As predictions foretold, the Democratic Party of Japan celebrated major victories during an historic Japanese election this past Sunday. The biggest victory went to Yukio Hatoyama, who will be sworn in on September 17.
“This was an election in which people for the first time in the nation’s post-war history opted for a big change,” says Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General, Katsuya Okada.
Indeed, the change is massive. (more…)
The Liberal Democratic Party may very well be on its way out of power in Japan. With tomorrow’s election approaching fast, things look promising for the opposing side, the Democratic Party of Japan.
In Tokyo, the Democratic Party of Japan is already leading in the polls, with only three Liberal Democratic Party seats still receiving favorable ratings.
This shift will mark a very significant change in power for Japan. The Liberal Democratic Party has run the country since 1955–with the exception of a ten-month period. (more…)
In the United States, you probably wouldn’t hear people advising you not to get married–unless you are a gay couple in the Midwest or being advised by a thrice-divorced bitter man. Marriage is considered “sacred” by many in the country, though about half of married people end up divorced anyway.
In Japan, where only 27% of marriages result in divorce, people are actually being discouraged from getting married–by the country’s prime minister. (more…)
If you’re looking for a place to live where you won’t be bothered by much secondhand smoke, Japan may be your place.
Less than a quarter of the Japanese population smokes these days, according to a new survey conducted by Japan Tobacco, Inc. This is the lowest recorded rate of smoking in the country, with both the male and female population smoking less.
The survey, conducted in May, indicated that 24.9% of people living in Japan overall consider themselves smokers. (more…)
On July 19, 2008 Japanese fans of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, known as the “Walt Disney of Japan,” had a chance to witness the latest masterpiece from the critically acclaimed writer and director. Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea is the latest of the incredible artist’s films, and has already won the Japanese Academy Prize for Animation of the Year.
True to his usual work, Ponyo‘s central character is a strong, independent fish-girl who runs away from home, hoping to become human. (more…)
For the first time in Japanese history, the number of reported child abuse cases has exceeded 40,000. During fiscal year 2008, a record number of 42,662 child abuse cases were reported at child consultation centers across Japan.
It isn’t the first rise indicated by these studies, either; since 1990, when the statistics were first recorded, the caseload has been rising for 18 years in a row.
This is following a revision to the country’s Child Abuse Prevention Law in 2008. (more…)
While American students can expect to be finished with school after 182 days spent in the classroom every year, Japanese students know that they’ll have a much longer school year ahead–one composed of 243 days.
The value of education in Japan is so high that not only is the school year generally longer, but students are also expected to spend after-school time studying instead of working part-time jobs like many American students might do. (more…)
One of the most entertaining spectacles on television can be found every week on the Food Network. The concept of the program sounds like a twisted dream”prominent chefs from all over the world go head to head in competitions more suited for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Thats exactly the premise of Iron Chef, which is hands down the most compelling cooking show on television. Even non-gourmands will enjoy the fast paced competition and the near incomprehensibility of the show. (more…)
The jobless rate in Japan, at 5.2% in May, may worsen yet. The Economic Planning Association recently conducted a survey on 40 economists this summer, with 36 responses tallied so far. Predictions indicate that the unemployment rate this fall, from October to December, will increase to 5.56%.
If this prediction indeed comes true, it will beat the worst unemployment rate the country has known, which was 5.5% in April 2003. Several economists even went as far as predicting a 6% rate. (more…)
A recent survey conducted by the Japan Veterinary Medical Association indicates that only 40% of pet dogs in Japan are up-to-date with their rabies vaccinations.
Since there have yet to be any cases of rabies reported–and none have, in fact, occurred in the country for over five decades–since rabies kills around 3,000 people in China annually, this new information has Japanese officials concerned. Other neighboring countries have had problems with rabies outbreaks as well. (more…)
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