Takemi Nakagawa

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Articles

Japan to survey foreigners' payments into pension, medical insurance

Aug 16, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Takemi Nakagawa

TOKYO -- Japan plans to conduct a survey on payments into the public pension and medical insurance systems by foreign residents, hoping to analyze the impact on those programs of the expanding population of non-citizens. Foreigners who have their addresses registered with municipalities are required to join the public pension and medical insurance systems, just like Japanese nationals.
Japan to let more foreigners work as in-home caregivers

Mar 22, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Takemi Nakagawa

TOKYO -- Japan will allow foreigners with "specified skilled worker" status to become in-home caregivers, expanding eligibility to alleviate an acute labor shortage in the field. Currently, those workers can provide care only in group home settings. Only care givers from countries that have economic partnership agreements with Japan, or those with care provider residency status, can provide in-home care.
Japan to curb pension benefit increases for 2nd straight year

Nov 15, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Takemi Nakagawa

TOKYO -- Japan is expected to curb the increase in national pension payouts for the second year in a row, Nikkei has learned, using an adjustment that may reduce benefits when compared against rising consumer prices. Benefits will grow by an estimated 2.6% in fiscal 2024, leaving recipients somewhat worse off after inflation.
Japan wants companies to disclose pension fund performance

Oct 2, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Jun Tamaki |Takemi Nakagawa

TOKYO -- Japan is moving to urge companies to disclose their pension plan returns, Nikkei has learned, as part of an effort to improve how the nation's retirement savings are invested. The government will begin discussions Wednesday in a new panel on strengthening Japan's asset management sector. Proposed topics include disclosures on pension fund performance, ways to attract more talent in the field and allowing smaller companies to operate joint pension funds.
70% of Japan's local railways say pre-COVID ridership won't return

May 4, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Yusuke Sakurai |Takemi Nakagawa

TOKYO -- While a number of economic indicators in Japan are returning to pre-COVID levels, along with some listed companies' earnings, not all are rejoicing. Among those still struggling are local railway operators. Passenger volumes are expected to remain below where they were before the pandemic at nearly 70% of these smaller operators. Some are weighing the option of shutting down their train lines altogether and switching to buses.
Japan Opens up to Chinese Tourists, But Can It Handle the Rush?

Feb 28, 2023 | caixinglobal.com | Takemi Nakagawa |Tasuku Ikeda

(Nikkei Asia) — Japanese tourism is back in full swing after the government eased Covid-19 entry restrictions for Chinese travelers, though a wave of new arrivals is adding pressure to an industry already grappling with a widespread labor shortage. Japan scrapped a blanket testing requirement on travelers from China at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, a restriction that had been imposed since Dec. 30 in response to a surge in coronavirus cases there.
Japan opens up to Chinese tourists, but can it handle the rush?

Feb 28, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Takemi Nakagawa |Tasuku Ikeda

TOKYO -- Japanese tourism is back in full swing after the government eased COVID-19 entry restrictions for Chinese travelers, though a wave of new arrivals is adding pressure to an industry already grappling with a widespread labor shortage. Japan scrapped a blanket testing requirement on travelers from China at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, a restriction that had been imposed since Dec. 30 in response to a surge in coronavirus cases there.