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Ex-Nova president sentenced to 2-year prison term for embezzlement
The former president of English conversation school Nova was handed a two-year prison sentence for corporate embezzlement by the Osaka High Court on Dec. 2. Nozomu Sahashi, 59, had been convicted of the offence by a lower court and sentenced to a three-year, six-month prison term in August last year. The high court decision on…
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Japan lifts visa restrictions for foreign dentists, nurses
The Justice Ministry on Tuesday revised an ordinance concerning residence visas, lifting a set of restrictions for foreign dentists, nurses, maternity nurses and health workers who have Japanese state qualifications. The step, which abolished limits on the number of years and the extent of areas in which they can work in the country, was taken…
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Selective immigration for highly skilled urged
The Japan Forum on International Relations, a Tokyo-based think tank, urged the government Wednesday to accept more foreign workers and tourists while being selective in accepting long-term residents. It says municipalities and other entities should direct foreign residents who aren’t proficient in daily Japanese to take language courses and provide them with opportunities to master…
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Japan urged to welcome more skilled migrants
Under the proposal of the Japan Forum on International Relations, Japan would adopt a skills-based migration system and put in place social integration policies to prevent the kind of tensions seen in Europe over immigration. While Japan historically has been reluctant to allow large-scale immigration, some opinion leaders now see it as the only way…
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Group Appeals for Overhaul of Japanese Immigration
A powerful group of politicians, academics and business leaders is set to launch an unusual campaign to urge Japan to pry open its doors to foreigners, saying the country’s survival hinges on revamping its immigration policy. Japan has one of the most restrictive immigration policies in the world, and the debate over whether to allow…
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Cram school buys out Shane English School
Cram school operator Eikoh Inc. said Friday it has acquired Shane English School to strengthen its English-language education for elementary school children ahead of the planned compulsory teaching of the language for fifth- and sixth-graders. Eikoh, based in the Kanto region, didn’t disclose how much it paid for the acquisition of shares in the four…
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Companies going all-out in English
Enhancing employee English-language skills has become a high-priority management challenge for Japanese corporations, regardless of their size and industry. This is especially true for companies whose survival hinges on developing new customers or clients in foreign markets. They are focusing in particular on fast-growing Asian economies, where English is becoming the common means of communication.…
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Ginza hostesses sue upscale club over unpaid wages
The former hostesses, aged in their 20s and 30s, are seeking a labor ruling in the Tokyo District Court, demanding a total of 4.38 million yen in compensation. According to case documents, one of the former hostesses aged in her 30s joined the club in December 2009, agreeing to a daily wage of 46,000 yen.…
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Building a ‘Little Yangon’ in Tokyo
For Tokyo’s community of Burmese, however, Takadanobaba is something much more important: a home away from home. In fact, so many of them have gathered there that it has come to be known as Little Yangon. Although they number only a few thousand, the mutual support and sense of community have been vital for their…
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Winter bonuses to inch higher: survey
Private firms with five or more employees are likely to pay their workers an average bonus of 388,000 yen this winter, a 2 percent increase from last year, a survey by Mizuho Securities Co. has found. According to the study results released on Nov. 2, the estimated average bonus payment at such companies marks the…