Yumiko Urasaki

Aug 18, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Yumiko Urasaki

NAHA, Okinawa -- MRO Japan, a provider of aircraft maintenance services, will start converting passenger aircraft into cargo haulers, seeking to win orders from owners of Airbus planes in Asia. The company, based in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, has obtained European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification authorizing it to provide services on planes made by Europe-headquartered Airbus.

Mar 28, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Yumiko Urasaki

TOKYO -- A Japanese drugmaker faces serious questions over its response to health problems that may be linked to its supplements after two more deaths were revealed. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said Thursday two people had died after taking a product containing red yeast rice called beni koji. Both people had shown symptoms consistent with kidney problems.

Sep 24, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Yumiko Urasaki

TOKYO -- Japan is turning to middle-aged workers to help solve its labor shortage in the tech sector, with a pilot internship program launching next year for aspiring career changers. The new initiative by Japan's labor ministry will target non-tech industry workers -- including those in their 40s and 50s -- who have received some training toward becoming software engineers and programmers.

Jul 28, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Yumiko Urasaki |Yu Nakamura

TOKYO -- Japan's minimum wage is on track for a record jump after a labor ministry advisory panel agreed on Friday to target an average of 1,002 yen ($7.11) per hour for this fiscal year. The plan amounts to a 41-yen increase from the current 961 yen, and would bring the national average to above 1,000 yen for the first time. The government hopes higher pay will spur consumption and, in turn, economic growth.