Japan faced a rice shortage in the summer of 2024, exposing flaws in its food security policy. Despite declining consumption, small shocks caused market disruption. The government refused to release stockpiles, prioritising producer interests over consumer needs. This reflects political considerations, with upcoming elections influencing policy decisions. The crisis highlights the need for a more balanced approach to food security, emphasising both physical stockpiles and effective public communication. Japan must reassess its agricultural policies to ensure long-term food security and market stability.
In Japan, cash remains popular despite the rise of cashless payments due to the ageing population and economic factors. The Bank of Japan is exploring the use of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) but their benefits for domestic use are limited due to the existing banking infrastructure. But CBDCs could significantly improve cross-border transactions by reducing costs and delays. Several international projects, like mBridge and Nexus, are exploring the potential of CBDCs in facilitating faster and cheaper cross-border payments. Japan should actively participating in these initiatives, joining the global interest in leveraging CBDCs for more efficient international transactions.
Japan, despite having high exposure to various risks, has developed highly effective disaster reduction practices. These policy-driven strategies focus on community involvement and continuous improvement. Residents participate in regular training and drills, and the country has extensive social infrastructure to build and maintain social ties. Japan’s approach has resulted in fewer casualties during major disasters. By sharing its expertise, Japan serves as a model for other nations seeking to enhance their resilience against disasters.
Japan's latest migration reforms open new pathways to permanent residency for foreign trainees while making it easier for authorities to revoke permanent resident status.
Japan is adjusting its economic relationship with China to reduce dependency, driven by rising labour costs, geopolitical concerns and changes in supply chains rather than by an intention to fully decouple economically.
On 8 March 2024, 12 individuals filed a lawsuit in Tokyo and Sapporo District Courts claiming that the requirement for married couples to share a surname, as stipulated in the Civil Code and Family Register Law, violates the 'freedom of marriage' outlined in Japan’s constitution.
Australia powers Japan, literally, supplying more than one third of its energy needs. . For decades, Japanese investment in energy projects and Japan’s energy purchases have helped build Australian prosperity.
Japan's Tourism Strategy has achieved remarkable success, yet the resulting influx of tourists has sparked concerns about overcrowding.
In September 2023, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology nominated Tohoku University as a candidate to be a ‘University for International Research Excellence’ (UIRE). This program is supported by Japan’s 10 trillion yen (US$68.7 billion) University Fund (UF).
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