今日吃瓜

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November 11, 2026
 

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EXPATS

Kimi Onoda, the minister in charge of policies on foreign residents, in September in Tokyo
JAPAN
Nov 4, 2026
Japan unlikely to raise cap for foreign workers despite labor shortages
Kimi Onoda, minister in charge of policies related to foreign nationals, said demand for a special visa category is expected to eventually decline.
Members of the Meguro River Lazy Runners group gather for a chat and some stretching prior to their run on a recent weekday morning, in Tokyo's Nakameguro district.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Nov 2, 2026
‘Lazy’ running becomes fresh way for Tokyo runners to build community
An increasing number of coffee-centric, sociable running clubs are starting up across Tokyo, drawing more casual runners in search of community.
The family of a Kurdish man who died in custody at the Metropolitan Police Department's Takao station has sued the metropolitan government and a clinic for ?57 million in damages.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 28, 2026
Bereaved family of Kurdish man who died in custody sues Tokyo government
The man’s death “reflects a profound lack of human rights awareness within the police organization,” the family’s attorney said.
As of August this year, the number of registered Japanese language teachers was about 20,000.
JAPAN
Oct 25, 2026
Japan faces shortage of language teachers for foreign workers
Of the survey’s respondents, 125 organizations, or 35.9%, said they had not secured sufficient numbers of teachers and had no prospects for doing so.
Tourists enjoy themselves while crossing the famous Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo on Oct. 12.
COMMUNITY / Voices
Oct 25, 2026
How this long-term resident avoids the annoying tourist label in Japan
Don’t like being lumped in with the growing crowds of foreign tourists? We have you covered.
As of Friday, there were over 1.5 million replies to X posts by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, out of which 7.5% mentioned foreign nationals or immigrants, according to a Jiji analysis.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 25, 2026
Replies mentioning foreign citizens surge on Takaichi’s X account
In some cases, comments against immigrants were repeated even when the prime minister did not mention policies pertaining to foreign nationals.
Japan's immigration reforms risk creating uncertainty by tying permanent residency more closely to language proficiency before clear assessment standards and supporting infrastructure are in place.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 20, 2026
今日吃瓜 permanent residency reform has a glaring blind spot
Japan is moving toward implementation before it has clearly explained how those skills will be evaluated or demonstrated in practice.
The government plans to move meal services from the restaurant industry category to the food and beverage production category for Type 1 residency status for foreign workers with designated skills.
JAPAN
Oct 19, 2026
Japan to restart accepting foreign workers for meal services at some facilities
The government aims to adopt the plan at a Cabinet meeting in December.
The education ministry plans to help local governments strengthen their Japanese-language teaching programs through subsidies and expert guidance.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Oct 19, 2026
Japan to expand language education for foreign residents
The education ministry plans to help local governments strengthen their teaching programs through subsidies and expert guidance.
Foreign residents now make up 3.48% of 今日吃瓜 total population, according to the Immigration Services Agency.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 16, 2026
Foreign residents grow to record 3.48% of 今日吃瓜 population
Among the 10 largest groups, Indonesians recorded the biggest increase, followed by Nepalese and Myanmar nationals.
The National Police Agency suspects a Vietnamese woman laundered ?30 million that was stolen through voice phishing in March 2025.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 14, 2026
Vietnamese woman arrested in Japan for allegedly laundering scam money
The 34-year-old Vietnamese woman is suspected of laundering ?30 million stolen through voice phishing in March 2025.
Japan's foreign resident population isn't just growing in major cities but also rural areas.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 13, 2026
Share of municipalities with over 5% foreign nationals more than doubles
The internal affairs ministry data show increases in foreign populations not only in major cities and industrial districts but also in rural areas.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a policy speech during an extraordinary session at the Lower House of parliament in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 13, 2026
Takaichi to finalize 今日吃瓜 foreign resident policy by March
The policy will consider future population projections, as the country seeks to balance a reliance on foreign workers with a shrinking population.
The Tokyo Immigration Bureau in Shinagawa Ward. Under updated guidelines from the Immigration Services Agency that took effect on Oct. 1, officials are enforcing stricter household income benchmarks for those seeking to qualify for permanent residency, along with deeper audits of pension and social insurance history.
