June 17, 2026More and more Japanese are inheriting land in rural areas and giving it up to the government rather than deal with it and pay its taxes, and the government can’t even sell it. Under a new system they will sell it at discounts starting at 30% off appraised value, gradually climbing to 97% discounts Japan
June 17, 2026A 16 year old girl working in a Hyogo disability support center was arrested for assault after intervening in an incident where one patient tried to bite another. Her arrest detention was extended twice until she developed an eating disorder and died. Her mother is suing for 100 million yen. Japan
June 17, 2026Female Japan SDF officer who reports harassment from superior, receives “reprimand” on grounds she must have consented- “this came to light precisely because she sought advice from the harassment hotline. If she’s disciplined for calling, no victim in the JSDF would ever dare use the hotline again” Japan
June 17, 2026Seven Eleven is the latest Japanese company to reduce the colored ink on its products – due to increased costs and shortages of oil-derived chemicals because of the Hormuz Strait closure. B&W onigiri packages will help keep prices low. Japan
June 17, 2026Japan hesitant to clear mines in Strait of Hormuz, fearing next flare-up – Asia News Network Japan
June 17, 2026“The natural free-market price of rice in Japan should have dropped to ¥1300/5kg by now…Japan Agriculture and the LDP have committed a grave sin by forcing citizens to buy rice at record-high prices despite households already struggling with high inflation”. Japan
June 16, 2026Numbers of unpaid NHK fees have dropped due to an increase in lawsuits against citizens that don’t pay, but backlash is growing-“Forcibly collecting fees even when people don’t watch NHK is absurd. It’s justified on the grounds of public service, but disaster information is available online now” Japan
June 16, 2026The serious reality of “post-bullying aftereffects” that torment adults in Japan: Approximately 40% of those in their 40s and 50s reported no improvement- “I’m still afraid of people’s stares and wonder if they’re talking about me. I have low self-esteem and think, ‘I’m no good anyway’.” Japan
