This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The EU and Japan held their third Digital Partnership Council today in Tokyo to reinforce tech and digital cooperation between the EU and Japan. The Council was co-chaired by Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, alongside Masaaki Taira, Minister for […]EU and Japan reinforce tech and digital partnership
May 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The EU and Japan held their third Digital Partnership Council today in Tokyo to reinforce tech and digital cooperation between the EU and Japan. The Council was co-chaired by Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, alongside Masaaki Taira, Minister for […]How Japan is harnessing blue carbon as a pathway to net zero
May 24, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Tochibayashi, Communications Lead, Japan, World Economic Forum In April, over 100 volunteers gathered in the bay area of Yokohama, the second-largest city in Japan after Tokyo, to plant eelgrass on the seabed, following Japan’s aim to achieve carbon neutrality by […]US jobs market, Japanese inflation and other economics stories to read
May 24, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Joe Myers, Writer, Forum Agenda 1. US labour market remains strong The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, suggesting strength remains in the labour market. It was the second straight week of declines. Initial claims […]How can Japan navigate digital transformation ahead of a ‘2025 digital cliff’?
April 25, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Tochibayashi, Communications Lead, Japan, World Economic Forum, Naoko Kutty, Writer, Forum Agenda As the 2025 digital cliff nears – the point at which businesses in Japan will lose JPY 12 trillion ($77.6 billion) every year for failing to adopt digital practices, […]Commission concludes its third policy dialogue with Japan on education, culture and sport
April 3, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Earlier today, representatives from the European Commission and the Japanese government met in Tokyo for the third edition of the EU-Japan Policy Dialogue in the areas of education, culture, and sport. Both parties recognise the importance of mutual collaboration as a vector for exchanges […]How Japan is attracting digital nomads to shape local economies and innovation
March 29, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Tochibayashi, Communications Lead, Japan, World Economic Forum, Naoko Kutty, Writer, Forum Agenda A way of working called “digital nomadism,” allowing people to travel and work remotely for the short or medium term without being tied to a specific location, […]How Japan is creating a sustainable and resilient future for the logistics industry
February 23, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Tochibayashi, Communications Lead, Japan, World Economic Forum, Naoko Kutty, Writer, Forum Agenda As the economy continues its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, various challenges are coming to light. Among them, the “2024 problem” looming over Japan’s logistics industry stands […]What Japan can teach us about global disaster preparedness
February 15, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Tochibayashi, Communications Lead, Japan, World Economic Forum, Naoko Kutty, Writer, Forum Agenda On New Year’s Day 2024, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Ishikawa Prefecture’s Noto Peninsula on the northern coast of Honshu, Japan’s largest island. The death toll reached 241 and […]Japan’s pivotal global role: Insights from Davos 2024
January 24, 2024 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Kutty, Writer, Forum Agenda Japan has been demonstrating leadership across various fields, from international trade and politics to regional cooperation. In the expansion negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, Japan took the lead after the United States withdrawal in […]How Japan solved its rare earth minerals dependency issue
October 16, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Tatsuya Terazawa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan All countries should develop measures to avoid over-dependency on rare earth minerals.Japanese dependency on rare earth minerals was exposed by a diplomatic incident in 2010 […]Could Japan’s paternity leave policy narrow the gender gap?
October 13, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Tochibayashi, Public Engagement Lead, World Economic Forum, Japan, Naoko Kutty, Writer, Forum Agenda In Japan, men increasingly take up the government’s proposed paternity leave benefit and get more involved in parenting.Despite increasing uptake of postpartum paternity leave, […]Japan’s rural areas are depopulating – could a circular economy deliver local economic revitalization?
September 20, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Makiko Eda, Chief Representative Officer, Japan, World Economic Forum Japan’s rural populations are declining, creating an urgent need to redesign local economies and an opportunity to instil a sustainable circular economy.Companies in Japan actively leveraging the advancement of […]What’s next for the energy transition in Japan?
August 25, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Kiriko Honda, Head of Business Engagement, Japan, World Economic Forum, Harsh Vijay Singh, Project Lead, System Initiative on Shaping the Future of Energy, World Economic Forum Geneva, Ken Ishizawa, Senior Manager, Accenture A transition to renewable energy is […]EU-Japan Summit – Joint statement
July 14, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio of Japan met in Brussels on 13 July 2023 for the 29th Summit between the European Union and Japan and issued the following […]EU and Japan strengthen cooperation on digital trade and economic security
June 27, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, the EU and Japan held their third High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED). The meeting centred on economic security following agreement to expand the scope of the dialogue. The HLED was co-chaired by Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, with Japanese Minister of […]Japan’s hospitality and tourism industry is recovering, but there are challenges
May 11, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum./ Author: Naoko Kutty, Writer, Forum Agenda, Naoko Tochibayashi, Public Engagement Lead, World Economic Forum, Japan The Japanese hospitality and tourism industry is beginning to recover in earnest after being badly hit by COVID-19. In October 2022, Japan lifted the ceiling […]What Japan’s May blues tells us about tackling mental health
April 25, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Tochibayashi, Public Engagement Lead, World Economic Forum, Japan ‘May blues’ is a Japanese phenomenon that occurs during the transition after the new fiscal year starts and a week-long nationwide holiday.Fewer people appear to have suffered May blues during […]High and rising hay fever in Japan may now have a solution
April 12, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Tochibayashi, Public Engagement Lead, World Economic Forum, Japan, Naoko Kutty, Writer, Forum Agenda Spring in Japan is long-awaited on many levels as the Sakura or cherry blossoms are in full bloom, eliciting one of the country’s most iconic […]What’s behind Tokyo’s massive redevelopment?
