Business and Economy

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Japan’s Christmas Cakes Are Getting So Expensive That Some Bakers Wanna Quit

The price of everything in Japan is going up lately. Christmas cakes, a holiday staple since Japan's Taisho era, are no exception.…

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

FamilyMart Will Give Over 10K Famichiki Away as School Lunches

Deck the school halls with Famichiki? FamilyMart is making headlines today with its announcement of a very Japanese Christmas-themed giveaway, as it…

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Japan’s Not Eating Its Vegetables. Is The Economy to Blame?

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare says Japanese people need to eat more vegetables. The exhortation has led to an online…

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Can This Japanese Company Save Subway in Japan?

The Subway brand in Japan is dying. Over half of the store's chains have closed in the past 10 years. Japan's Watami,…

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Port Store: When a Japanese Combini Isn’t a Combini

Ever seen a combini in Tokyo that looks sorta...fake? Congratulations - you've found a port store. Here's why some Lawson and Family…

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Japan’s Best-Paying Hourly Jobs? Costco and IKEA

Real wages in Japan have remained pathetically low for several decades. Unless, that is, you work for Costco or IKEA. As the…

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Will Eat-in Spaces in Japan’s Combini Disappear?

There's no eating in the convenience store! At least, not anymore. FamilyMart has announced it'll shutter around a third of its eat-in…

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

The Tokaido Shinkansen Celebrates 60 Years of Awesome

Happy birthday! This month, the Tokaido Shinkansen celebrated its 60th anniversary. Learn more about the bullet train's history and how it revolutionized…