WOMEN
Working Mothers Now Exceed 81% of Japanese Households With Kids, a Record
Working mothers have hit their highest record ever in Japan. But that's not necessarily a sign of growing equality.
employment
WOMEN
CULTURE
Japan’s New “Maid School” Trains Professionals for the Mansion, Not the Maid Cafe
Forget maid cafés. Japan Maid School is training professionals for luxury private homes, focusing on housekeeping, etiquette, and discretion.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Kanagawa Prefecture Considers Four-Day Workweek for All Government Staff
The prefecture is the latest in a string of local governments and private companies in Japan experimenting with flexible schedules.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Double-Edged Harmony: What “Hōrensō” Reveals About Japanese Work Culture
Japan’s famous "hōrensō" work mantra promises harmony and trust. Its roots reveal a system that also silences and protects power.
CULTURE
New Silent Cafe in Osaka Employs Mostly Deaf Staff
A new cafe in Osaka that employs mostly deaf and hard-of-hearing staff builds on Japan's growing tradition of cafes that revel in…
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
90% of Japanese Pet Food Company’s New Employees Quit Within Weeks
In Japan, 30% of employees resign from their first jobs. But at Inaba Foods, they're setting new records for attrition. Why were…
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Pop-Up Cafe That Supports Stutterers Makes Rounds in Japan
Learn about a new and unique popup cafe that aims to employ and advocate for people with speech impediments in Japan.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
The Company NEET: Japan’s Employee Who’s Hardly Working
Not everyone is working hard in Japan. Meet the company NEET, a new species of employee who's flying under the radar.