In this week's news from Japan Today: The Japanese government wants companies to hire employees until age 70 as part of measures to address a severe labor shortage amid Japan's rapidly graying population; Nissan this week reported that its annual profit nose-dived 57.3% to less than half of what it earned the previous year, and forecast even dimmer future results; a 10-year-old girl who died in January after a series of assaults by her father had earlier been released from protective custody despite his suspected sexual abuse of her; a lawmaker was expelled from the opposition Japan Innovation Party this week after alluding to Japan waging war with Russia to regain control of islands at the center of a territorial dispute and Tokyo's busy Shibuya district has decided to ban drinking alcohol on some streets during the Halloween season following a number of incidents last year, including the overturning of a small truck. Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 GaijinPot Jobs: https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/ Japan Today: https://japantoday.com/ This weeks stories: Work to 70 — https://japantoday.com/category/business/gov't-to-urge-firms-to-hire-employees-until-age-70-amid-labor-crunch Nissan Nosedive — https://japantoday.com/category/business/Nissan-profit-nose-dives-57.3- Fatal Sex Abuse by Dad — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/Child-fatally-assaulted-by-father-was-earlier-released-from-custody-despite-his-sexual-abuse-of-her War with Russia? — https://japantoday.com/category/politics/Lawmaker-expelled-from-party-over-remarks-about-possible-war-with-Russia Halloween Havoc — https://japantoday.com/category/national/tokyo's-shibuya-to-ban-drinking-on-streets-during-halloween

Japan This Week

May 17, 2019: Work to 70, Nissan Nosedive, Sex Abuse by Dad, War with Russia? and Halloween Havoc

In this week's news from Japan Today: Two preschoolers were killed and a dozen injured when they were rammed by a car in Shiga Prefecture; verbal abuse and threats by a teacher have been blamed for the suicide of a junior high school girl in Ibaraki Prefecture; two teenagers were arrested for stringing a rope across a road in Osaka Prefecture and clothes lining a 77-year-old woman off her scooter; a quote by American crime reporter and former Japan resident Jake Adelstein inflamed Japan Today readers plus a social video of the Japanese PM goes viral internationally — and it has nothing to do with politics or scandal. Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 Japan Today: https://japantoday.com/ This weeks stories: Toddler Deaths — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/Car-hits-group-of-preschoolers-in-Shiga-Pref-2-dead Schoolgirl Suicide — https://japantoday.com/category/national/teacher%E2%80%99s-verbal-abuse-blamed-for-15-year-old-girl%E2%80%99s-suicide Rope ’n’ Road — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/2-teens-arrested-after-woman-injured-by-rope-across-road Quote of the Day — https://japantoday.com/category/quote-of-the-day/while-the-japanese-government-relentlessly-promotes-the-image-of-'cool-japan'-and-mega-tourism-the-current-reality-is-a-country-run-by-sociopathic-hitler-loving-plutocrats-with-plummeting-press-freedom-endemic-poverty-rising-censorship-deliberate-destruct https://www.thedailybeast.com/japan-has-a-new-emperor-naruhito-and-a-new-era-but-a-dark-future-under-shinzo-abe DIY PM — https://japantoday.com/category/politics/video-of-abe-installing-canadian-door-knocker-goes-global

May 10, 2019: Toddler Deaths, Schoolgirl Suicide, Rope ’n’ Road, Quote of the Day and DIY PM.

In this week's news from Japan Today: A very quick scan of headlines in Japan this week and then a look back at the last 30 years of Emperor Akihito’s reign and events that shaped the Heisei era, including: the bubble bursts; the earthquake emperor; revolving door politics, criminal minds, fashion pops, toilet technology plus readers look back on Japan and Heisei. Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 Japan Today: https://japantoday.com/

April 26, 2019: Heisei’s Greatest Hits: Bubble, Disaster, Politics, Crime, Pop Culture and more.

