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Asahi Shimbun
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
EDITORIAL: Let Diet members vote freely on married couple surname system
Members of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan submit a bill to the Lower House in late April for a new surname system for married couples. (Takeshi Iwashita) One part of Hikaru Utada's latest song created a buzz on social media over the Golden Week of national holidays in early May because of lyrics that asked, 'In what year of the Reiwa Era (2019-present) will it be OK in this nation for married couples to use separate surnames?' While the lyrics can be interpreted in a number of ways, there is no doubt it shows the high interest in how surnames should be used by married couples. The proposed system for choosing separate surnames upon marriage gave couples the freedom to choose either using one of their surnames by both or continuing to use separate surnames that each used until marriage. The Justice Ministry's Legislative Council issued its recommendations about the surname system in 1996, so all the major points of debate have been placed on the table in the ensuing 29 years. Under current law, couples can choose between the surnames of the husband and wife, but in actual practice wives in 95 percent of the cases change their surname. The U.N.'s Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has issued recommendations to the Japanese government on four occasions calling for legal revisions because the current provision forcing couples to use the same surname is 'discriminatory.' In 2024, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) called for legal revisions as soon as possible. Above all, the sudden breach of the achievements and assessment built up through work before marriage is severe. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said in the Diet that there was no good reason for delaying reaching a conclusion to the issue. The legislative branch will be seen as negligent if the situation of the Diet not doing anything should continue. But the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has already decided not to summarize opinions among members in the current Diet session. The opposition parties that appeared to be more in favor of a new surname system are also not on the same page. In late April, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan submitted a bill in the Lower House that proposed having the couple choose a surname at marriage and using the same surname for all their children. The proposal more closely followed the recommendations of the Legislative Council because of concerns raised about the 2022 proposal compiled by five opposition parties that said the surname of children could be decided at their birth. There were concerns that proposal would lead to the possibility of siblings having different surnames. But support for the proposals has not spread. The Democratic Party for the People included a plank in its platform for the Lower House election last October that called for introducing a new surname system. But party leaders have made comments that are more cautious about pushing forward. While junior coalition partner Komeito's stance is that any legislation should be submitted by the government, it has not been aggressive in encouraging discussions within the LDP. Serious discussions should be held in the Diet on the proposals submitted by the opposition. And it would be preferable if parties allowed members to vote according to their conscience when the bill came up for a vote rather than forcing them to toe the party line. That would more appropriately reflect the views held by society as a whole. It is Diet members who are the representatives of the people and it has been pointed out that excessively forcing all party members to vote the same way interferes with active discussions in the Diet. There have been past cases in which parties allowed members to vote however they chose, particularly on legislation that was closely tied to the views of values and ethics held by lawmakers, including the bill on organ transplantation. Delaying Diet discussions just because the LDP cannot come up with an internal consensus is inexcusable. Each individual lawmaker will be asked to choose between overlooking the entrenchment of inequality or showing greater respect for the individual. --The Asahi Shimbun, May 17
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roki Sasaki strikes out 5, tops out at 99 mph in Dodgers spring training debut
Roki Sasaki, one of the most hyped MLB prospects in recent memory, made his spring training debut on Tuesday for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His velocity was as advertised. In three scoreless innings, the Monster of the Reiwa Era allowed two hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out five against the Cincinnati Reds. He appeared in relief of countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who allowed two hits in four innings. Per Baseball Savant, Sasaki averaged 98.0 mph with on 25 four-seam fastballs and topped out at 99.3, while also throwing 18 splitters and three sliders. Roki Sasaki's first strikeout in his Dodgers debut 💪(via @MLB) — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 5, 2025 Paul Skenes topped all MLB pitchers with at least 1,500 pitches last season with a four-seamer that averaged 98.8 mph, meaning Sasaki sat at a velocity that would already be MLB's best. However, that speed was still short of the violence Sasaki inflicted the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he topped 100 mph in 26 of 29 fastballs in his debut. Regaining that 2023 velocity after a (relatively) down 2024 is enough of a priority for Sasaki that he asked all of his free agent suitors to explain why they thought he lost it and how he could get it back. The Dodgers ended up winning, and that effort is still apparently a work in progress.
