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July 02, 2026
 

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CHILDREN

To address the economic burden on expectant and nursing mothers, the health ministry plans to set a nationwide uniform amount for childbirth expenses, then fully cover it with health insurance.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 4, 2025
Japan to give full insurance coverage for childbirth costs
Childbirth costs have continued to rise due to factors such as inflation, with the nationwide average in fiscal 2024 hitting ¥519,805.
They government is mulling plans to allow withdrawals under the Nippon Individual Savings Account plan for small-lot investments once children reach the age of 12 to create more flexible asset management to meet needs, such as university enrollment.
BUSINESS
Dec 2, 2025
Japan weighs launching NISA investment program for children
The government is mulling plans to allow withdrawals under the Nippon Individual Savings Account plan for small-lot investments once children reach the age of 12.
Rin Yonezu holds his late brother's backpack at an elementary school in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, in August.
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Tohoku
Dec 1, 2025
How one man struggled with his image as a relative of disaster victims
Some people have suffered by seeing their experiences of losing their loved ones in disasters reported in ways that went against their wishes.
A 10-year-old girl watches a show on YouTube at her home in western Sydney on Oct. 30.
BUSINESS / Tech / FOCUS
Nov 29, 2025
Driven by TikTok trends, new beauty brands target children
A growing number of companies are targeting a new generation of kids who have grown up with TikTok skin care and make-up routines.
Under a new framework announced by the Justice Ministry, a custodial parent will be entitled to ¥20,000 ($128) per child per month from the other parent after a divorce even without a negotiated or court-ordered child-support agreement.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 28, 2025
Japan finalizes statutory child support payment at ¥20,000 per child