In this week's news from Japan Today: A survey of foreigners in Tokyo released this week reports that 50% of respondents have faced discrimination; Donald Trump plans to watch a sumo tournament when visiting Japan in May — and might present the winner’s trophy; a woman was arrested in Saitama Prefecture after giving birth in a 7-Eleven restroom and leaving the newborn in the toilet bowl; in punctual Japan, an elderly man in Nagoya who stopped a train from leaving the station by repeatedly preventing the doors from closing goes viral in a video and… that’s it? Plus a poop museum opens in Yokohama. Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 Japan Today: https://japantoday.com/ This weeks stories: Micro Racism — https://japantoday.com/category/national/half-of-foreigners-in-tokyo-experienced-discrimination-survey Trump Sumo Summit — https://japantoday.com/category/politics/sumo-trump-wants-to-watch-sumo-during-japan-visit-in-may Toilet Bowl Baby — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/woman-arrested-for-leaving-baby-after-giving-birth-in-store-bathroom Train in Vain — https://japantoday.com/category/national/man-stops-train-from-leaving-station-in-japan-video-goes-viral-online Poop Museum — https://japantoday.com/category/national/japanese-museum-show-tries-to-clean-up-poop's-image

April 19, 2019: Micro Racism, Trump Sumo Summit, Toilet Bowl Baby, Train in Vain and Poop Museum.

In this week's news from Japan Today: Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn released a video message proclaiming his innocence via his lawyer that he recorded before he was arrested; the minister responsible for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has resigned after comments deemed insulting to people in the Tohoku area who suffered after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami; a new study released by the ministry of health finds that the number of Japanese adults in their 30s with absolutely no sexual experience is increasing;” police in Fukuoka Prefecture are using fashion shows to recruit college-age women to join the force plus a pair of mangoes has sold for $4,500 in Miyazaki Prefecture. Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 Japan Today: https://japantoday.com/ This weeks stories: The Defiant One — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/in-video-ghosn-says-he-is-innocent-and-victim-of-backstabbing Foot-in-Mouth Disease — https://japantoday.com/category/politics/japan-olympic-minister-resigns-over-disaster-gaffe Like a Virgin — https://japantoday.com/category/national/virgin-territory-study-shows-sexual-inexperience-rising-in-japan Fashion Police — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/fukuoka-police-tackle-shortage-of-female-recruits-via-fashion-show Mango Tango — https://japantoday.com/category/national/pair-of-mangoes-goes-for-record-500-000-yen-at-first-auction

Apr 12 2019: The Defiant One, Foot-in-Mouth Disease, Like a Virgin, Fashion Police and Mango Tango.

In this week's news from Japan Today: Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn is back in a Tokyo jail tonight facing new financial misconduct charges; the new era name for Crown Prince Naruhito’s ascension to the throne next month has been announced — and not everyone is happy; after a recent survey, the Japan Tourism Agency wants transit and tourist information signs cleaned of “Engrish;” a new labor reform law came into force limiting overtime for workers in a bid to combat “karoshi” or “death from overwork” plus a teacher in Yamaguchi Prefecture is in hot water after forcibly shaving the head of one of his students. Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 Japan Today: https://japantoday.com/ This weeks stories: Bail Fail Jail — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/Ex-Nissan-boss-Ghosn-served-4th-arrest-warrant-calls-it-%27outrageous%27 Autocrat Era — https://japantoday.com/category/national/japan-gov't-says-era-name-translates-as-beautiful-harmony https://japantoday.com/category/national/Abe-explains-choice-of-Reiwa-for-next-era-name https://japantoday.com/category/business/Companies-looking-to-cash-in-on-new-era-name Karoshi Cap — https://japantoday.com/category/politics/japan-introduces-legal-cap-on-long-work-hours-under-labor-reform-law Lost in Translation — https://japantoday.com/category/national/odd-translations-found-on-english-websites-for-tourists-in-japan Velvet Buzz Cut — https://japantoday.com/category/national/high-school-teacher-in-hot-water-after-forcibly-giving-male-student-a-buzz-cut

April 5 2019: Bail Fail Jail, Autocrat Era, Lost in Translation, Karoshi Cap and Velvet Buzz Cut.

