Latest news with #LabourandWelfareMinistry
Sinar Daily
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
Japan to promote sign language with new law ahead of Deaflympics
The law requires the national and local governments to take necessary steps to improve environments that ensure reasonable accommodations for learning and using sign language. 25 Jul 2025 12:04pm Japan's central and local governments are required under a new law to take steps to promote the use of sign language, aiming to build momentum ahead of hosting the Deaflympics in November. Photo for illustrative purposes only - Canva TOKYO - Japan's central and local governments are required under a new law to take steps to promote the use of sign language, aiming to build momentum ahead of hosting the Deaflympics in November, Kyodo News Agency reported. The law took effect on June 25 following the approval in parliament of legislation drafted by cross-party lawmakers. It marks the first time Japan has enacted a law specifically on sign language, according to the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry. Calling the legislation "historic," the Japanese Federation of the Deaf said in a statement it is "deeply moved" when thinking of the predecessors who worked tirelessly to raise awareness of sign language. Protecting sign language will "shine a light on the future of deaf and hard of hearing people," it said. Japan's central and local governments are required under a new law to take steps to promote the use of sign language, aiming to build momentum ahead of hosting the Deaflympics in November. Photo for illustrative purposes only - Canva The law requires the national and local governments to take necessary steps to improve environments that ensure reasonable accommodations for learning and using sign language. The governments must take steps to preserve and develop sign language culture, including in areas such as theatre and traditional arts, and to deepen public understanding. The state is also required to adopt fiscal measures to fund these efforts. The governments are also urged to assign teachers or staff proficient in sign language to ensure that students who need it can receive an education. According to the federation, ordinances promoting sign language have been enacted in 40 prefectures and approximately 550 municipalities. The legislation comes ahead of Japan's first time hosting the Deaflympics, an international sporting event for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes, to be held in Tokyo and other areas, with around 6,000 athletes and officials expected from 70 to 80 countries and regions. - BERNAMA-KYODO More Like This
The Star
06-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
Foreigners may have to pay lump sum for health insurance in some parts of Japan
A government building housing the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry. - Photo: The Yomiuri Shimbun file TOKYO: Foreign residents may soon have to pay their national health insurance premiums up front in some areas, according to a plan by the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry. The move is meant to keep foreign residents from dodging medical fees. National health insurance, part of the social safety net, is managed by prefectural and municipal governments. The programme enrolls people who are self-employed, jobless or under nonregular contracts. Foreigners must enroll if they live in Japan for more than three months and are not covered by any other insurance, such as what they might receive from their place of work. In fiscal 2023, national health insurance covered 970,000 foreigners, who accounted for 4% of the total. As of the end of 2024, foreigners were only paying their insurance premiums 63% of the time, well below the 93% figure for all residents of Japan, both Japanese and foreign nationals, according to a survey by the ministry of 150 municipalities. Under the national health insurance programme, those who are enrolled receive payment slips by mail and use them to pay their premiums. But many foreigners fail to make these payments. The ministry believes this is because they lack such systems at home and do not understand why they must pay into the programme. Members of the ruling parties and the opposition have called for insurance premiums to be paid in advance, claiming that some foreigners who do not join the national health insurance programme also shirk their medical bills. The ministry aims to notify municipalities this fiscal year of what ordinances they need to amend so that they can require advance payment of premiums beginning as early as next April. However, it will be up to each local government to decide whether they change the way they bill premiums. The ministry plans to have foreigners, when they move to Japan and register with a local government, pay a lump sum for national health insurance, such as the cost for a year's worth of coverage. For the national pension, premiums are the same nationwide and there is already a system that allows people to pay their premiums in advance. However, premiums for national health insurance differ by municipality. If foreign residents move to other municipalities after paying a lump sum, the municipality will have to partially refund the payment, which could place new burdens on municipalities. Because of this, the ministry will let each municipality decide whether to require lump sum payments for national health insurance. The health ministry will also begin improving its understanding of foreign residents' payment history. Currently, most local governments do not know whether foreign residents are paying their insurance premiums because they do not know the nationality or residence status of those enrolled in insurance. Improvements will be made in fiscal 2026, and the Immigration Services Agency will use records of premium payments to screen residents as early as June 2027. In the future, the government hopes to make it possible to also share information about whether foreigners are paying their pension premiums and medical fees. If foreigners are found to have not made the necessary payments, the government could refuse to renew their residence status. - The Yomiuri Shimbun
