Minimum wage hike would decrease livelihood protection spending

An increase in the minimum hourly wage to 1,000 yen will raise the incomes of 164,000 households currently enrolled in the livelihood protection program and save 380 billion yen in national spending for the program, according to an estimate by the Japan Research Institute of Labor Movement (Rodo-soken).

Osaka mayor to abolish city symphonic orchestra

Osaka City Mayor Hashimoto Toru will dismantle the Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band in April next year and dismiss all the musicians, who are also city government workers.

Ending Japan-US military ties abides with Constitution

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Kasai Akira on May 31 stated that in the context of the Japanese Constitution, Japan should cut its military ties with the United States.