In this week's news from Japan Today: A new era in Japan starts in May — literally — as the country’s current emperor abdicates and his son takes the throne; a university in Tokyo has lost contact with 1,400 of its foreign students; the city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture is issuing a city-wide ordinance against people walking while eating; police have arrested an Osaka man for keeping the body of his dead mother in his bathroom for 10 months plus we stay abreast of the news that Hooters Japan is going — bust. Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 Japan Today: https://japantoday.com/ GaijinPot Jobs: https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/ This week's stories: Emperors New Groove — https://japantoday.com/category/national/updating-software-shaping-history-new-imperial-era-name-looms-large-in-japan AWOL University — https://japantoday.com/category/national/univ.-campus-inspected-after-1-400-foreign-students-go-awol No Eat’n’Go — https://japantoday.com/category/national/kamakura-passes-ordinance-against-eating-on-the-go Bathroom Cadaver — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/man-kept-mother%E2%80%99s-body-in-bathroom-since-her-death-last-august Hooters Busts — https://japantoday.com/category/business/hooters-goes-bust-in-japan

March 29 2019: Emperors New Groove, AWOL University, No Eat’n’Go, Bathroom Cadaver and Hooters Bust.

In this week's news from Japan Today: The Japanese government approved a plan to legally ban parents and guardians from physically punishing children; an American man was arrested for fatally stabbing his Japanese wife in the neck at family court; Japan plans to back a resolution in the U.N. opposing the creation of “killer robots;” a Hyogo Prefecture former mayor who quit last month over abusive language directed at another official has been re-elected plus the author of “Invisible Man,” Ralph Ellison, visited Japan in 1957 a few years after his iconic novel was published. Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 Japan Today: https://japantoday.com/ GaijinPot Jobs: https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/ Get updated via our telegram channel: https://t.me/japanthisweek This weeks stories: Child Abuse Ban — https://japantoday.com/category/national/update1-japan-gov't-oks-plan-to-ban-parents-from-physically-punishing-children Family Court Murder — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/American-man-arrested-over-murder-of-wife-at-Tokyo-Family-Court Killer Robots — https://japantoday.com/category/national/japan-to-back-int'l-efforts-to-regulate-ai-equipped-killer-robots GaijinPot Jobs — https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/ Election Objection — https://japantoday.com/category/politics/ex-mayor-of-japan-city-who-quit-over-verbal-abuse-wins-re-election Invisible Man — https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/ralph-ellison-makes-himself-visible-in-1950%E2%80%99s-japan

March 22, 2019: Child Abuse Ban, Court Murder, Killer Robots, Election Objection and Invisible Man.

In this week's news from Japan Today: Two 12-year-old girls jumped to their deaths from a building in Aichi Prefecture leaving behind letters about being bullied; automaker Nissan is asking its shareholders to oust former chairman Carlos Ghosn as director; a Canadian man has been indicted for trying to smuggle a record haul of illegal drugs into Japan; a teenager in Yamanashi Prefecture has been granted approval from the courts to change his unusual given name to a more traditional one plus Tokyo Olympic organizers say the torch relay will begin at a revamped soccer facility in Fukushima Prefecture next year. Japan Today: https://japantoday.com/ GaijinPot Jobs: https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/ Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 This weeks stories: Virgin Suicides — https://japantoday.com/category/national/two-12-yr-old-girls-in-apparent-suicide-note-hints-at-bullying Too Far Ghosn — https://japantoday.com/category/business/nissan-asking-shareholders-to-vote-to-oust-ghosn-as-director Smugglers Blues — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/canadian-man-indicted-for-smuggling-record-amount-of-stimulant-drugs-to-japan Your Name? — https://japantoday.com/category/national/update1-teenager-ashamed-of-given-name-prince-adopts-traditional-one The Flame — https://japantoday.com/category/sports/olympics-tokyo-games-torch-relay-to-start-at-j-village-in-fukushima

March 15, 2019: Virgin Suicides, Too Far Ghosn, Smugglers Blues, Your Name? and The Flame.