Japan Times
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
More older people choosing to work for social connection and survival
Japan's baby boomer generation — those born between 1947 and 1949 and who played a key role in postwar growth — are over 75 now. With Japanese people experiencing much longer lives in retirement than before, older people's lifestyles are changing. Some seek fulfillment through work, while others are reevaluating their relationships with their partners. Changes are also taking place with their choice of housing, burials and end-of-life planning. Those living in the Reiwa Era (2019-present) are exploring ways to navigate the later stages of their lives. Digital-savvy Hiromi Higo, a 65-year-old YouTuber from the city of Fukuoka, is one such resident who has started a new chapter in life, offering tips for older people like her on how to enjoy life after retirement. In a video clip released in early December on her YouTube channel, 'Higo no Kurashi' (Higo's life), she introduced her first solo trip to an onsen hot spring resort with the subtitle, 'luxurious healing time.' "The hot water was rather soft and made for a pleasant bath," she said in the video in a soothing voice, dressed in a green Japanese-style robe. "I cooled off after my bath in the rest area," she said in the next scene, lying down on a tatami mat. She then moved to the dining hall. "The staff recommended pasta as a favorite among women, but I ordered a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) set meal instead." "I hope older people living alone like myself can find inspiration and excitement for life," Higo said, explaining the concept behind her channel. Higo retired at 60 after a 38-year career as a teacher. While supporting herself with a pension and through private tutoring, she decided to earn additional income in case she became physically unable to work. With advice from a business school instructor, she made her debut as a YouTuber at 64. It has been 30 years since the launch of Windows 95, which contributed to the spread of the internet. Digital-savvy older people are now common, with 60% of people in their 60s and 50% of those in their 70s using YouTube in one way or another, according to a January 2024 survey by NTT Docomo's research arm. Higo's first video, titled "Living alone in your 60s: 100 regrets and their solutions," garnered 110,000 views soon after its launch. Her second, "Things I let go of in socializing," reached 490,000 views. Her videos cover a wide range of topics, including lifestyle, travel, study methods and fashion. She has uploaded over 40 videos at a pace of one per week, earning about ¥20,000 to ¥30,000 per month. "I'm earning money while having fun — how great is that?" she said with a smile. According to the Cabinet Office, the number of people age 65 or older living alone was 6.72 million, or 13.2% of all households, in 2020. The figure is projected to increase to 10.84 million, or 20.6%, by 2050. Through her YouTube channel, Hiromi Higo highlights how to enjoy life for older people living alone like herself. | Nishinippon Shimbun Higo said one reason she started her YouTube channel was a strong sense of fear that she might be isolated from society. Comments posted on her videos include: 'I want to follow your example' and 'I feel the same' — words that give her some reassurance. 'I feel that I'm not alone and that I am able to help others,' she said. Staying connected to society seems to be giving older people purpose in life. According to a 2021 Cabinet Office survey, nearly half of men and women in the 70-74 age group stated that they "do not consider themselves elderly." Record-high working elderly Since 1947, the average lifespan of Japanese people has increased by over 30 years. As of 2023, the average life expectancy was 81.09 for men and 87.14 for women. The idea of a 'leisurely retirement' is now fading, and more older residents are choosing to stay active in the workforce. One such individual is Toshikazu Shiba, 71, from Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture. He works full-time at Eucas, a Kurume-based sofa manufacturing company where nearly 30% of the 58 employees are age 65 or older. Born in Miyazaki Prefecture, Shiba moved to Nagoya after graduating from junior high school to work at an auto parts factory in a mass hiring. After five years, he switched career through a relative's reference to become a furniture craftsman — a job he continued until his retirement at 65. After just a couple of months, however, he became restless. "Staying home was boring. Working is much more fun," Shiba said. He started looking for a new job and eventually found a position at Eucas. Now, he is responsible for making sofa legs and packaging. He lives with his wife and mother-in-law, as his two grown children have moved out. Without having particular hobbies, he plans to work as long as he can. "Dinner and drinks taste best after a good day's work," he said. About 60 years ago, Japan hailed junior high school graduates as "golden eggs," or an imperative workforce to support the postwar economic growth that led the nation to become the world's No. 2 economy. For many in that generation, working remains the meaning of life itself. As of 2023, the number of people in the workforce age 65 or older was a record-high 9.14 million, according to the internal affairs ministry. Those who were working accounted for 50% of all people between the ages of 65 to 69, and 30% in the age group of 70 to 74. During a job seminar for senior citizens held by Fukuoka Prefecture in mid-November, 13 entities, including operators of supermarkets and nursing care facilities, offered employment opportunities for older people. 'More than 80% of our staff are in your generation,' a representative from one of the operators said. 'The average age of our workers is 65,' said another. A 66-year-old man, who had retired from a construction company after working there for 43 years, attended the seminar in hopes of finding a new job. 'I'm still in good health, and if I don't work, my daily routine will fall apart," he said. People attend a job seminar for older workers held by Fukuoka Prefecture in the city of Fukuoka in November. | Nishinippon Shimbun With Japan's labor force declining, older people are seen as a valuable workforce. An October 2024 survey by Teikoku Databank found that over 50% of companies faced a shortage of full-time employees. 'Older workers are experienced, reliable and have good common sense,' one of the employers said, stressing high demand for such workers. 'They are helpful, as they take on early morning shifts." Working for survival In 2019, a report from the Financial Services Agency suggested that older people might need ¥20 million in savings for a 30-year life in retirement. Though the report was later withdrawn following public backlash, the figure came as a shock to many. In a declining economy, a significant number of older people have no choice but to work to make ends meet. A 2023 government study found that retired couples received a combined ¥210,000 in pension benefits per month on average, while their monthly expenses came to an average ¥250,000. Rising prices amid the weak yen are hitting their shortfalls even harder. One 68-year-old man from the city of Fukuoka began job hunting in November. After retiring from a construction company at 65, he started a real estate business but it failed to take off. The combined pension benefits he and his wife receive are about ¥200,000 per month. Although he does not have loan repayments, rising food and medical expenses, as well as tax and car maintenance costs are making his finances tight. "I'm short of money. I need to make at least ¥150,000 per month,' he says. Having just submitted applications for a clerical accounting job and an apartment manager position, he is hoping for good news soon. As for money to spend on his hobbies or leisure, he says, 'No, nothing. Not at all.' This section features topics and issues from the Kyushu region covered by the Nishinippon Shimbun, the largest daily newspaper in Kyushu. The original articles were published Jan. 1.
