Why we should all support Japan in the next Women's Football World Cup

Accord Stadium, located in Sydney, Australia, is the 2nd largest stadium of the country, with a capacity of up to 80,000 fans. Next 20th of July, on the occasion of the opening match of the 2023 Women's Football World Cup between Australia and Ireland, the stadium will be completely sold out. Women's football is experiencing a global rise, as evidenced by the record-breaking transfers, attendances, and global television viewing figures in 2022.

Nadeshiko Japan, the women's national football team, will embark on their World Cup journey on the 22nd of July against Zambia. After their glorious World Cup victory in 2011, when they defeated the United States and became the first Asian team to win the FIFA Women's World Cup, Nadeshiko Japan struggled on the pitch, with defeats in the 2012 and 2015 finals against the U.S. team and failing to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. As the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup approaches in just over three weeks, Nadeshiko Japan faces an additional challenge: currently, Japan is the only major market without a broadcaster for the competition.

This is certainly not encouraging news for women's football in Japan, and with wider implications for the role of women in the country. A recent report released by The World Economic Forum showed that Japan dropped to 125th place in gender equality rankings. Nadeshiko Japan themselves, during their participation in the four-team SheBelieves Cup in the United States last February, wore purple wristbands (symbolizing gender equality) to spread this message. However, the message never reached their home country, as there was no coverage of the matches at home. The only coverage was made by 2011 World Cup winner Nahomi Kawasumi, who provided live text coverage of the games through her Twitter account.

Last March, Adidas Japan unveiled the "Japan Women's National Football Team 2023 Away Uniform" for use in the World Cup. The uniform is based on the concept of SUNRISE, symbolizing hope for the team to reclaim their position as world number one. Our hopes are that it will also represent a new dawn for increased recognition of women in Japan, with a real, permanent, full bloom for the Nadeshiko flower team and the message it brings.


The Struggle to Gain Public Consensus on the My Number ID System

It was October 2015 when the My Number system was first put into place. All households in Japan received a brand new 12-digits number, and from January 2016 could apply for the My Number Card, a brand new identification card which could be used for a wide range of services such as online applications, online transactions, administrative procedures, and many more.

At the end of the 2022 fiscal year, 96.14 million people, equal to 76.3% of Japan's population, possessed a My Number Card. However, despite these high numbers and the Japanese government's efforts to ensure widespread adoption, the overall public opinion regarding this system remains skeptical. The recent enactment of a law on June 2nd, which aimed to incorporate the current health insurance card into the My Number Card, faced opposition of 57% in a poll conducted by Mainichi Shimbun.

The skepticism surrounding the My Number ID system can be attributed to a series of mistakes and glitches that have come to light. In May, 113 cases were found in 90 municipalities where reward points associated with the My Number Card were mistakenly awarded to wrong recipients. In addition to that, on June 20th 172 ID cards were erroneously linked to the online accounts of individuals that were not the rightful holders.

To address the issue and alleviate public concerns, last June 21st the government launched a task force headed by digital transformation Minister Taro Kono. Also Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike stressed the importance of the My Number Card during a press conference last June 16th, defining it as a "key to promoting the digital transformation of administrative functions". The journey towards a complete acceptance of the My Number Card system remains lengthy. The Japanese government will require additional time and efforts to successfully regain public trust and achieve widespread acceptance.


Technical staff wanted

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan is seeking technical staff to join our team.

If you have experience in system development using HTML/CSS and SQL or in building/maintaining internal systems, and if you are interested in working with ICCJ, please contact us by sending your resume to assistance@iccj.or.jp.

Proficiency in both Italian and English languages is considered an advantage! Applicants must currently reside in Japan to be considered for the position.


Japanese flea market apps gain overseas popularity

Japan and second-hand goods have always been a perfect match. In Tokyo, specific areas are dedicated to the trade of second-hand goods. Akihabara stands out as the ultimate paradise for used electronics, where shops are brimming with computers, smartphones, and vintage video games. Koenji and Shimo-kitazawa, renowned for their thrift stores, offer a wide selection of used clothing.

At a national level, one of the major players in the second-hand market is Book-off, a chain with hundreds of stores nationwide. Book-off specializes in selling second-hand books, video games, CDs, and electronics. Meanwhile, online shops have gained immense popularity, with Mercari Inc., Yahoo Japan Corp., and Rakuten Group Inc. emerging as major protagonists in this sector.

These apps are witnessing a steady rise in popularity, attracting not only the younger generation but also senior citizens. Mercari announced that last year items from the Showa period (1926-1989), were among the users' favorite choice for Christmas gifts. The popularity of these apps and the demand for Japanese vintage items have also spread overseas. The weaker yen has increased the purchasing power of international buyers, who exhibit a keen interest in vintage Japanese items, in particular toys, trading cards, and memorabilia.

This growing trend has prompted Mercari to seek new cross-border e-commerce partners. In April, they established partnerships with e-commerce services such as "Ritaoshiji," "JPGOODBUY," "Leyifan," and "Masadora" to tap into the Chinese market. The potential for growth in this market is substantial, with the United States, Europe, and Taiwan as the next big target markets.

 


Re-evaluating the Seafood Industry of Japan

Last year, fishermen's nets across Japan returned emptier than usual. The Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry Ministry's data indicates a worrisome 7.5% decline in Japan's fish catch in 2022, amounting to a total of 3.86 million tons of fish caught, including both wild and farmed fish.

This decrease in catch has raised concerns within the fishing industry and highlights the need for further examination of the factors contributing to this decline. Rising sea temperatures stand out as a major culprit. The effects of global warming have made it increasingly challenging for fish to thrive, particularly affecting cold-water species and severely reducing their populations.

