After decades of relative price stability, daily life in Japan is getting more expensive. From food and energy to rent and services, this episode looks at why costs are rising, why wages are lagging behind and what it means for households heading into 2026.

Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Once seen as a symbol of rural decline, Japan’s "akiya" — vacant homes — are now drawing investors, renovators and foreign buyers. This episode explains why interest is surging, what buyers often overlook and how the boom is reshaping communities across Japan.

Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Japan remains one of the safest countries in the world, yet online scams, phone fraud and impersonation schemes are increasingly catching residents off guard. This episode explains how scammers operate, why certain tactics work so well in Japan and what you should watch out for to stay safe.

Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

A diplomatic storm erupted after comments from Japan’s defense minister angered China and set off a tense exchange over Taiwan. This episode breaks down what was said, why Beijing reacted so sharply and how the situation exposes growing risks in Japan–China relations.

Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Japan continues to struggle with long working hours, service overtime and rising cases of karoshi and work-related suicide. This episode examines why overwork remains so deeply rooted, how reforms have fallen short and why political leaders are under pressure to address a crisis that costs lives every year.

Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Japan’s countryside is emptying out as young people leave for big cities, birthrates fall and entire communities face collapse. This episode explores why rural areas are shrinking so fast, what local governments are trying to save them and what Japan loses when its small towns disappear.

Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Japan’s NHK reception fee has long been one of the country’s most unpopular charges, sparking debates about fairness, enforcement and whether the system still makes sense. This episode explains why the fee exists, how it’s collected and why so many people want it changed.

Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Japan’s new prime minister wasted no time stepping onto the world stage — and straight into Donald Trump’s orbit. From golf gifts and photo ops to praise that bordered on submission, Sanae Takaichi’s diplomatic debut looked more like a loyalty test than a summit. Was it smart politics, or a replay of Shinzo Abe’s flattery playbook?

What do you think: was this calculated diplomacy or hero worship gone too far? Tell us in the comments.

• 00:00 Intro: Takaichi’s first test with Trump

• 01:05 Abe’s shadow over Japan-U.S. summit

• 03:10 Takaichi puts on a show for Trump

• 05:00 Trump 's awkward moment in Tokyo

• 06:40 Takaichi and Trump: Flattery in Yokosuka

• 08:10 What Japan and the U.S agreed under Takaichi and Trump

• 09:45 Outro: Takaichi's real test after Trump summit

A political storm erupted in Japan after Kimi Onoda used the phrase “foreigner problem,” sparking debate over immigration, integration and what coexistence should look like in a rapidly changing society. This episode breaks down the controversy, the political reaction and what it reveals about Japan’s future.

Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH

Japan is in the middle of the trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, whose assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shocked the country and exposed deep ties between the LDP and the Unification Church. This episode breaks down the legal stakes, public reaction and the political fallout Japan is still grappling with.

Watch the full Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLmgel-5aDxrGswj_8hRRiUwdm5tGGTH