#Aging / Declining Birth Rate

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has significantly strengthened pedal misapplication prevention standards, now mandating pedestrian detection, creep-speed protection, and expanding coverage to light trucks. Based on UN Regulation No. 175 — a standard Japan helped create — these new rules roll out from 2030 for new vehicles. A deep dive into how the world's most aged society is leading global automotive safety innovation.

Japan's child poverty rate stands at 11.5%, soaring to 44.5% for single-parent households. A survey by Good Neighbors Japan reveals how inflation is forcing families to cut meals, with 90% of respondents unable to afford basic staples like rice, meat, and vegetables. Inside the "invisible poverty" crisis hiding in plain sight in one of the world's wealthiest nations.

Japan's Vivel Trike, a compact electric three-wheeler starting at $3,900, has surpassed 300 cumulative sales since 2023. Requiring only a standard driver's license with no vehicle inspection needed, this roofed EV tuk-tuk is gaining traction among elderly residents, families, and businesses. We explore how it addresses Japan's growing "mobility refugee" crisis.

KUSELESS, a "no-cut salon" specialising in curly-hair care for people over 40, opened on February 8, 2026 in the Dojima underground shopping centre in Osaka. It focuses on hair-condition colour and curly-hair care rather than cutting, and promises every menu within 60 minutes. A look at the move away from chemical straightening and the rise of niche salons in Japan.

Aeon's mini supermarket chain My Basket reached 1,371 stores in August 2026 and is targeting 2,500 by fiscal 2030. Japan's aging population, the rise of single-person households and changing urban lifestyles are behind it. Here is why compact neighborhood stores are gaining on large supermarkets.