Japanese – Author Carlo Carrasco

More Japanese Tourists Visiting Vietnam This Year

November 15, 2026November 14, 2026carlocarrasco

Having attracted almost twenty million foreign tourists during the first ten months this year, Vietnam is truly a major tourist destination among Southeast Asian nations. Along the way, they attracted more tourists from Japan during the January-October period reaching 757,000 which translates into an improvement of around 12%, according to a news report by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Factors like visa exemption, convenient flights, rich cuisine, low costs, and personal safety increased Japanese arrivals to Vietnam by nearly 12% in the first 10 months of the year to 757,000.

Data from the National Statistics Office of Vietnam shows Japan was Vietnam’s sixth largest inbound market. Pham Anh Vu, deputy general director of Du Lich Viet (Viet Tourism), explained the reason for this jump.

Since March 2026, visitors from 12 countries, including Japan, have been allowed to stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days without a visa regardless of passport type or travel purpose. The waiver will be valid through March 2028.

Direct flights between the two countries take just 4 to 5 hours. In addition to the long-established services from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Airlines has added five weekly trips from Da Nang, one to Osaka and four to Tokyo.

Budget carrier Vietjet Air has introduced a new Hanoi-Shizuoka service with four weekly flights to offer travelers even more options.

Surveys and tourism experts also highlight the strong appeal of Vietnam.

According to an August PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) survey, Japanese travelers strongly favor Vietnam for its food and affordable prices, with the former being the primary driver of their travel choices.

PATA also reported that Vietnam also attracts married Japanese travelers aged 40 and above.

Travel tech company Hofafy reported that Vietnam ranks among the top 3 choices for Japanese tourists seeking vibrant experiences, heritage, and history.

Fumi Matsumoto, chief representative of Japan National Tourism Organization in Vietnam, said the good connectivity makes the country ideal even for short trips.

Pham Hai Quynh, director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute, said however the sharp rise has been partly due to the low baseline in October 2025, when only 60,000 Japanese visitors came amid a weak yen and stiff competition from destinations like China.

This year, ongoing diplomatic tensions between China and Japan have caused many Japanese to choose Vietnam instead, he said.

He noted that lasting success depends on Vietnam’s own strengths, especially unique travel offerings and service quality, rather than temporary geopolitical shifts.

Meanwhile, outbound travel is recovering in Japan, with JTB, one of Japan’s largest travel agencies, forecasting that 16 million Japanese would travel abroad this year, 3% more than in 2025.

“From a female traveler’s perspective, one of Vietnam’s key attractions is that I feel quite safe and secure when traveling here.“

Japan represents a prized source market for Vietnam.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think it is possible for Vietnam to attract one million tourists from Japan by the end of this year? Do you think Vietnam will be able to lure in 25 million foreign tourists this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Japan’s Narita International Airport Plans to Combine Three Terminals

November 7, 2026November 4, 2026carlocarrasco

Narita International Airport (NRT), the primary international gateway of Japan, could make flight connections and the travel experience better once its plan of combining the three terminals pushes through, according to a news report by VnExpress pointing to the Japanese media.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

The operator of Japan’s Narita International Airport seeks to make travel easier for passengers and improve the airport’s position as a regional hub, according to local media.

Since opening in 1978, Narita has added new terminals regularly over the years. But this makes it inconvenient for transfer passengers, who often have to take shuttle buses between the various terminals.

To solve this problem, the airport operator plans to merge the three terminals into one, making connections easier.

According to The Mainichi newspaper, the operator first presented the single-terminal concept in September 2022 at a meeting with the governor of Chiba Prefecture. More proposals were unveiled at a meeting in Tokyo on July 6, 2026.

They included closing the current Narita Airport train station at Terminal 1 and building a new one under the terminal to be built south of Terminal 2.

The plan also includes adding about 30 new parking spots with jet bridges, bringing the total to around 100. Customs and passenger processing will gradually move into this central structure.

The airport’s total floor area will increase from 970,000 square meters to about 1.1 million square meters.

The airport also plans to build a new 3,500-meter third runway and extend runway B by 1,000 meters to 3,500 meters by March 2029.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you have entered Japan through the Narita International Airport over the past twelve months, how was your personal travel experience? Do you think the BRT operator’s plan to combine Narita’s three terminals into one makes a lot of sense? Do you think the plan will somehow help Japan attract even more tourists from around the world while ensuring border security?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Japanese Municipalities Step Up Measures Against Halloween Disruptions

October 30, 2026October 29, 2026carlocarrasco

Let me start by saying that Halloween should never be celebrated as it is inherently evil and it makes the participating celebrants vulnerable to evil forces. Apart from the evil that comes with it, the celebration of Halloween also causes major disruptions such as overcrowding, littering, trespassing, bumping, noise pollution, theft, physical violence and more. Over there in Japan, Halloween is not a traditional festivity but rather an urban event that attracted a lot of people as participants. Because each Halloween celebration there resulted in many incidents, the Japanese municipalities have ramped up a series of measures against disruptions, according to a news report by Kyodo News.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the report of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…

With Halloween approaching, Japanese municipalities are stepping up measures against disruptive celebrations in major entertainment districts as larger crowds are expected this year with the event falling on a Saturday.

Halloween is not a traditional festivity in Japan, but has evolved into a major urban event in recent years, particularly in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, where revelers in costumes gather for street celebrations.

The festivities have increasingly become associated with public disorder, with revelers drinking on the streets, littering and causing disturbances. Concerns intensified after crowds overturned a small truck in Shibuya during Halloween celebrations in 2018.

