Every week, we scour the web for the hottest Japanese news items, using a variety of news outlets. At the end of the month, we translate a selection of articles into English and curate them into a little digest so you can get an overview of the latest news that moves Japan, which can at times be surprisingly different from what the English versions of major Japanese news papers put out there. The digest is divided up into 4 categories in no particular order: Economy, Corporate, Society and Politics.
The following covers major news highlights of October 2023, presented in chronological order per category.
Economy
Yen exchange rate temporarily at 150 yen to the dollar.
On October 3, the yen further weakened against the dollar on the New York foreign exchange market due to the view that monetary tightening in the U.S. will be prolonged, and the yen temporarily dropped to the 150-yen per dollar level for the first time in about a year. The yen then fluctuated wildly, with some buying back of the yen.
In an interview with reporters on the morning of April 4, Kanda, a finance official at the Ministry of Finance, said, "I will refrain from commenting on whether or not there was market intervention by the Japanese government.
The yen further weakened on the New York foreign exchange market on March 3, with the yen temporarily falling to the 150-yen per dollar level.
This was the first time in about a year, since October last year, that the yen had reached the 150-yen level against the dollar.
Source: NHK
Corporate
Yahoo News announced an editorial policy of respecting privacy (October 5).
In principle, Yahoo News will no longer pick up news articles that contain elements of personal information (exposure elements) on its top page (*On Yahoo News, the editorial department checks and picks up articles only for the category section on the top page).
This is part of a joint initiative by LINE Yahoo Japan Corporation and Yomiuri Shimbun to respect privacy on the Internet space. The policy is a countermeasure to the current situation where Yahoo News is indirectly complicit in the online flames of revealing gossip articles by celebrities and influencers.
Source: Line Yahoo Corporation
Major Telecommunications Companies, Excluding NTT, Oppose NTT Law Review
In the debate over the review of the NTT Law, major telecommunications companies excluding NTT submitted a written request at the LDP hearing on October 19, opposing the repeal of the law and calling for careful consideration under the joint names of 180 companies and organizations, including telecommunications carriers.
The written request was jointly submitted to the LDP and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications by 180 companies and organizations, including telecommunications carriers such as KDDI, Softbank, and Rakuten Mobile, and cable TV companies nationwide that provide data communication services in their regions.
In the submission, while expressing support for considering a review of telecommunications policies to improve people's lives and revitalize the economy, they oppose the repeal of the NTT Law and hope for careful consideration of the issue.
Source: NHK
Note: NTT Law was enacted in 1984 to fundamentally reform the centralized telecommunications framework of the Public Corporation and foster a vibrant private sector based on the principle of competition in Japan's telecommunications industry.
9 Million Customer Information Leaked from NTT West Subsidiary
Nine million customer information records were leaked from a subsidiary to which call center operations are outsourced. It is believed that a former temporary employee who worked for the company intentionally took out the customer information, and a criminal investigation is underway. The leaked customer information consisted mainly of "name," "address," and "phone number. In 81 of the cases, credit card information is also believed to have been leaked. NTT Marketing Act Corporation ProCX apologized at a press conference.
Source: Nihon Keizai Simbun ("Nikkei")
Honda to Launch Unmanned Taxi Service in Japan from 2026
Honda Motor (Honda Motor Co., Ltd.) and GM of the United States will collaborate to launch an unmanned taxi service using self-driving technology for the general public from 2026. The joint-venture will begin offering unmanned cab services to the general public in 2026, utilizing self-driving technology. The service will be offered in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Fees and other details are unknown. Everything from taxi dispatch requests to payment will be done via a dedicated smartphone app.
Source: Honda Corp.
Location-based SNS "NauNau" service suspended, personal information of more than 2 million people may have been compromised.
NauNau, a location-sharing application popular mainly among the younger generation, was found to have temporarily allowed the location information and chats of at least 2 million users to be viewed from outside.
The company has acknowledged this fact, temporarily suspending the app's service from March 21 and indicating its intention to conduct an investigation by a third-party organization in the future.
According to multiple sources, the app had inadequate security measures in place since its launch, and it was found that at least 2.3 million users' location information and chat history were temporarily accessible to tech savvy outsiders.
Source: NHK
Note: Online privacy and security appear to be major themes this month. It's no secret that Japan is not exactly a front-runner when it comes to IT security and infrastructure, but one can only hope that events such as these will be the driver for further improvement.
