way for Bitcoin Innovation

Japan has undoubtedly become one of the world’s leading bitcoin hubs in recent years. Through a combination of popular interest, major exchanges and regulation, the country has not only established itself as a cryptocurrency authority, but it has started to lead the way in terms of innovation. Indeed, since the Financial Services Agency gave its seal of approval to bitcoin […]

Continue Reading
Rakuten Walmart Press Conference

Rakuten and Walmart Form Strategic Alliance

Rakuten and Walmart are joining forces to launch an online grocery delivery service in Japan and a new eBooks and audiobooks offering in the U.S. The new strategic alliance looks to use each company’s strengths and assets to make sure that customers are served better. The new online grocery delivery service in Japan is slated for launch at the beginning […]

Continue Reading
Japanese Automotive Industry - Honda

Japan Decides on Basic Hydrogen Strategy

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has recently decided on a Basic Hydrogen Strategy to build a world-leading hydrogen-based society. The strategy outlines future visions that Japan should achieve with an eye on 2050, and serves as an action plan to accomplish these visions by 2030. As part of the strategy, Japan aims to reduce hydrogen costs […]

Continue Reading
Tokyo Buildings

Japanese Statistics Bureau Publishes Statistical Yearbook 2018

The Statistics Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has published the Japan Statistical Yearbook 2018. The annual publication is a systematic summary of statistical information published by government and private organisations. The yearbook covers 30 wide-ranging fields such as land, population, economy, society and culture in 539 tables. Read the Japan Statistical Yearbook 2018 here.

Continue Reading
TPP Comes Roaring Back

TPP Comes Roaring Back as 11 Countries Reach Agreement

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations have made substantial progress when negotiators on Nov. 10 reached agreement for a way forward at the TPP Ministerial Meeting held in Vietnam. This marks an important milestone for building the broader free trade area in the Asia-Pacific region, which experienced a stumble block when U.S. President Trump pulled out of negotiations back im January. Yet […]

Continue Reading
Marc Burrage presents Hays' Global Skills Index for Japan

3 Ways to Make Japan’s Workforce Fit for the Future – Hays Survey

Almost two million jobs have been created since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office in 2012. This is good news for employees, but companies are having difficulties finding the people they need. “With 1.5 jobs per seeker, Japan is now facing the most extreme labor market since 1974,” said Hays Japan Managing Director Marc Burrage while presenting the recruitment specialist’s […]

Continue Reading
Japan UK Brexit

Brexit: What Will Japanese Companies Do?

After invoking Article 50 on March 29, the United Kingdom is set to leave the European Union by March 2019. Yet with only 18 months to go and after a third failed round of negotiations, it looks increasingly possible that the parties may miss reaching a deal. Such a scenario is problematic for non-European multinationals, many of which steer their […]

Continue Reading
Old Japanese House

Japan Moves Quickly Toward Energy-Efficient Buildings

By Hiroyuki Arie, General Manager, Business Stream Systems at TÜV Rheinland Japan   Fire, typhoon and earthquake resistance of buildings has long been of paramount importance in Japan. This is partly because for a long period of time, the majority of structures were lightly made of wood. If a house caught fire in the Edo period (1603–1868), firefighters often chose […]

Continue Reading