As someone born and raised in Japan, living a typical Japanese life, I find myself reflecting on the state of political leadership in our country. Throughout my life, I’ve never been truly moved or inspired by a speech from any Japanese Prime Minister. It’s my hope that, at least once before I die, I’ll experience a truly inspiring oration from a leader.

Today, Prime Minister Kishida broke down in tears during his address. While it’s human to show emotion, as a leader, maintaining composure in public is often expected.

The bureaucrats in Japan have perceived a decrease in public support for the Kishida administration and have judged it as powerless. Consequently, it seems they are now releasing all unfavorable information they have been withholding. In this scenario, Kishida’s administration is completely underestimated and sidelined by its own bureaucrats.

Meanwhile, factions aiming for the next administration have utilized the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor’s Office to dismantle the Abe faction through party ticket scandals. This marks an intensification in the power struggles within the government.

However, Prime Minister Kishida cannot resign immediately due to the upcoming budget committee starting early next year. It appears that he is being kept in position during this period specifically to allow for more negative information to be released.

It seems likely that Kishida’s planned visit to the United States next spring could well become his final act as Prime Minister. A closing chapter for his tenure, amid the turbulent political landscape of Japan.

#JapanesePolitics #Leadership #KishidaAdministration #PoliticalChallenges #PublicSpeaking #FutureOfJapan

Photo Caption: The year 2024 is known as the “Year of the Dragon” in Japan. It is a longstanding Japanese custom to send New Year’s greeting cards, called “Nengajo,” to those we are grateful to from the previous year.

The current challenges facing Expo 2025 Osaka seem to include the following:

① Significant Ground Stabilization Requirements at Yumeshima:
It appears that the need for soft ground stabilization at Yumeshima, the site of the Expo, is far greater than initially anticipated. While this was known from the start, the extent of the requirements has only recently become clear.

② Who Bears the Additional Ground Treatment Costs?:
The question of who should bear these additional costs is critical. Should it be the international pavilions or the Japanese side? The increased costs may necessitate a redesign of the pavilions or additional financial contributions. From the international perspective, the query, “Why should we bear the cost of ground stabilization?” is justified. Moreover, the suggestion to simplify designs can be deeply disheartening for those who have invested considerable effort and creativity in their plans. As a company involved in design work, we deeply empathize with the disappointment this can cause.

③Ongoing Disputes Over Cost and Design Changes Impeding Construction:
Given these continuous issues around additional financial burdens and design changes, it’s natural that construction progress is hampered.

#Expo2025 #YumeshimaDevelopment #ConstructionChallenges #GlobalCooperation #CulturalShowcase #InnovativeDesign #FiscalResponsibility #TeamworkForSuccess

In my experience with foreign clients, a common request is to secure rental housing in Japan a year before their arrival. They often seek assistance with property searches and wish to finalize rental agreements well in advance.

However, in Japan, it’s not feasible to enter into a rental agreement a year prior due to the Tenant-Landlord Law借地借家法. Under Japanese law, for a landlord to terminate a rental agreement, a “just cause正当事由” is required.

Meeting the criteria for “just cause正当事由れ” is incredibly challenging, often requiring landlords to pay exorbitant sums to tenants to legally end the lease. Practically, it’s almost impossible for landlords to initiate a termination under normal circumstances.

Therefore, we can only finalize contracts for properties that are currently vacant. This limitation can be frustrating for those planning ahead, but it’s an essential aspect of the Japanese rental market to understand.

Navigating these challenges requires expertise and patience, and I strive to guide my clients through this process, ensuring they find a suitable home upon their arrival in Japan.

#RealEstateJapan #ExpatsInJapan #RentalHousing #JapaneseLaw #PropertyManagement #ExpatriateLiving #HousingInJapan #TenantRightsん

(Photo) Japanese painting by Nagasawa Rosetsu (1892 – 1951)

Recently, news broke that baseball star Shohei Ohtani has finalized his move to the Los Angeles Dodgers. A shining talent in the Major League Baseball’s home run competitions, it’s hard to imagine him returning to Japanese professional baseball.

This reminds us of the case of Ichiro Suzuki, who moved from Kobe’s Orix to Major League Baseball and retired without returning to Japan. Such situations stem from the failure of the Japanese government’s economic policies, particularly the consumption tax policy, which has led to no increase in Japanese salaries for 30 years.

Talented individuals are high taxpayers. The outflow of such high-value individuals from Japan is a consequence of the government’s economic policies, a fact that the Japanese public needs to recognize. To reverse this trend and retain domestic talent, thus revitalizing the economy, a revision of these economic policies is urgently needed.

#ShoheiOhtani #TalentDrain #JapaneseEconomy #ConsumptionTaxIssue #EconomicPolicy #ProfessionalBaseball #MLB #IchiroSuzuki #PolicyRevision #EconomicRevitalization #DomesticTalentRetention #HighTaxPayers