News & Updates
Recent updates and curated news related to recruiting, foreign workers in Japan, digital marketing, SEO and AI.
Japan’s Skilled Worker Backlog in Food Service Is a Hiring Warning for Operators
Japan’s immigration authority updated the status of Specified Skilled Worker applications in the food service category, underscoring how permit processing can shape hiring capacity. For operators, the key issue is no longer only labor shortage, but also how quickly new hires can actually start work.
Source: 出入国在留管理庁
BOJ Lifts Rates to 1%, Forcing Japan Companies to Reprice Financing and Investment Plans
The Bank of Japan raised its policy rate to 1% on June 16, the highest level in three decades. For companies operating in Japan, the move raises the cost of capital and increases pressure to rethink investment timing, pricing, and balance-sheet strategy.
Source: AP News
Japan’s Q1 2026 GDP rises 2.1% annualized, strengthening the case for corporate investment
Japan’s Cabinet Office said first-quarter 2026 GDP grew at a 2.1% annualized pace. The result supports a more confident business outlook, but companies should still budget carefully because the recovery is now being tested by external shocks and higher energy costs.
Source: Cabinet Office of Japan
Japan’s exports accelerate in March on AI-related demand
Japan’s export growth picked up in March, helped by a rebound in China demand and AI-related shipments. Imports also rose, leaving the trade surplus below market expectations.
Source: The Japan Times