ニュースアーカイブ
これまでの学習者向け記事。
- daily life
'Cool Biz' is in season: why Japanese offices go tie-free and aim for 28°C in summer
'Cool Biz' is a nationwide campaign, launched by Japan's Ministry of the Environment in 2005 and now run every year from May 1 to September 30, that encourages people to dress lightly at work in summer so offices can rely less on air conditioning. During this period most workplaces do not require a necktie or jacket, and staff wear short-sleeved shirts and other cool clothing; offices aim to keep the room temperature around 28°C rather than over-cooling. The goal is to cut electricity use and CO2 emissions and help fight global warming. After the 2011 disaster, a more relaxed 'Super Cool Biz' — allowing polo shirts and even sandals — was added. If you work at a Japanese company, expect light, tie-free summer attire to be the norm, and offices that may feel a little warm.
N5N4N3N2N1 - society
'Marine Day' (Umi no Hi) falls on July 20 this year — a national holiday to thank the sea, and a three-day weekend
Marine Day (Umi no Hi) is one of Japan's national holidays, observed on the third Monday of July — this year it falls on Monday, July 20, 2026. By law it is a day 'to give thanks for the blessings of the sea and to hope for the prosperity of Japan as a maritime nation,' and Japan is often described as the only country with a national holiday dedicated to the sea. It first became a holiday in 1996 and was moved to the third Monday of July in 2003, so its date shifts from year to year. Because it forms a three-day weekend with the preceding Saturday and Sunday (July 18-20), beaches, aquariums, and other leisure spots get crowded, and trains and highways are busy. Banks, government offices, and many companies are closed that day, so if you need to visit city hall, make a bank transfer, or take care of other paperwork, do it before the long weekend.
N5N4N3N2N1 - daily life
Cyclists in Japan now face on-the-spot fines under the "blue ticket" system
Since April 1, 2026, Japanese police can issue on-the-spot "blue tickets" (ao-kippu) to cyclists for traffic violations under the revised Road Traffic Act. The rules apply to anyone aged 16 or older riding a bicycle, regardless of nationality or visa. About 113 violations are covered — reported examples include roughly 12,000 yen for using a phone while riding, 6,000 yen for running a red light or riding against traffic, and 5,000 yen for riding without lights or while holding an umbrella. Fines must be paid within the set period, or the case can escalate to criminal proceedings. Police say many fatal bicycle accidents involve a rider who broke a rule, so obey signals, use lights at night, don't ride distracted, and slow down around pedestrians.
N5N4N3N2N1 - economy
Japan begins talks on raising the 2026 minimum wage
Japan's Central Minimum Wages Council, an advisory body to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, has begun deliberations on how much to raise the minimum wage for fiscal 2026. The minimum wage is the legal hourly floor that applies to all workers — including part-timers and foreign workers — and it varies by prefecture. The council weighs prices, wage trends, and the ability of (especially smaller) companies to pay, and aims to issue a recommended increase within July; each prefecture then sets its own figure, usually taking effect around October. Last year's record increase pushed the national weighted average to about 1,121 yen per hour.
N5N4N3N2N1 - daily life
Japan's beaches open for summer — Coast Guard urges water safety
As July arrives, beaches across Japan hold their "umibiraki" (sea-opening), the official start of the swimming season: usually early July in Kansai and mid-July in Kanto, while Okinawa opens as early as March. Once a beach opens, lifeguards are on duty, swimming areas are marked with flags, and some beaches hold a Shinto ceremony praying for safety. Summer is also when water accidents peak, so the Japan Coast Guard urges swimmers to stay within designated areas, never swim after drinking alcohol, keep a constant eye on children, and beware of rip currents and sudden weather changes.
N5N4N3N2N1 - travel
Tanabata, Japan's Star Festival, brightens early July
Tanabata, Japan's "Star Festival," is celebrated on July 7 (and in August in some regions that follow the old lunar calendar). It comes from a legend in which Orihime and Hikoboshi, two stars separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet just once a year. People write wishes on colorful paper strips called tanzaku and tie them to bamboo branches, and shopping streets and stations fill with bright decorations. Famous festivals include Hiratsuka in Kanagawa in early July and Sendai in early August. If you are in Japan, it is an easy custom to join: write a wish and hang it on the bamboo.