Society
National Average Minimum Wage Exceeds 1,000 yen for the First Time
The minimum wage for the current fiscal year was revised on October 1, bringing the average minimum wage for all 47 prefectures to 1,004 yen per hour, up 43 yen from the previous fiscal year. This is the first time for the average to exceed 1,000 yen per hour. The highest was 1,113 yen in Tokyo.The lowest was 893 yen in Iwate Prefecture.
Law Revised to Make Stealth Marketing Illegal
Effective October 1, the Law for Preventing Unjustifiable Extra or Unexpected Benefit and Misleading Representation newly designates stealth marketing, or "Sutema", as a type of "misrepresentation" prohibited by the Law for Preventing Unjustifiable Extra or Unexpected Benefits and Misleading Representation. It is illegal to advertise or promote something without clearly indicating that it is an advertisement. Social media posts containing advertisements of any kind will be required to be labeled as "advertisements" or "PR".
The revised law is intended solely to address the rampant posting of Sutema by influencers on social networking sites. While business entities hiring influencers for Sutema are subject to punishment, influencers are not liable under the current law.
Johnny & Associates ("Johnny's") Changes Name, Plans To Cease Operations in the Future
Johnny's announced its future policy. The company name changed its name to "SMILE-UP. The company will continue to exist for the time being as a compensation company for former president Johnny Kitagawa's sexual assault issues, and will close its business after the compensation is completed. The company will transfer its talent to a new company for the purpose of entertainment management.
source: BBC Japan
Record Number of Elementary and Junior High School Students Not Attending School
Numbers surpassing 290,000 according to MEXT Survey
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) released the 2022 edition of its annual survey related to school life. The number of elementary and junior high school students truant from school reached a record high of 299,000. This means that 3.2% of elementary and junior high school students are truants ("Futokosha").
Half of the truants gave "lethargy and anxiety" as the reason for not attending school (the definition of "truancy" ("futoko") is those who have been absent from school for 30 days or more, excluding illness or financial reasons).
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) has identified a number of reasons for the increase in truancy, including the disruption of students' daily rhythm and the weakening of friendships following several years of restrictions on coronary behavior.
Source: The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT< or "Monbukagakusho")
Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare releases latest edition of "White Paper on Deaths from Overwork" ("Karoshi"); record number of worker compensation cases due to mental illness
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) released the latest edition of its "White Paper on Deaths from Overwork ("Karoshi")," a survey on overwork (and long working hours) in Japan, with the results of the 2022 edition released. The number of cases of worker compensation for mental disorders (depression, etc.) among those working in the private sector reached 710, the highest number ever.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare states that sleep depprivation is linked to worsening mental health. Only those who were 3 to 5 hours short of the ideal sleep time for each job category showed a tendency toward depression in 60% of all cases.
Ekiben Manufacturer Yoshidaya Holds Apology Conference, Over 500 Victims of Food Poisoning
A food poisoning case involving Yoshidaya, an Ekiben (boxed meal) maker in Aomori Prefecture, has resulted in a total of 521 victims in 29 prefectures. The health department pointed out the possibility that bacteria may have grown due to inadequate temperature control of the rice produced on consignment. At a press conference, President Hiroki Yoshida supported the health department's opinion and apologized for his past "pride" and negligence brought about by past sales performance.
Founded in 1830, the Yoshida Family is a long-established Ekiben manufacturer, producing 18,000 Ekiben per day and distributing its products to Ekiben shops throughout Japan, including JR Tokyo Station. The company is currently under an indefinite business ban following the food poisoning incident.
Source: NHK
Bear Attacks Increasing at Record Pace, According to Ministry of the Environment
The number of human casualties by bears from April to September reached 109, the worst pace on record. Seventy percent of all incidents took place in the Tohoku region.
This year, there was a bad harvest of nuts, an important source of sustenance for the bears. Bears are appearing in areas close to human settlements in search of food, which is believed to be the cause of the increase in bear encounters.
Source: 47 News
Note: It just goes to show that our changing environment can manifest in unexpected and gruesome ways.
Politics
Councillor Muneo Suzuki Ousted from Japan Restoration Association ("Nippon Ishin No Kai")
Last week, Representative Muneo Suzuki traveled to Russia without notice. He met with a high-ranking official of the Russian government and made statements to the local media regarding the Ukraine issue, such as "Russia will not be defeated. His unnotified trip to Russia was deemed to be a breach of party discipline and he was expelled from the party. Mr. Muneo Suzuki explained that he had forgotten to report the incident due to a clerical error and stated he will accept his punishment.
