Section
People & Life
Everyday life, work and school. The voices of people connected with Ukraine.
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Minimum Wage Rises to a ¥1,177 National Average: The Rules That Protect People Working in Japan
Anyone employed to work in Japan is covered by the Labor Standards Act and the Minimum Wage Act, regardless of nationality. The recommended fiscal year 2026 minimum wage is a ¥1,177 national average, and ¥1,280 in Tokyo, due to take effect starting in October. The law also sets a 40-hour week and 8-hour day, premium pay, 10 days of paid leave after six months, and 30 days' notice of dismissal.
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A 12-Year-Old Can Still Ride at the Child Fare: How Trains and Buses Work in Japan
Fares on Japan's trains and buses are split by age into adult, child, toddler, and infant, and the child fare is, in principle, half the adult fare. Transit IC cards require a ¥500 deposit, and a named card asks for your name and date of birth. This article also covers the 2023 suspension and 2025 resumption of anonymous IC card sales, and the difference between front-door and back-door boarding on buses.
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Public Libraries Are Free by Law, but a Library Card Requires an Address Check
Japan's Library Act requires public libraries to be free for entry and for using materials. To borrow a book, you register for a library card at a library in the city, town, or ward you live in, showing a document that confirms your name and address. Using Yokohama and Kobe as examples, this article covers the registration conditions and gives examples of libraries that hold books in Ukrainian.