Category Archives: Others

The Government of Japan decided at an April 4 Cabinet meeting to enforce on November 1 the “Technical Intern Training Program Law” revised to enhance the supervision of companies, farmers and other organizations accepting foreign workers under the governmental technical intern trainee program. The Law provides for penalties if the employer of foreign trainee workers abuses their human rights by forcing them with illegal long hour works and the like. Under the revised Law, the maximum length for employment of foreign trainee workers will be extended from the existing three years to five years. The current technical intern trainee system is consisted of “Technical Intern Training (i)” (one-year program) and … Continue reading →

On March 30, 49 breeding cows and calves were returned to the village of Katsurao in Fukushima Prefecture for the first time since the entire village was evacuated following the 2011 accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. It is the largest number of cows coming back to a municipality which had been designated as a no-go zone. Cattle breeders, who had been conducting decontamination works ever since the evacuation order was lifted in the village in June, are happy to resume their business after six years. But at the same time, they are worried whether they can ship their calves without facing harmful rumors. At a farm … Continue reading →

Support rating for farm policies of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration is still remaining at a lower level of only 29 percent, although it has risen by four point since the previous poll was conducted in June 2016, the Japan Agricultural News revealed on March 31 in a report on its poll conducted in March 2017 for its 1200 subscribers, mostly farmers, registered as agricultural policy monitors throughout the country. The opinion poll on farm policies was responded by 909 subscribers. The approval rating for Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet rose to 48 percent by 11 points over the previous poll, almost equally matching the disapproval rating at 51 percent. Fifty seven … Continue reading →

[By Mika Tsutsumi, journalist] Ever since Donald Trump became the candidate for the U.S. presidential election, we Japanese have been flooded with almost hysterical criticism of him whenever we read a newspaper or turn on the TV. No reports have been made on the actual situation or the historic background behind Trump’s policies, such as the temporary immigration ban and the building of a wall along the Mexican border, and all the coverage were based on reports critical of Trump coming from U.S. media organizations supporting Hillary Clinton. How many times have we witnessed the phenomenon of media unanimously bashing a particular person or an organization? If we don’t look … Continue reading →

[By Mika Tsutsumi, journalist] After former U.S. President Barack Obama shattered the illusions of his supporters that he would bring about change as he had promised in his inauguration speech, American voters chose Donald Trump as the new president in the hope that changes would come this time around. The new administration has begun, with Trump pledging in his inaugural address to transfer the political power controlled by a small group of wealthy people in Washington and give it back to the people to “make America great again,” filling people in and outside the country with hopes and worries. He often uses the term “America First,” which is interpreted by … Continue reading →