Latest Articles
Discover guides, tips, and stories for life in Japan.
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Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Remake Announced! Nintendo Direct June 2026 Full Summary & Release Dates
Nintendo Direct June 9 recap: Zelda Ocarina of Time confirmed for Switch 2 remake, plus Star Fox, Rhythm Heaven, Kingdom…
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Japan’s Specified Residence Card Applications Open June 15 — Residence Card & My Number Integration: What to Bring [June 2026]
Japan’s Specified Residence Card launches June 14, 2026 (apply from June 15). Enrollment is voluntary. Check what to bring and…
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Typhoon No. 6 Hits Transport by Region: Local Lines Suspended in Kanto, Kansai & Tokai, 520+ Flights Cancelled (Updated June 3, 2026)
Typhoon No. 6 makes its closest approach to Kansai early on June 3 and to Kanto around midday. JR West,…
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Japan’s Disaster Warnings Changed on May 28, 2026. What Is a ‘Danger Warning’? How to Read Alert Levels and When to Evacuate
Japan’s disaster prevention weather information was overhauled on May 28, 2026. A new ‘Danger Warning’ (Level 4), the end of…
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Hospital Appointment Cancellation Fees Now Allowed in Japan from June 2026, But Only at a Small Number of Facilities
Starting June 2026, some hospitals in Japan can charge cancellation fees for missed appointments. This only applies to around 928…
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Why May 30°C Is More Dangerous Than August: Japan’s 2026 Heatstroke Alert Is Live
Japan’s Ministry of the Environment heatstroke alert system is running for 2026. Tokyo hit 30.2°C on May 17 and 30.0°C…
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Japan’s ‘103-Man Resident Tax Wall’ Becomes 123-Man in June 2026: How Part-Time Spouses and Student Workers Take Home More
From June 2026, Japan’s resident tax reform expands the 103-man-en wall to 123-man-en. The minimum employment income deduction rises to…
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Japan 2026 Summer Bonus: 5th Year of Growth, Middle East Risk
Japan Research Institute projects 2026 summer bonuses up +2.4% aggregate and +2.2% per worker, the fifth consecutive year of growth.…
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Changing Jobs on a Gijinkoku Visa: Notifications, the 90-Day Rule, and the N2 Requirement
A complete guide to changing jobs on Japan’s gijinkoku (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services) visa: the 14-day notification, the Certificate of…
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What Is the Gijinkoku Visa? Requirements, Eligible Jobs, and 2026 Rule Changes Explained
A complete guide to Japan’s gijinkoku (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services) visa: eligible jobs, the education, work-experience, and salary requirements, company…
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Your Old Insurance Card Stops Working July 31, 2026. Here’s How to Switch to the My Number Insurance Card
Japan’s grace period for expired health insurance cards ends July 31, 2026. After August 1, you’ll need the My Number…
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Star Wars Returns to Theaters After 7 Years. The Mandalorian and Grogu Opens in Japan May 2026
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in Japan on May 22, 2026 — the first Star Wars theatrical release…
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Michelin and Yokohama Tire Prices Rise in June 2026. Buy Before End of May
Michelin and Yokohama tires are going up 3-5% from June 1, 2026. Raw material costs and logistics expenses are driving…
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Japan’s International Residents Hit 4.12 Million in 2025. First Time Past 4 Million, 1 in 5 Live in Tokyo
Japan’s international resident population hit 4,125,395 at the end of 2025, breaking the 4 million mark for the first time.…
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Detective Conan Hits 10 Billion Yen 4 Years Running in 2026: Why Is *Highway of the Fallen Angel* So Popular?
Detective Conan’s 2026 film *Highway of the Fallen Angel* crossed 10 billion yen in 27 days, a first for any…
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Choco Mint Season Is Here: New Releases From 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson in May 2026
Japan’s three major convenience store chains have launched their choco mint lineups for May 2026. Here’s a complete guide to…
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Japan Adds Logistics, Linen, and Recycling to the Specified Skilled Worker Program. Hiring Starts in 2027
In January 2026, Japan added logistics warehousing, linen supply, and resource recycling to the Specified Skilled Worker program. Skills tests…
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Yen at 159 After Government Intervention in May 2026. Is Now the Right Time to Send Money Home?
Japan intervened in forex markets in April–May 2026, pushing the yen from 160 to 155 per dollar. With the rate…
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559 Food Items Getting More Expensive in June 2026: Potato Chips, Instant Noodles, and Protein Products All Going Up
Starting June 1, 2026, 559 food items will see price increases in Japan. Calbee’s potato chips, Myojo instant noodles, and…
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When Does Japan’s 2026 Rainy Season Start? Okinawa Already In, Kanto from Early June
Okinawa entered the 2026 rainy season on May 4, six days earlier than average. Southern Kyushu and Shikoku are next…
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Going Home This Summer? JAL & ANA Fuel Surcharges Nearly Double for May–June 2026
JAL and ANA fuel surcharges have surged for May-June 2026 tickets, adding over ¥100,000 to round-trip flights to Europe and…
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Plastic Bag & Trash Bag Shortage in Japan: Naphtha Supply Impact and What You Can Do (May 2026)
In May 2026, free plastic bags vanished from Japanese supermarkets and designated trash bags are running low. The cause: a…
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7-Eleven Anniversary Sale: Popular Items Upsized 50%+ at No Extra Cost (Until June 1)
7-Eleven Japan’s founding anniversary ‘Kansha Mori’ campaign offers 12 popular products upsized by 50% or more at regular prices. Wave…
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Electricity & Gas Bills Going Up in May 2026 — Around ¥1,000+ More a Month, and How to Save
From May 2026, electricity and gas bills in Japan are effectively rising. Government subsidies have ended and the renewable energy…
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Pediatric Emergency Guide in Japan 2026: A Complete Manual for Parents
Sudden fever? Injury? Knowing when to call an ambulance (119) or use the #8000 pediatric hotline can save your child’s…
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Why Are Calbee’s Chip Bags Suddenly Black-and-White? No, They’re Not Fakes: The 14 Snacks, Taste, and Prices (May 2026)
Spotted a black-and-white Calbee chip bag at your local konbini? It’s not a fake or a recall. Here’s why 14…
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When Your Child Can’t Keep Up with Japanese at School: The Official Support System and What Parents Can Do (2026)
A practical guide for international families in Japan when a child struggles with Japanese at public school. Covers the official…
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Japanese Elementary School Annual Event Guide: Entrance Ceremony, Sports Day, and PTA for International Parents
“Lost on dress codes,” “anxious about PTA,” “can’t read the handouts” — the 3 stumbling blocks international parents face at…
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Which is Better: International School or Japanese Public School? Comparing Costs (¥0–¥4.5M/Year), University Admission, and JSL Support
Choosing between an international school and a Japanese public school for your child? This guide compares costs (¥0–¥4.5M/year), university admission…
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3 Steps for Foreigners to Pass Japanese Daycare Applications: Documents, Points, and the Activity Permission
Foreigners get rejected from Japanese daycare applications for 3 reasons: missing activity permission, low shisuu points, residence card gaps. Don’t…