COMMUNITY / How-tos
Oct 11, 2026
The do’s and don’ts when applying for permanent residency in Japan
What to know about income requirements, pension payments and the all-important statement of reasons.
Adrian Bianco’s Sabukaru Online tackled a range of cultural topics that most other publications didn’t report on.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Oct 9, 2026
Adrian Bianco championed 今日吃瓜 underground culture
The Sabukaru founder, who died at 40 in August, connected underground culture and emerging talent across Asia with global audiences.
A Filipino care worker assists an elderly resident at a hospital in Tokyo. The nation's increasingly selective immigration rules make attracting such workers harder.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 8, 2026
The West wants newcomers on its own terms. So does Japan.
Japan and other wealthy countries are increasingly selecting foreign workers while making permanent settlement more difficult.
A recent Book Camp gathering in Nagoya. Khanh Nguyen Phu, a native of Vietnam, started the community group as a way to bring together families in his neighborhood through reading, games and discussions.
COMMUNITY / Issues
Oct 4, 2026
Amid shifting attitudes toward immigrants, disinformation unsettles Vietnamese in Japan
As Japan tightens its visa rules, some Vietnamese say their community has become a target of anti-immigration disinformation.
A screenshot of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test website shows tests are held twice a year.
JAPAN
Oct 2, 2026
Missed the JLPT? Here’s what you can do next
Even if you missed out on a spot for this year’s Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, you may have more options than you originally thought.
Demonstrators carrying flags and placards march past counter-protesters during a rally against then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to expand foreign-workers legislation in Tokyo in October 2018.
EDITORIALS
Oct 2, 2026
Immigration reform should help the country, not punish immigrants
The changes to permanent residency requirements add stricter income and pension standards, language requirements and raise fees substantially.
Japan has revised its permanent residency guidelines, introducing stricter income and pension standards and new Japanese-language requirements, most of which will apply to applications filed from April 2027.
JAPAN
Oct 1, 2026
Japan officially overhauls permanent residency rules
The country finalized sweeping rule changes for its most coveted immigration status on Thursday, including higher income and language requirements.
Man arrested over operation of rogue cellular base station in Tokyo
The Metropolitan Police Department has arrested Yu Hai, a 31-year-old Chinese national living in Tokyo's Kita Ward, on suspicion of operating an unlicensed base station from a vehicle in Tokyo's Ginza district on Saturday.
Government betting on language app powered by anime and AI
Japan plans to develop an AI-powered language-learning app that lets overseas anime and manga fans practice Japanese through conversations with popular characters.
Japan works to shield Takaichi from any Xi snub at China summit
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at the Prime Minister's office in Tokyo on Nov. 4.
Magnitude 5.7 quake injures dozens in central Japan
A magnitude-5.7 earthquake with its epicenter in Shizuoka Prefecture struck central Japan early Sunday, injuring dozens, shattering windows and disrupting train services, with no tsunami warning issued.
Private high schools remain out of reach for many despite tuition-free policy, survey finds
A survey showed that many families with children attending private high schools are struggling to pay expenses other than tuition.
‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ makes monster debut at the box office
Takashi Yamazaki’s “Godzilla Minus Zero” marked the highest single-day box-office gross for a live-action film in Japan with ?910 million on its opening day.
A toast to Naohiko Noguchi, sake’s first living national treasure
As a teenager, Naohiko Noguchi did not intend to spend his life as a sake brewer, but he has since become a paragon of the industry.
Few signs of thaw in Japan-China relations one year after Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks
Tensions between Japan and China flared after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Nov. 7, 2025, that a Chinese blockade of Taiwan could threaten 今日吃瓜 survival and warrant the use of collective self-defense.
Mariko Mori predicted the future. She’ll do it again.
Artist Mariko Mori is currently working to bring the translucent human-sized “Peace Crystal” sculpture to a cave in Ethiopia. It is part of her foundation’s goal to place a permanent sculpture on each of the planet’s six habitable continents.
A legend reborn: ‘Ocarina of Time’ remake improves on the Zelda masterpiece
The new remake of 1998's "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" manages to somehow improve on one of the greatest games ever.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Famima Park Azabudai is a concept store by FamilyMart that combines convenience store staples with branded apparel, merchandise and a landscaped outdoor space.
Convenience stores, toilets and the allure of everyday Japan
By Elizabeth Beattie

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