Though there were calls for the support amount to be higher, the Justice Ministry says it is appropriate as it is designed to serve as a “temporary and supplementary” measure.
Malaysian Communication Minister Fahmi Fadzil speaks during an interview in Kuala Lumpur in 2023.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 24, 2025
Malaysia says it plans to ban social media for users under 16 from 2026
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil cited a need to protect youths from online harms such as cyberbullying, financial scams, and child sexual abuse.
Twitch will be forced to remove all users under the age of 16 when Australia's strict social media laws take effect next month.
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 21, 2025
Livestream giant Twitch to ban under-16s in Australia
The eSafety Commissioner said that the U.S. company — which started out as a platform for gaming streamers — met its criteria to be banned.
A drone explodes during a Russian drone strike in Kyiv on Nov. 14.
WORLD / Society
Nov 20, 2025
Explosive weapons killed most children on record in 2024: NGO
Save the Children U.K. attributed the surge to conflicts taking place more and more in urban areas.
The Liberal Democratic Party is planning to add ¥20,000 to child allowances as part of an economic package, LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi has said.
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2025
LDP eyes adding ¥20,000 to child allowances
The addition is expected to require funds totaling ¥400 billion, according to Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi.
A view of Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward at night. Last year in Japan, 66 people were put in protective custody as victims of human trafficking. Among them, 58 — including all 41 minors — were Japanese nationals. International pressure to act on human trafficking led Japan to make efforts to crack down on the crime, such as a tightening of conditions in 2005 for entertainer visas.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal / FOCUS
Nov 19, 2025
The reality of human trafficking in Japan
Its shifting nature, as well as the ever-changing demographics of potential victims, make it hard for authorities to crack down on trafficking.
A growing bipartisan movement — backed by educators, researchers and parents — is pushing to ban smartphones in U.S. classrooms, citing evidence that doing so boosts learning, cuts bullying and helps students reconnect in real life.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 19, 2025
Want students to thrive? Lock up their phones.
A growing bipartisan push to ban smartphones in U.S. classrooms is showing early signs of boosting learning, cutting bullying and helping students reconnect in real life.
The Children and Families Agency will launch a model project for the provision of after-school care for elementary students at companies, aiming to reduce waiting lists for gakudō hoiku facilities.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 18, 2025
Eyeing waiting lists, Japan plans model project for after-school care at firms
The Children and Families Agency is aiming to help reduce the length of waiting lists for gakudō hoiku after-school care facilities and support working parents.
Child care space at the Yuarito Day private postnatal care facility, on Oct. 20 in Tokyo's Chuo Ward
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2025
Postnatal care shortages emerge in Japan as demand grows
Provided by midwives and trained caregivers, such services offer hands-on child care assistance or short-term newborn care so families can rest and recover.
A Saitama district court sentenced Deng Hongpeng, a Chinese national and demolition worker, to two years and six months in prison, suspended for four years, for hitting a group of elementary school children with his car and fleeing the scene while driving under the influence.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 13, 2025
Chinese national sentenced for hit-and-run that injured four children in Saitama
Demolition worker Deng Hongpeng was driving under the influence and struck a group of ten children, injuring four sixth-grade boys.
Palestinians carry aid supplies in Gaza. UNICEF said it faces serious challenges getting 1.6 million syringes and solar-powered fridges to store vaccine vials into Gaza.
WORLD / Science & Health
Nov 12, 2025
UNICEF says Israel blocking 1 million syringes needed to vaccinate Gaza children
The blockage comes amid Israeli concerns that items such as syringes and refrigerators could be repurposed for military use.
New guidelines are addressing struggles by teachers to deal with the burden of parents who make irrational complaints that go beyond what is considered socially acceptable, often referred to as "monster parents," which is overwhelming their workload.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 10, 2025
Tokyo looks to keep ‘monster parents’ at bay with new protocols
Measures from limiting the duration of meetings to having a lawyer handle complaints aim to protect teachers from irrational requests and abusive behaviors.
Caroline Stage, Danish Minister for Digitalization and representatives from the agreement parties attend a news conference about a new political agreement for better protection of children and young people online, in Copenhagen, on Friday.
WORLD
Nov 8, 2025
Denmark set to ban social media platforms for children under 15
Denmark follows the likes of Australia, which last year imposed a ban on social media for children under 16.
Parents in Japan consider everything from kanji meaning, sound and total strokes when choosing names for their newborns.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Nov 8, 2025
‘Deep Blue,’ ‘Morning Sun,’ ‘Clear Sky’: Japan’s top baby names for 2025
Single-kanji names jumped in popularity this year, possibly in reaction to a new law aiming to crack down on overly creative ”kira kira” names.
Financially struggling families are burdened with educational expenses, as many schools require students to purchase designated uniforms and digital devices, according to a survey.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 7, 2025
Educational expenses for schoolchildren on the rise, survey finds
The average cost of uniforms for first-year junior high and high school students has risen by about ¥10,000 this year.
Police have arrested an elementary school teacher in Okayama Prefecture, the seventh and final suspect related to a group of teachers who allegedly shared voyeuristic videos of school girls on social media.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 7, 2025
Final suspect held in case of teachers accused of sharing child sexual abuse images
It was the seventh arrest related to a group of teachers who allegedly shared voyeuristic videos of school girls on social media.
Japan triples departure tax in push to combat overtourism
Tourists in Yanaka Ginza, Tokyo, on Wednesday. Japan tripled its International Tourist Tax (departure tax) to ¥3,000 from ¥1,000 on Wednesday for all travelers leaving Japan, regardless of nationality.
More facilities in Japan placing sanitary bins in men’s restrooms
A sanitary bin with an awareness sticker placed in a men's restroom in the Nagasaki Municipal Government building
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
Life inside Japan’s largest prison for women
Western-style rooms spanning the size of four tatami mats with hardwood floors, a toilet and soft mattresses on bed frames are designated for foreign nationals and those with health conditions at Tochigi Prison.
‘My dream is broken’: Japan visa rules push out foreign residents
A man orders from a kebab shop in the Okubo district in Tokyo.
Six of the best: rikishi of note in each sumo division
Kazuma (right) faces off against future <i>yokozuna</i> Onosato during the All Japan Amateur Sumo Championships at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo in December 2020.
Some startups see opportunity in an aging Japan
Yasmin Baba, CTO of Amilis, wins the Grand Prize at the Pitch2Tokyo Grand Final on Feb. 19.
Japan’s fertility system offers few safe paths for same-sex couples
A Tokyo Pride parade participant holds a sign that says "we want to be a married couple, not a couple."
Life inside Japan’s largest prison for women
Western-style rooms spanning the size of four tatami mats with hardwood floors, a toilet and soft mattresses on bed frames are designated for foreign nationals and those with health conditions at Tochigi Prison.
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.

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