In addition to climate-related challenges, overfishing plays a significant role. The scale of Japan's fishing industry and the high demand for seafood make the country particularly vulnerable to this issue. Fishermen often find themselves catching fish at a faster rate than the species can reproduce, leading to a decline in fish stocks. This long-standing process of overexploitation has not only disrupted marine ecosystems but also jeopardized the sustainability of fisheries.

As a result of diminishing supplies, Japan becomes increasingly dependent on imported seafood. Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the Japanese government has been closely monitoring the issue. On June 2nd, they released a white paper recommending a boost in sustainable aquaculture practices. This approach aims to mitigate the effects of factors such as global warming while also bolstering domestic seafood production, ensuring a more secure and sustainable future for Japan's fishing industry.


Job opportunity at ICCJ

We are hiring!

ICCJ is seeking a motivated, open-minded, and marketing-oriented individual to join our team. Fluency in Japanese and English is a must, while Italian proficiency is a plus. A minimum 5 years of work experience is required.

If interested, send your CV to assistance@iccj.or.jp.


Growth and challenges in Japan's Q-Commerce

In the past two years, Japan's Quick-Commerce (Q-Commerce) landscape has been a true rollercoaster. With many new players jumping in and out of the market, Japan's on-demand delivery sector has experienced a high degree of instability.

If you're unfamiliar with the term, Q-commerce is essentially e-commerce, but with a greater focus on speed. Initially limited to food delivery, it quickly expanded to include other categories such as groceries, medicines, gifts, apparel, and more. Speed is the defining characteristic of this new form of delivery, where minutes, and sometimes even seconds, can make the difference between winning or losing against your competitors.

Data indicates that Q-Commerce in Japan is a growing market, with revenue projected to increase from $2.69 billion to $5.23 billion by 2027, and a total user base exceeding 21 million. However, in 2022 alone, three major Q-commerce players—Foodpanda, Wolt Market, and QuickGet—announced the discontinuation of their services in Japan. Additionally, on March 10th, the South Korean delivery service Coupang decided to withdraw from the Japanese market after only a few months of operation.

The reasons for these withdrawals cannot be solely attributed to a decline in delivery demand in the post-Covid-19 market. Japan's unique regulations and business practices appear to be the main obstacles hindering the growth of Q-Commerce in the country. On the other hand, the Q-Commerce platform OniGO is exhibiting signs of rapid growth. Its secret? A close partnership with retailers.


LDP consolidates its position in April elections

On Sunday, April 23rd, several municipalities in Japan held local elections, marking the second round of quadrennial elections. Voters casted their ballots to decide the mayors for 88 cities, chiefs for 12 of Tokyo's 23 wards, and assembly members in 294 cities and 21 Tokyo wards.

Sunday was also the day of by-elections for five vacant seats in parliament, which saw the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) emerge victorious in four out of the five districts. The LDP's strong win in the by-elections underscores the significant decline of left-wing parties in Japan. Moreover, the rise of the right-wing populist political party Nippon Ishin no Kai and Kishida's ruling bloc's key gubernatorial wins further consolidated the LDP's position after the two rounds of local elections. Sunday's elections also showed an increasing trend in the number of uncontested elections, with 25 out of 88 mayoral candidates running unopposed, and 40% of the electoral districts struggling to gather the minimum number of candidates required to run.

Opposition parties's weak organization in comparison to those of the LDP and their inability to offer new candidates are some of the main factors bringing to no major surprises on election days like last Sunday. And the next appointment with ballot papers might be sooner than we think: there are speculations that the favorable outcome of these elections may prompt Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to call for a general election in the near future.


Study Tour in Giappone: molto più di un viaggio!

March 25 - April 1 Study Tour in Japan: much more than just a trip!

Meetings, get-togethers, visits to production facilities of important Japanese manufacturing and to Universities, and overall a beautiful team spirit: 21 companies that participated in the tour, represented by 35 participant travelers, including entrepreneurs and professionals from Ancona, Pesaro, and Brescia created a beautiful atmosphere, making the Japanese experience a professional and personal enrichment.

Discover more about the Study Tour HERE (article in Italian).


Japan's seasonal national problem

In every Japanese office, in the period going from February to May, there is at least one colleague who cannot help but keep sneezing, coughing, nose-blowing, and generally feeling pretty bad every day. The cause is the feared kafunsho season, the hay fever problem that every year affects millions of people in Japan.

The reason why so many people suffer from these symptoms is the high number of Japanese cedar and cypress trees in the country, which produce a high amount of pollen every spring. The reforestation policies of post World War II brought the allergy to go from being a rare condition in Japan to being a "national problem", as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida defined it last 3rd April during meeting of the House of Councillors' Committee on Audit. The Japanese PM also added that relevant ministers will work on effective countermeasures in order to achieve results.

Kafunsho does not only affect those who suffer from it, but also for the companies and the employers, who each spring see their employees take sick leaves and the productivity of the office decrease. Kafunsho also has an impact on the National Health System, with a lot of time and money spent on visits and medicines prescriptions for millions of people. And the problem seems to be getting bigger and bigger: experts said that the 2023 Kafunsho season not only began 2 weeks earlier, but is expected to be the strongest (in terms of pollen quantity) of the last 10 years.

While it might be still early for Japan to solve this issue, in the past years there has been an improvement in how people deal with it. More and more companies have improved their policies, with measures such as "hay fever allowances" or the coverage of some of the treatement costs being introduced. Defeating hay fever in Japan is definitely an enormous and challenging goal for the Japanese Government, but the potential rewards make it a worthwhile endeavor to continue seeking out for new solutions.