This week in Japan

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications the unemployment rate in Japan has hit a 26 year low, down 0.1% since last July. The current rate is at 2.2% the lowest since October 1992. It is believed that amid labor shortages in the country people who could not find work before were able to secure jobs, especially the elderly or women who spent many years as homemakers who would previously have found it difficult to find work. The current job stability ration is at 1.59 which means there are 159 job openings of every 100 job seekers. 

To read more here are some useful links: The Japan Times   Nikkei Asian Review

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's new smoking ordinances partially came in to effect last week. One part of the regulation requires restaurants in Tokyo to place a sticker at the entrance to their restaurant indicating if smoking is permitted or not inside the establishment. Many establishments have opted for a non-smoking environment during lunch time but still permit smoking during dinner time out of fear that banning smoking might affect business. Since July there have been other health regulation in place that were put forth by the central government. One of which is that smoking will no longer be permitted in building where children are present like schools and child welfare centers. 

To read more, here are some useful links: The Japan Times The Japan News

A research team at Osaka University announced on Thursday that it conducted the first corneal transplant using artificially derived stem cells. The transplant, that took place in July was led by Dr. Koji Nishida. The team may have discovered a new way to help people with corneal disease, who currently have to wait for donated corneas from deceased donors. The operation was conducted on a 40-year old woman who suffered from corneal epithelial stem cell deficiency and was discharged from the hospital on August 23rd, one month after the surgery on her left eye, so far her eyesight has improved and there doesn't seem to be any complications so far. 

To read more, here are some useful links: NHK World   The Mainichi

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, Tokyo was ranked as the no.1 safest city for the 3rd year in a row. In second place was Singapore and in third place was Osaka. The Safe Cities Index 2019 report indicated that Tokyo has a wide range of strengths that include, “low crime levels (both violent and petty), infrastructure designed to withstand natural shocks and low risk of computer malware.” The report also mentioned that both Tokyo and Osaka will experience shrinking populations due to low birth rates and low immigration that will help it maintain these safety standards.

To read more, here are some useful links: The Japan News The Independent