N5N4N3N2N1 - daily life
Japan's heatstroke alerts: what they mean and what to do
Japan's summers keep getting hotter, and heatstroke sends many people to hospital every year. To warn the public, the Ministry of the Environment and the Japan Meteorological Agency jointly issue a 'Heat Stroke Alert' when dangerously hot conditions are expected, and a higher-level 'Special Heat Stroke Alert' for extreme heat. The trigger is the 'heat index' (WBGT): an alert is issued for an area when the value is forecast to reach 33 or above. When an alert is out, stay indoors with air conditioning, avoid outdoor exercise, drink water and take some salt regularly before you feel thirsty, and check on elderly people and small children, who are most at risk.
N5N4N3N2N1 - economy
Japan will subsidize household electricity and gas bills from July to September 2026
The Japanese government will subsidize household electricity and gas bills from July to September 2026 to ease the burden of high summer energy costs. Electricity will be discounted by ¥3.5 per kilowatt-hour in July and September and ¥4.5 in August, with a similar cut applied to gas. The roughly ¥500-billion program needs no application — the discount is calculated automatically and deducted from each monthly bill. Officials say energy prices have stayed high amid instability in the Middle East, while household electricity use climbs in summer as people run air conditioning.
N5N4N3N2N1 - daily life
Japan faces a hotter-than-usual summer in 2026 — heatstroke risk peaks right after the rainy season
The Japan Weather Association forecasts that the summer of 2026 (June–August) will be hotter than normal across the whole country. A strong Pacific high-pressure system is expected to push temperatures above the seasonal average, with a sharp increase in "extremely hot days" of 35°C (95°F) or higher. The rainy season is likely to end earlier than usual, and the days right after it carry the highest heatstroke risk because the body has not yet adjusted to the heat. Stay safe by drinking water and replacing salt regularly, using air conditioning, and gradually getting your body used to the heat ("heat acclimatization").
N5N4N3N2N1 - society
Foreign residents in Japan hit a record 4.12 million, topping 4 million for the first time
Japan's foreign resident population has hit a record high, topping 4 million for the first time. According to the Immigration Services Agency, there were about 4.12 million foreign residents as of the end of 2025, up 9.5% from a year earlier. China was the largest group by nationality, followed by Vietnam and South Korea, while "permanent resident" was the most common residence status. A serious labor shortage is driving the growth, and the government is working to improve services and the living environment for foreign residents.
N5N4N3N2N1 - travel
Kyoto's Gion Matsuri returns for July, with grand float parades on the 17th and 24th
Kyoto's Gion Matsuri, one of Japan's three great festivals, runs all through July (July 1–31, 2026), hosted by Yasaka Shrine. The highlight is the Yamaboko Junko float processions on July 17 and 24, when huge, lavishly decorated floats roll through downtown Kyoto. On the 'yoiyama' evenings beforehand (July 14–16 and 21–23), central streets close to traffic and fill with food stalls and lantern-lit floats. Big crowds come from Japan and abroad. Because it is very hot and very crowded, organizers urge visitors to stay hydrated and guard against heatstroke.
N5N4N3N2N1 - travel
Mount Fuji's 2026 climbing season opens July 1 with a 4,000-yen fee on all trails
Mount Fuji's 2026 climbing season opens on July 1, when the Yoshida and Subashiri trails open; the Fujinomiya and Gotemba trails follow on July 10, and all four close on September 10. For the first time a 4,000-yen fee applies on all four trails (both the Yamanashi and Shizuoka sides), and climbers are expected to reserve and pay online in advance. On the Shizuoka side you use the prefecture's app to take a short safety course and get a QR code. The Yoshida trail caps climbers at 4,000 per day and bars entry from 2 p.m. until early morning for anyone without a mountain-hut booking. Warm clothing, top-and-bottom rain gear, and proper hiking boots are checked at the trailhead. The rules aim to ease overcrowding and prevent accidents, especially from overnight 'bullet climbing'. If you plan to climb, book early and bring the required gear.
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