GIFU PREFECTURE — With the shuttering of a factory belonging to a Sony subsidiary in Minokamo City at the end of this month, it became clear on the 27th that more than 1,000 people stood to be out of work on April 1 due to the closure.
unemployed
Solitary Non-Employed Persons is a term that perhaps many are unfamiliar with. It defines those who are unemployed and, if you exclude relatives, those without any ties in society. These ‘without occupation or social network’ wanderers are referred to in short as “SNEPs”. More specifically, the term can be applied to anyone of the working age 20-59 years who is not enrolled in education, is unemployed, unmarried and has no ties outside of one’s family. And according to reports online, Japan is witnessing a sudden increase in these such people.
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Today
There are goats spending every day in downtown Tokyo, but why? [Photos]
One of Tokyo’s most beautiful soft serve ice creams is also one of its trickiest to find [Photos]
Pikachu Shortcake Sandwich set to be Tokyo’s newest photogenic treat for Pokémon Trainers
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Tokyo restaurant adds special seat for live-streaming and social media posting [Video]
Chainsaw robots helping keep trains running safely in east Japan [Video]
93-year-old Japanese grannie helps set trap for scam artist half her age
Japan’s mission to Martian moon and back underway
Japanese scientists developing cute, autonomously swarming robo dogs for anti-bear patrols [Video]
Middle Eastern juice bar B-Fresh lands in Harajuku
Weekly
Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia
New Studio Ghibli anime gets extended run at the only cinema in Japan where it’s being shown
Family Mart enters the soft serve game with giga-sized cones of milk or matcha goodness
Tokyo bakery has a crazy expensive 10,000-yen bread loaf set, and we’ve tried it [Taste test]
New Studio Ghibli stamps – Too cute to wait until New Year’s to use, so they’re available right now
Eight low-key great places to spend the day (or half a day) in Japan this fall
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Japanese sushi etiquette: You may have been ordering sushi wrong this whole time- One of Tokyo’s most beautiful soft serve ice creams is also one of its trickiest to find [Photos]
Monthly
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person- Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia
Studio Ghibli’s Calcifer is ready to light up your home as a magical-looking candle lamp [Photos]- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
Starbucks Japan unveils new Pokémon collaboration with Pikachu Latte and exclusive goods
Lady Gaga and Family Mart team up for a Japanese convenience store work video [Video]- New Studio Ghibli anime gets extended run at the only cinema in Japan where it’s being shown
Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
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Chainsaw robots helping keep trains running safely in east Japan [Video]
93-year-old Japanese grannie helps set trap for scam artist half her age
Japan’s mission to Martian moon and back underway
Japanese scientists developing cute, autonomously swarming robo dogs for anti-bear patrols [Video]
Middle Eastern juice bar B-Fresh lands in Harajuku
Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto to receive Order of Culture from Japanese emperor
Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi named Composer-in-Residence of Los Angeles Philharmonic
Japan’s newest tempura is…potato salad tempura?!? [Taste test]
Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia
Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
Trial of terminally ill cancer patient who found 22 million yen on the street and kept it ends
Japanese sushi etiquette: You may have been ordering sushi wrong this whole time
Tokyo bakery has a crazy expensive 10,000-yen bread loaf set, and we’ve tried it [Taste test]
America is getting its first-ever One Piece store, and the opening date has been revealed!
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