A simple envelope leads to funding children’s aid, and providing steady work for people with disabilities.
welfare
“Relentless threats” resulted in person or persons getting over 12 million yen in benefits.
It’s unclear if this rogue group of city workers were fully aware of the acronym they made for themselves or not.
Even the most conscientious planners can be smacked upside the head by life sometimes. Whether from a medical situation, accident, or family tragedy, you could find yourself in need of financial assistance just to make ends meet. Luckily, social safety nets exist for just this reason.
Still, it can be hard to swallow one’s pride and ask for help, which is why staff at the welfare office should be especially sensitive to the feelings of applicants, but a recent investigation into practices at the Osaka welfare bureau have uncovered that many applicants encountered shocking insensitivity, sometimes so callous it crossed into sexual harassment.
On 16 May Kumiko Osawa was found guilty by Sapporo District Court after pleading guilty to the assisted suicide of her 70-year-old mother. According to the prosecution, Osawa had agreed to kill her mother after the two nearly ran out of money. In addition, about one year prior to this they had refused to accept government assistance as a matter of pride.





More people in Japan quit sending New Year’s cards and many have started to regret it
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Ichiran Ramen’s delicious new product: Fried tonkotsu noodles!
Japan’s leading maker of giant cat heads needs your help!
Rolling suitcase with built-in desk is perfect for mobile businesspeople and cosplayers alike
Don’t forget that the best convenience store in northern Japan has branches farther south too
Tokyo Disneyland’s Space Mountain is now closed
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to the best Turkish rice restaurant in Nagasaki!
“Hey, Japanese taxi driver, take us to the best Sapporo ramen place!” – Things don’t go as planned
Buddhist priest at Japanese temple lodging goes viral for rude responses to tourist’s bad reviews
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Large amount of supposed human organs left in Osaka marketplace
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
A Japanese dating app matched our bachelorette with a Buddhist monk, and she learned some things
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Don’t forget that the best convenience store in northern Japan has branches farther south too
Tokyo Disneyland’s Space Mountain is now closed
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to the best Turkish rice restaurant in Nagasaki!
“Hey, Japanese taxi driver, take us to the best Sapporo ramen place!” – Things don’t go as planned
Buddhist priest at Japanese temple lodging goes viral for rude responses to tourist’s bad reviews
Japanese gyaru-turned-mom is more concerned with making her son a gentleman than a scholar
Japan’s new KFC-flavor potato chips don’t taste like KFC, but they do taste like chicken【Taste test】
Japan’s new canned chu-hai with fresh lemon slice: disappointing gimmick or drink revelation?
“Hey, Japanese taxi driver, take us to the best restaurant in Kobe!”
It’s time to vote for Japan’s most beautiful butt! 【Photos】
We try roasted horseshoe crab in Thailand, regret our choice yet strangely long for more
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods
Kumiko: The exquisitely delicate side of traditional Japanese woodwork