Latest population data: More over-65's and less foreigners

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) announced the latest data on Japan's population on March 16. The number of people aged 65 and over has exceeded 30,000,000 for the first time since record keeping began in 1950. Furthermore, those aged 65 and over exceeded the number of those aged 14 and below in every region across the country.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Google to take interior images of tsunami-hit buildings

Last month Google began to take interior photos of buildings in the Tohoku region that are scheduled to be demolished after suffering damage in last year's disaster.

Google started in Kamaishi in Iwate Prefecture on November 13. They will take 360-degree photos of 32 places across Iwate and Fukushima Prefectures and publish them on Google Maps from December.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Golf courses converted to solar farms across Japan

The Japanese government introduced a system whereby electric utility operators are obligated to purchase electricity produced by solar farms, and other renewable sources, at fixed prices. The system started from July 1, 2012. In order to benefit from the program, suppliers must obtain approval by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

Under the feed-in tariff (FIT), utilities will enter into 20-year terms to from solar power suppliers. The purchase price of solar power is expected to be set at 42 Yen per kilowatt-hour.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Nakagin Capsule on display at Roppongi Hills

As part of Mori Art Museum's latest exhibition called "Metabolism, The City of the Future", a Nakagin Capsule is currently on display outside Mori Crosspoint along Roppongi Dori avenue. The capsule is identical to the ones used in the Nakagin Capsule Tower Building in Ginza. Read more about the apartment building here. There is also a display capsule at the bottom of the Nakagin Capsule Tower.Read more

by Zoe Ward

The "World's Oldest Manga Cafe" to close down

Manrakuen Comic Paradise is a Japanese Manga-Kissa (a comic book library and cafe) near Jinbocho Station in Tokyo where customers pay 400 year per hour to sit and read from the collection of over 20,000 comic books.Read more

by Zoe Ward

The shift to share-housing

The rule of Japanese only buying new has changed.

Atsushi Miura, head of the Culture Studies Research Institute, is also author of best selling book "Karyu-shakai" (lower classes). His latest work covers the concept of sharing, such as car sharing or job sharing, and explains a new type of expenditure and economy under a 'share' system. He also mentions that the younger generation's decision process when purchasing a house or other consumer item is changing.Read more

by Zoe Ward

March 11 Earthquake and the condition of Tokyo

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Aoyama Cemetary, March 12

The initial quake hit early on a Friday afternoon while many people were working. Tokyo's 23 Wards recorded a Shindo Level of 5-upper. Click here to read about the Japanese seismic sales.

Immediately after the quake, shopowners and local residents went to check on each other. Many officeworkers had vacated their buildings and were waiting on the streets when a strong aftershock hit about 30 minutes later.Read more

by Zoe Ward