Source: NHK
Government Formally Requests Tokyo District Court to Order Dissolution of Former Unification Church
The church is suspected of having continuously and systematically engaged in illegal acts under the Civil Code for about 50 years by demanding large donations through "Psychic Sales" (Reikanshoho) among other means. The total amount of damages is estimated at 20.4 billion yen. The Tokyo District Court will examine the evidence submitted by the government. If the dissolution order is approved, the former Unification Church will lose its status as a religious corporation (it will be downgraded to a single organization, not a corporation).
Source: Nihon Keizai Shimbun ("Nikkei")
Note: While the word "Dissolution" ("Kaisan") is thrown around a lot, it will effectively only amount to the church losing their special status. It will not, in fact, make the church cease to exist. Moreover, the church has been found to have various suspicious monetary ties to the LDP* (Liberal Democratic Party, or "Jiminto") and the recent uproar with regards to the dissolution of the church is speculated to be a PR stunt of sorts by the LDP in order to gain the public's favor amid plummeting support in light of upcoming elections.
LDP House of Representatives Speaker Hosoda intends to resign as Speaker due to ill health
House of Representatives Speaker Hosoda (79) held a press conference and announced his intention to resign as Speaker due to poor health. Regarding his relationship with the former Unification Church*, he explained that he only attends meetings when invited, and that he has no special relationship with the church. He will not resign from the House of Representatives and will continue his other political activities.
Source: NHK
Government presents "Overtourism" countemeasure package
The package includes a variable rail fare increase only during peak season and restrictions on entry to natural tourist attractions. The government level will focus on the variable rail fare increase this fall. The goal is to realize the plan as soon as possible.
Source: Ministry of Tourism ("Kankosho")
Defense Minister Kihara retracts comment made in his "rewarding the Self-Defense Forces" speech
Defense Minister Kihara told reporters that he intends to retract comments he made during a speech in support of the LDP candidate in the Lower House by-election on October 15.
Defense Minister Kihara stated in a speech in support of the supplementary election for the Nagasaki 4th district of the House of Representatives that "supporting the LDP candidate will repay the hardships of the Self-Defense Forces and their families," and some opposition parties pointed out that this was "Abusing the Self-Defense Forces for political gain, which is required to remain politically neutral.
In response, Minister Kihara told reporters in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, on October 16, "I intended on expressing my respect and gratitude to our Self Defense Force and their families, but given that it appears to not have come across as such, I will be more careful in the future."
Source: NHK
Former Prime Minister Naoto Kan to retire from politics
Kan (77) has announced his intention not to run for the next lower house election. He served as prime minister from 2010 to 2011, when the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) was in power, and oversaw the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 and the ensuing nuclear disaster. He currently serves as the chief advisor to the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
Source: Yomiuri Shimbun
Policy Statement by Prime Minister Kishida: "Aiming for a transformation towards a growth-oriented economy"
Economic measures are set out as the top priority. Kishida stated that we have a chance to break free from the "cost-cutting economy" symbolized by low prices, low wages, and low growth that has continued for the past 30 years, and positioned the next three years as an intensive period for shifting to a "growth-oriented economy. He indicated that the government intends to provide intensive support for corporate production and investment activities.
As immediate measures during the transition period, the government has also proposed income tax cuts and benefits for low-income earners. These measures are intended to alleviate the immediate burden of high prices. Accompanied by the slogan "A Return to The People" ("Kokumin eno Kangen"), he states that a portion of the increased tax revenues will be returned to the people in a fair and appropriate manner.
Cabinet Approves Proposed Amendment to Lift Ban on Medical Marijuana
In Japan, possession and transfer of both medical marijuana and recreational marijuana are prohibited under the Marijuana Control Law. The proposed amendment would lift the ban only on medical marijuana, which is expected to be used in the treatment of epilepsy and other conditions.
However, the amendment would also prohibit the use of recreational marijuana. Until now, only "possession" and "transfer" of marijuana have been subject to punishment, while "use" of marijuana was not. The amendment is expected to be enacted in the current Diet session.
Source: NHK
Suspicious Death of Ex-Husband of Assemblyman Seiji Kihara's Wife; Metropolitan Police Department Accepts Complaint
The family of the ex-husband of Councillor Seiji Kihara's wife filed a criminal complaint for murder of an unknown suspect. The Metropolitan Police Department accepted the complaint. The police will now conduct an investigation and decide whether to prosecute.
Councillor Seiji Kihara's wife's ex-husband died at their home in 2006. The police treated the death as a suicide, but the Weekly Bunshun (note: a popular tabloid) reported on a police official who disagreed with this.
Source: Yomiuri Shimbun