Rice from government stockpiles has appeared in stores under no-bid contracts. The government switched from auctions to direct sales to reduce high prices.

The agriculture ministry has decided to release rice from its stockpiles. Retail rice prices have reached record highs, prompting the move.

The government is combining My Number cards with health insurance cards. You must first obtain a My Number card to use this system. Then, you need to register for the health insurance card online or at medical institutions.

“Digital end-of-life planning” is recommended to avoid trouble for your family after your passing. The National Consumer Affairs Center recommends these steps:

The police are warning against shady part-time jobs tied to recent Tokyo robberies. These job offers are posted on social media, promising high pay for simple work.

Rice is in short supply, and it’s selling out in supermarkets across Japan. Is this due to last year’s poor harvests and the rise in foreign tourists? An expert points out that the true cause is the acreage reduction policy.

Japan’s average life expectancy rose in 2023 for the first time in three years. Women’s longevity increased to 87.14 years, and men’s to 81.09 years.

In Japan, university graduates typically join companies in April. However, more and more people are quitting in the first month. The labor ministry reports over 30 percent leave within three years.

Health ministry and city officials inspected a pharmaceutical plant in Osaka. This probe was due to dietary supplements causing five deaths. The products were made with “beni-koji” red yeast.

Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter was fired from the Dodgers. Ippei Mizuhara is suspected of involvement in illegal sports gambling. He confessed that he had a gambling addiction.

A TV drama has gone viral, featuring a middle school PE teacher from the 1980s who time-travels to the present. It shows how language, traditions, and practices have changed in Japan since then. People of all ages are praising the entertainment value of the story on social media. Let’s take a look at some key points often discussed as differences between the Showa and Reiwa periods.