In this week's news from Japan Today: Carlos Ghosn finally granted bail at ¥9 billion; another case of child abuse this time at the hands of parents who went out to play pachinko; Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike faces social backlash after… putting her hands in her pockets?; Yokohama is rated the best city in the Kanto area to live for the second year in a row plus a banner fixed to a building at Shibuya’s busy Scramble Crossing shows the height the 2011 Tohoku tsunami would have reached had it hit Shibuya. Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 Japan Today: https://japantoday.com/ GaijinPot Jobs: https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/ This weeks stories: Ghosn Free — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/Ghosn-posts-%C2%A51-billion-bail-released-after-108-days-in-detention Abuse by Pachinko — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/mother-boyfriend-leave-3-year-old-daughter-with-severe-burns-at-home-while-they-play-pachinko Too Cool Koike — https://japantoday.com/category/politics/tokyo-governor-criticized-for-rudeness-of-putting-hands-in-pockets-during-tokyo-marathon-ceremony-2 GaijinPot Jobs — https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/ Yokohama Rocks — https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/yokohama-ranks-as-most-desirable-city-for-living-in-kanto-for-the-second-year-in-a-row Shibuya Tsunami — https://japantoday.com/category/national/Banner-showing-3-11-tsunami-height-hung-at-Shibuya%E2%80%99s-scramble-crossing

March 8, 2019: Ghosn Free, Abuse by Pachinko, Too Cool Koike, Yokohama Rocks and Shibuya Tsunami

In this week's news from Japan Today: PM Abe says he won’t scrap the relocation of a U.S. military base in Okinawa even after it was rejected by the people in a referendum; an ruling party lawmaker has resigned from the legislature amid allegations that he raped a woman; an association in Fukushima Prefecture is promoting shoveling snow as fun, good for you and will bring positive vibes from others; sadly another child abuse story this week about yet another bad mom; the Japanese space agency successfully landed a craft on an asteroid 300 million miles from earth plus a Tokyo university has delivered the world’s smallest — healthy — baby boy. https://japantoday.com/ Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 This weeks stories: Ace of U.S. Base — https://japantoday.com/category/politics/Abe-says-gov't-to-stick-to-Okinawa-base-plan-despite-referendum-result Diet Rapist — https://japantoday.com/category/politics/ex-ldp-lawmaker-offers-to-give-up-diet-seat-amid-rape-allegations Bad Mom — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/Woman-arrested-for-child-abuse-after-throwing-TV-remote-control-at-8-year-old-daughter Shovel It — https://japantoday.com/category/national/fukushima-town-promotes-snow-shoveling-as-fun-exercise Spaced Out — https://japantoday.com/category/tech/Japanese-spacecraft-lands-on-asteroid-300-million-kilometers-from-Earth Tom Thumb — https://japantoday.com/category/national/world's-smallest-baby-boy-returns-home-healthy-japanese-university

March 1, 2019: Ace of U.S. Base, Diet Rapist, Bad Mom, Shovel It, Spaced Out and Tom Thumb.

In this week's news from Japan Today: President Trump claims the PM Abe nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize; Japan to revise child custody laws to enforce the handovers of children to parents — even if they are overseas; a national restaurant chain apologizes as a video surfaces showing an employee exposing himself in the kitchen; a woman killed another resident after she was transferred from one psychiatric facicilty to another claiming she is “a robot;” the number one annoyance for Japanese train commuters plus Audrey Hepburn — 26 years after her death the iconic film star and UNICEF spokesperson is still idolized by the Japanese as the “eternal fairy.” https://japantoday.com/ Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 This weeks stories: Abe Bad Bromance — https://japantoday.com/category/politics/abe-mum-on-reports-he-nominated-trump-for-nobel-peace-prize Kidnap Custody — https://japantoday.com/category/national/japan-to-revise-child-custody-rules-to-enforce-handovers Ms. Robot — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/woman-in-mental-institution-who-killed-another-patient-says-she-is-robot Exposer — https://japantoday.com/category/national/Video-of-Ootoya-restaurant-employee-exposing-himself-posted-online Testy Tubes — https://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/lapses-in-commuter-manners-change-with-the-times Audrey Hepburn — https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/audrey-hepburn-casts-a-spell-over-post-war-japan

Feb 22, 2019: Abe Bad Bromance, Kidnap Custody, Ms. Robot, Exposer, Testy Tubes and Audrey Hepburn.

