The Japan Times23h ago
Economist Yuri Okina has been tapped to become the first female head of the Government Pension Investment Fund's key management committee. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/27/gpif-female-economist-lead/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #gpif #pensionfunds #pensions #mhlw
Female economist to lead key panel at Japan’s GPIF in a first

Yuri Okina will start her five-year term as the chair of the GPIF's 10-person management committee panel on April 1.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMar 19
Japan's health ministry announced it has designated cannabis-derived cannabinol (CBN) as a "designated drug," banning its manufacture, import, sale and use starting June 1, except for limited medical purposes. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/19/japan/society/cbn-ban/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #drugs #mhlw
Consumer products containing cannabis-derived CBN to be banned starting June

Under the revised ordinance, only patients with specific conditions, such as intractable diseases with no alternative treatment, will be allowed to use them.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMar 17
Hospitals and clinics offering sleep disorder treatments will soon be able to prominently highlight this area of expertise, following a recent health ministry decision to ease rules on advertising their specialties. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/17/japan/science-health/sleep-disorder-specialty/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sciencehealth #health #sleep #mhlw #drugs #apps
Japan’s health ministry to allow clinics to add sleep disorders as their specialties

The move aims to make it easier for people to find doctors who can treat insomnia and other sleep-related health issues.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMar 13
A system to cover the total costs of child delivery through public health insurance was approved in a Cabinet meeting on Friday, as Japan aims to tackle a rapidly declining birth rate. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/13/japan/society/childbirth-costs-coverage/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #pregnancy #insurance #mhlw #nationalhealthcare
Japan moves to cover full cost of child delivery with public health insurance

The measure, aimed at tackling the nation’s declining birth rate, was approved in a Cabinet meeting on Friday, with implementation eyed by fiscal 2028.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMar 6
A labor ministry survey has shown that 10.5% of workers in the country want to work longer hours. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/06/japan/workers-long-survey/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #surveys #mhlw #sanaetakaichi #overwork #workstylereform
One in 10 Japanese workers want to labor longer, survey shows

Meanwhile, 30.0% hope to reduce their work hours, and 59.5% are satisfied with the status quo, according to the labor ministry survey.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesFeb 24
The government has postponed a decision on expanding the number of elderly people required to pay 20% of their nursing-care service costs out of pocket, concerned the move could add to the burden of rising costs. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/24/japan/society/japan-nursing-care-decision-delay/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #mhlw #nursingcare #elderly #aging
Decision on expanding nursing-care copayments delayed as other costs rise

The government is shelving until fiscal 2026 a plan to widen the scope of those required to make a 20% copayment, concerned the move could add to the burden of higher costs.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesFeb 19
A panel of experts gave the green light for the health minister to approve the production and sale of two regenerative medical products that use induced pluripotent stem, or iPS, cells. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/19/japan/medical-product-ips-cells-ok/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #ips #medicine #mhlw
Japan panel OKs medical products using iPS cells

The products, if approved by the health minister, are expected to be the world's first of their kind.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesFeb 6
Japan’s health ministry says there is a low risk of a local outbreak of the Nipah virus in the country. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/06/japan/science-health/nipah-virus-japan-risk-low/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sciencehealth #india #nipahvirus #mhlw #health
Low risk of Nipah virus outbreak in Japan, health ministry says

No case has been reported in the country so far.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJan 31
Amid an acute labor shortage, foreign workers in Japan hit a record high in 2025, totaling 2.57 million as of the end of October. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/30/japan/foreign-workers-record-high/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #immigration #immigrationservicesagency #mhlw #foreignworkers #expats #tourism #china #vietnam
Foreign workers in Japan reach a record 2.57 million in 2025

The total was up 11.7% from a year earlier and comes amid an acute labor shortage in the rapidly aging country.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJan 29
Japan’s suicide death toll fell below 20,000 for the first time on record last year, although elementary, junior high and high school student suicides climbed to a new high. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/29/japan/suicide-figures-decline/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #suicide #mhlw #children #mentalhealth #elementaryschools #juniorhighschools #highschools
Japan’s suicide death toll drops to record low

The overall number fell by 1,223 from the previous year’s confirmed total, marking a third consecutive annual decline.

The Japan Times