February 21, 2023 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Tochibayashi, Public Engagement Lead, World Economic Forum, Japan Tokyo is in the midst of large-scale redevelopment that includes plans pegged as a “once-in-a-century” undertaking. The construction sites are stretched out throughout the city including Shibuya, a pop-culture hub; […]What are Japan’s top 3 ‘words of the year’ for 2022?
December 26, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Kutty, Digital Editor, World Economic Forum Every year, Japanese publisher, Jiyu Kokumin Sha, holds a popular contest on Words of the Year. As 2022 ends, 10 words that became an integral part of the Japanese language this year […]Mainstreaming universal health, with Japan at the helm as a long-lived nation
December 22, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Kutty, Digital Editor, World Economic Forum Japan’s early adoption of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has attracted worldwide attention, as it is the country with the longest healthy life expectancy in the world. One of the reasons for this […]What does the future hold for Japan’s railways after 150 years of service?
November 30, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Kutty, Digital Editor, World Economic Forum 2022 marks the 150th anniversary of Japan’s railway system, which began service between Shimbashi and Yokohama in 1872. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan urgently needed to establish a transportation network to […]See how Japan is preparing for the global energy crisis
November 22, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Kutty, Digital Editor, World Economic Forum The global energy crisis impacts everything from our daily lives to corporate activities. In Japan, there are growing fears that the supply and demand of electricity will be strained this winter. […]Why is inflation so low in Japan?
October 7, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Victoria Masterson, Senior Writer, Formative Content Inflation of 3%. It’s something many of us may be dreaming of right now, but it’s a reality for those in Japan Its inflation rate stood at that level in August, putting […]Japan has the lowest inflation of all major economies but will continue feeling the pressure. Here’s why
October 3, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Naoko Kutty, Digital Editor, World Economic Forum The Bank of Japan (BOJ) has decided to stick to its monetary easing policy amid accelerating global inflation growth. Inflation in Japan is the lowest among major economies, with the Consumer […]Tokyo wants to build a future-proof city. Here’s how
September 22, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Stefan Ellerbeck, Senior Writer, Formative Content Tokyo has some seriously ambitious extension plans. Japan’s capital is set to become bigger, better and incorporate a mini city, the Tokyo Metropolitan government (TMG) says in a new report. Tokyo eSG, […]What is the ‘random trip’ craze and why is it so big in Japan?
September 13, 2022 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Victoria Masterson, Senior Writer, Formative Content Let’s go anywhere. Instead of deciding on a destination, travellers in Japan are leaving it to luck. It’s a trend called ‘random trips’ that is taking off in Japan – and travel […]Climate change is threatening Japan’s sushi culture. Here’s how
August 5, 2022 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Helen Nugent, Senior Writer, Formative Content Japan’s sushi culture is under threat from climate change.Rising water temperatures are affecting the quality of fish, while extreme weather events are harming wasabi crops.In the US alone, the market size of […]These are the refugee athletes at the Tokyo Olympics
July 27, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Johnny Wood, Senior Writer, Formative Content A refugee Olympic team first appeared at the Rio Games in 2016.Funded by IOC sponsorship, 29 displaced athletes have made the Tokyo 2020 team.The team’s participation helps highlight the global refugee crisis. […]Challenges surrounding COVID-19 vaccination in Japan: Fraught history and current vaccine hesitancy
March 15, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Tai Nguyen Van, a forth-year medical student at the International University of Health and Welfare, Japan. He is affiliated to the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do […]Japan’s mental health crisis shows we need to fight harder for gender equality
March 8, 2021 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Nobuko Kobayashi, Asia-Pacific Strategy Execution Leader, EY • The pandemic has caused the Japanese suicide rate to rise faster for women than men. • The economic crisis has fallen disproportionately on women, something compounded by the unpaid care […]How Japan can build a sustainable future post-COVID-19
January 18, 2021 by 2 Comments
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Makiko Eda, Chief Representative Officer, World Economic Forum Japan, Member of the Executive Committee The business culture in Japan has been resistant to change.There is a traditional preference for seniority and lifelong employment and a lack of gender […]This Japanese experiment shows how easily coronavirus can spread – and what you can do about it
April 15, 2020 by 1 Comment
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum. Author: Douglas Broom, Senior Writer, Formative Content Microdroplets less than 100th of millimetre in size may spread the coronavirus. Research in Japan shows microdroplets can remain in the air for 20 minutes in enclosed spaces. Opening a window or […]