The Star
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
Pikachu, Snorlax named Japan ambassadors to promote better sleep
Newly appointed sleep support ambassadors Pikachu (left) and Snorlax, posing for a photo at the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry in Tokyo on June 26, 2025. - The Yomiuri Shimbun TOKYO: In a charming and strategic move to encourage healthy sleeping habits, Pikachu and Snorlax — two beloved characters from the globally popular Pokemon franchise — have officially been appointed as 'sleep support ambassadors' by the Japanese government. The Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry spearheaded this initiative, which leverages the appeal of these iconic figures to encourage people, especially children, to develop better sleep habits. The characters are expected to participate in various public awareness events, adding a fun, recognizable element to the important message that everyone needs to get enough sleep. The ministry recommends nine to 12 hours of sleep for elementary students, and eight to 10 hours for junior and high school students, to maintain good health. Since last fiscal year, the ministry has been collaborating with the Pokemon Company, which publishes 'Pokemon Sleep,' a smartphone game that tracks the user's sleep. Together, they have created brochures and other materials to encourage adequate sleep. On Thursday (June 26), the day of the announcement, Snorlax and a nightcapped Pikachu visited the ministry and received their letters of appointment from Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Takamaro Fukuoka. 'We hope to continue working with the health ministry to positively change sleep habits,' said Pokemon Company Representative Director Takato Utsunomiya. - The Japan News/ANN
The Star
28-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Pikachu and Snorlax named Japan's ambassadors to encourage better sleeping habits
Japan's Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry has been collaborating with the Pokemon Company. -- PHOTO: TAKAMARO FUKUOKA/ FACEBOOK TOKYO (Japan News/ANN): In a charming and strategic move to encourage healthy sleeping habits, Pikachu and Snorlax – two beloved characters from the globally popular Pokemon franchise – have officially been appointed as 'sleep support ambassadors' by the government. The Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry spearheaded this initiative, which leverages the appeal of these iconic figures to encourage people, especially children, to develop better sleep habits. The characters will participate in various public awareness events, adding a fun, recognisable element to the important message that everyone needs to get enough sleep. The ministry recommends nine to 12 hours of sleep for elementary students, and eight to 10 hours for junior and high school students, to maintain good health. Since last fiscal year, the ministry has been collaborating with the Pokemon Company, which released Pokemon Sleep – a smartphone game that tracks the user's sleep. Together, they have created brochures and other materials to encourage adequate sleep. On June 26, the day of the announcement, Snorlax and a nightcapped Pikachu visited the ministry and received their letters of appointment from Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Takamaro Fukuoka. 'We hope to continue working with the Health Ministry to positively change sleep habits,' said Pokemon Company representative director Takato Utsunomiya. -- THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIAN NEWS NETWORK
Straits Times
28-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Pokemon's Pikachu and Snorlax named Japan's ambassadors to encourage better sleeping habits
The ministry has been collaborating with the Pokemon Company. PHOTO: TAKAMARO FUKUOKA/ FACEBOOK Pokemon's Pikachu and Snorlax named Japan's ambassadors to encourage better sleeping habits TOKYO - In a charming and strategic move to encourage healthy sleeping habits, Pikachu and Snorlax — two beloved characters from the globally popular Pokemon franchise — have officially been appointed as 'sleep support ambassadors' by the government. The Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry spearheaded this initiative, which leverages the appeal of these iconic figures to encourage people, especially children, to develop better sleep habits. The characters are expected to participate in various public awareness events, adding a fun, recognisable element to the important message that everyone needs to get enough sleep. The ministry recommends nine to 12 hours of sleep for elementary students, and eight to 10 hours for junior and high school students, to maintain good health. Since last fiscal year, the ministry has been collaborating with the Pokemon Company, which publishes 'Pokemon Sleep,' a smartphone game that tracks the user's sleep. Together, they have created brochures and other materials to encourage adequate sleep. On June 26, the day of the announcement, Snorlax and a nightcapped Pikachu visited the ministry and received their letters of appointment from Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Takamaro Fukuoka. 'We hope to continue working with the health ministry to positively change sleep habits,' said Pokemon Company Representative Director Takato Utsunomiya. THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIAN NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
