General Interest | ST Office Tokyo

Read more about Cut in Tokyo to Hakodate time eyed / Shinkansen speeds may be raised to compete with airlines

Cut in Tokyo to Hakodate time eyed / Shinkansen speeds may be raised to compete with airlines

The travel time between Tokyo and Hakodate, Hokkaido, is expected to drop to under four hours on the Shinkansen bullet train as early as this fiscal year, as the safety of the Seikan Tunnel has been confirmed and there is no problem if the speed of the Shinkansen, which currently runs a little faster than conventional express trains, is raised.

Read more about Worker shortage in Japan to hit 6.4m by 2030, survey finds

Worker shortage in Japan to hit 6.4m by 2030, survey finds

Japan will face a shortage of 6.44 million workers in 2030, making wage hikes, increased child care and other labor-related reforms vital to ensuring a stable workforce, according to a joint survey by Persol Research and Consulting and Chuo University released on Tuesday.

Read more about Freeze-dried food guru engages in decadeslong quest to take fare to new heights

Freeze-dried food guru engages in decadeslong quest to take fare to new heights

Apply 140 milliliters of hot water on the brown rectangular block, then stir for 60 seconds and voila, a steaming plate of chicken cutlet curry — that quintessential Japanese comfort food — is resurrected from its mummified state, offering instant gratification with minimal preparation.

Read more about Firms offer a glimpse of future business models at CEATEC, Japan's biggest electronics trade show

Firms offer a glimpse of future business models at CEATEC, Japan's biggest electronics trade show

Japan’s biggest electronics trade show kicked off Tuesday, offering a future peek at how the latest technologies can be integrated into everyday living.This year’s CEATEC (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture is still making a push to cast off the image of being just a home electronics hardware exhibition.

Read more about Panasonic helps workers create their own head space with new crowdfunded device

Panasonic helps workers create their own head space with new crowdfunded device

Maintaining concentration is key to getting your work done efficiently, but it can be hard to achieve sometimes. Sitting in your chair at the office, other coworkers may be constantly walking around nearby. Someone behind your desk could be chatting with their colleagues.

Read more about Switzerland remains world’s No.1 innovative country: Global Innovation Index 2018

Switzerland remains world’s No.1 innovative country: Global Innovation Index 2018

Switzerland retained its number-one spot in the Global Innovation Index (GII) for the seventh consecutive year, according to the 2018 ranking published by Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Read more about How Society 5.0 Will Change Japan

How Society 5.0 Will Change Japan

The Japanese vision of Society 5.0 promotes the Super Smart Society, in which Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence will change a plethora of things. Much that is now performed by humans will then be carried out by computers. Sweeping changes in business and production will make jobs obsolete and create new ones at the same time.

Read more about ‘Deep’ tourism explores the darker side of Tokyo

‘Deep’ tourism explores the darker side of Tokyo

Hidden behind the capital’s glassy high-rises and bustling shopping streets are dusty remnants of red-light districts and smoky bar alleys preserving traces of an older Tokyo — pockets of history Hisaki Kurosawa explores to catch glimpses of the other, more textured face of the slickly modern metropolis.