LIVING IN JAPAN
Japan May Require Japanese Language Test for Permanent Residency
The Japanese government may also require applicants to take courses in Japanese culture and manners before settling in for the long haul.
government
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LIVING IN JAPAN
POLITICS
Right-Wing Coalition in Japan Pushes Flag Defacement Law
If the coalition gets its way, defacing the Hi no Maru flag - an act currently considered protected speech - could become…
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.
LIVING IN JAPAN
Japan Continues Cracking Down on Foreigners, for Some Reason
New proposals around property registration and naturalization raise questions around what problem the country is trying to solve.
LIVING IN JAPAN
Japan to Increase Residence Permit Fees Amid Rising Immigration Costs
The move is meant to align with fees set by Western countries - but many residents complain the new rates are exorbitant.
SOCIETY
Vaccine Hesitancy Persists in Japan Despite Government Efforts
A combination of government missteps and online disinformation has steadily eroded public trust in the life-saving practice.
LIVING IN JAPAN
Japan Will Make Some Foreign Residents Prepay Health Insurance Premiums
The move is one of a number of increasing restrictions on Japan's foreign population amidst an increase in right-wing nationalism.
FOOD
Report: Nearly 30% of Japan’s Restaurant Managers Work 60-Hour Weeks
A new report finds that one-third of all restaurant managers are so busy that they're at risk of working themselves to death.