In this week's news from Japan Today: New details emerge about officials mishandling the care of a 10-year-old girl killed by her father; Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso blames rising social security costs on people without children; a nationwide restaurant chain apologizes after serving customer a beef bowl filled with cockroaches; a man was arrested for stealing people’s shoes because he gets sexual pleasure from sniffing old footwear plus Japanese companies are banning the practice of giving Valentine’s Day chocolates at work with people saying it is “power harassment.” https://japantoday.com/ Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 This weeks stories: Give Mia Shelter — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/Father-suspected-of-forcing-daughter-to-lie-about-abuse-before-her-death https://japantoday.com/category/crime/abe-orders-child-safety-checks-in-all-abuse-reports-after-tragic-case Aso’s Hole — https://japantoday.com/category/politics/deputy-pm-aso-retracts-remark-about-childless-people Bowl o’ Roaches — https://japantoday.com/category/national/cockroaches-found-in-chicken-bowl-at-yoshinoya-restaurant Shoe Sniffer — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/shoe-sniffer-admits-sexual-kicks-motivated-theft-spree https://japantoday.com/category/crime/man-arrested-for-licking-woman's-hair-at-train-station https://japantoday.com/category/crime/man-cons-woman-out-of-%C2%A5-6.35-mil-in-romance-fraud https://japantoday.com/category/crime/16-year-old-girl-arrested-for-extortion-in-sugar-daddy-case Valentine’s Harassment — https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/'giri'-(obligation)-chocolates-seen-as-power-harassment-more-japanese-companies-ban-practice

Feb. 8, 2019: Give Mia Shelter, Aso’s Hole, Bowl o’ Roaches, Shoe Sniffer and Valentine Harassment.

In this week's news from Japan Today: Former Nissan head Carlos Ghosn is allowed his first media interview; another child in Japan dies at the hands of a parent; a member of Japan’s military was arrested in Aomori Prefecture for trying to break into a house naked in sub-zero temperatures; one of Japan’s most popular boy bands call it quits plus a look back at Bertrand Russell’S visit to Japan in 1921. https://japantoday.com/ Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 This weeks stories: Ghosn Plot — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/Ghosn-tells-Nikkei-arrest-due-to-plot-within-Nissan A Child Dies — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/father-arrested-on-suspicion-of-assault-in-death-of-10-yr-old-daughter Indecent Exposure — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/msdf-member-arrested-after-walking-naked-on-snow-covered-street-in-aomori-pref Arashi Storm — https://japantoday.com/category/entertainment/Arashi%27s-decision-to-suspend-activities-at-end-of-2020-shakes-fans Bertrand Russell’s Resurrection — https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/bertrand-russell%E2%80%99s-blinding-japanese-resurrection

Feb. 1, 2019: Ghosn Plot, A Child Dies, Indecent Exposure, Arashi Storm and Bertrand Russell

In this week's news from Japan Today: Former Nissan head Carlos Ghosn offers to detain himself in Japan; a sponsor of tennis star Naomi Osaka is accused of “whitewashing” anime characters based on her likeness; an American man sentenced to eight years for killing and dismembering an Osaka woman; a teacher punched a student at a Tokyo high school and the internet reacts; porno mags to be removed from Japanese convenience stores plus a Tokyo-based start-up has sent a rocket to space with all of the supplies for an artificial meteor shower on demand. https://japantoday.com/ Rate and review us: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/podcast/japan-today/id517133982?mt=2 This weeks stories: Ghosn Fishin’ — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/tokyo-court-denies-latest-bail-request-of-nissan's-ghosn Osaka Skin — https://japantoday.com/category/business/sponsor-of-naomi-osaka-retracts-ad-videos-over-skin-color-dispute Dismemberer — https://japantoday.com/category/crime/american-man-gets-8-years-for-killing-dismembering-body-of-woman Teacher Bully — https://japantoday.com/category/national/Japanese-teacher-punches-high-school-boy-in-face-social-media-on-his-side Porn Hubs — https://japantoday.com/category/national/Convenience-stores-to-stop-selling-adult-magazines-by-end-of-August A Star Is Born — https://japantoday.com/category/tech/japan-satellite-blasts-into-space-to-deliver-artificial-meteors

Jan. 25, 2019: Ghosn Fishin’, Osaka Skin, Dismemberer, Teacher Bully, Porn Hubs and A Star is Born.

A weekly roundup of the week's biggest — and smallest — national news, crime, politics and entertainment stories from Japan Today with a dash of opinionated commentary and a sprinkling of readers' comments. Ready for you every Friday evening (JST).

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Japan This Week

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