Shibuya, which has introduced restrictions on street drinking and imposed a 2,000 yen ($13) fine for littering, also plans to deploy additional patrols. Elsewhere, Tokyo’s Shinjuku district as well as Nagoya and Fukuoka are also tightening restrictions such as on alcohol consumption or access to crowded areas.

The peak crowd around Shibuya Center-Gai, a popular shopping area near Shibuya Station and one of the main gathering spots for revelers, on Halloween fell from about 20,000 in 2024 to about 4,500 in 2025, partly also due to rain.

“I hope Shibuya’s Halloween fever is gradually dying down. This year is an important turning point,” Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe said.

Nagoya has blocked access to parts of a downtown commercial complex at night since 2021 after fights and thefts were reported there during Halloween celebrations. The city plans to implement similar measures this year.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the celebration of Halloween should be banned all over Japan? What do you think caused Halloween to gain a lot of popularity among the Japanese over the past several years? Do you think Halloween participants in Japan even know what exactly are they celebrating? If you have children, have you ever thought them to reject Halloween?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Japan Selected as World’s 2nd Most Favorite Country for Tourists

October 24, 2026October 17, 2026carlocarrasco

Japan, which attracted over 42 million foreign tourists in 2025, has been voted as the world’s 2^nd Most Favorite Country for tourists in Condé Nast Traveller’s prestigious list of the world’s twenty best countries, according to a news article by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the VnExpress news article. Some parts in boldface…

Japan was named the world’s second most favorite country after Greece in British magazine Condé Nast Traveller’s list of the world’s 20 best countries, amid tourism declines and visa fee changes.

The Asian country received a score of 97.01 points out of 100, according to the annual Readers’ Choice Awards’ survey that asks travelers to rate countries on factors such as culture, attractions, cuisine, and overall experience.

“A tourism boom is bringing more visitors to experience its celebrated food scene, soothing onsens, seasonal cherry blossoms and high-speed trains that glide through some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. Yet even in a country steeped in heritage, there is always something new to discover, from futuristic attractions to fresh cultural experiences,” the magazine wrote.

Japan welcomed more than 27 million foreign visitors in the first eight months of 2026, down 2.7% from the same period last year, amid a steep decline from Chinese tourists, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

The Japanese government raised the single-entry visa fee for foreign nationals fivefold, from 3,000 to 15,000 yen, marking the first increase since 1978 amid inflation and a weaker yen, Kyodo News reported.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? When it comes to world travel, is Condé Nast Traveller your main reference for information and updates? If you were able to visit Japan over the past twelve months, how was your trip? Did you visit many cultural sites in Japan?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Japan Tightens Guidelines for Granting Permanent Residency, To Take Effect in April 2027

October 6, 2026October 6, 2026carlocarrasco

In its latest move on reforming immigration, Japan has officially revised its guidelines for granting permanent residency to foreign nationals and these will take effect in April 2027, according to a news report by Kyodo News. Guidelines include Japanese language-proficiency and having an above-average income compared with Japanese households.

To learn about the events that preceded the new residency fees, click here, here and here.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Kyodo News report. Some parts in boldface…

Japan’s immigration agency on Thursday revised its guidelines for granting permanent residency to foreign nationals, requiring applicants to have an income above the average for Japanese households and demonstrating a certain level of projected pension benefits.

The revised guidelines, which are set to take effect in April 2027, also require applicants to demonstrate Japanese-language proficiency at the level of an “independent user.”

The income requirement will be applied retroactively to applications made from April 2026 onward, as the immigration authorities aim to ensure that foreign applicants are financially independent. The average annual income per household was around 5.75 million yen ($36,500) in 2024.

The government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has been seeking to tighten regulations on the acceptance of foreign nationals. Fees for residence status applications were also hiked sharply on Thursday.

Applicants will also be required to have projected pension benefits equivalent to those payable after 30 years of enrollment in the employees’ pension program at their income level at the time they apply.

In principle, applicants must have lived in Japan for more than 10 years to qualify for permanent residency.

Previously, spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents could obtain permanent residency if they had been married for at least three years and had resided in Japan for at least one year.

However, the revised guidelines raise those thresholds to five years of marriage and three years of residence.

The Immigration Services Agency received around 5,000 public comments since it unveiled the draft guidelines in August.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you convinced that the Japanese government is executing the right moves with the revised guidelines? Do you think this latest immigration reform by Japan could inspire other nations to follow suit? What do you think could be the reasons why foreigners want to live permanently in Japan without following their rules, without paying their bills and without learning the Japanese language?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Higher Residency Fees for Foreign Nationals in Japan in Effect

October 2, 2026October 1, 2026carlocarrasco

What Japan promised as a part of immigration reform has finally been executed yesterday. The fees for foreign nationals seeking a change or a renewal of their residency status in Japan has been hiked dramatically to 200,000 Yen (US$1,280), according to a news report by Kyodo News. In relation with this development, there were long lines of foreign nationals who applied at regional immigration service centers hoping to beat the scheduled hike of residency fees.

To learn about the events that preceded the new residency fees, click here, here and here.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Kyodo News report. Some parts in boldface…

Japan on Thursday hiked fees for foreign nationals seeking to change or renew their residency status, with the cost of permanent residency jumping twentyfold to 200,000 yen ($1,280).

The increase triggered a last-minute rush to apply under the old rates earlier this week, with long lines forming at immigration offices and heavy traffic making it difficult for some people to use the government’s online application system.

At the Osaka Regional Immigration Services Bureau on Tuesday, about 350 people were waiting when the office opened at 9 a.m., with the line stretching outside the building.

Before the hikes, the fees for non-permanent residency applications were 6,000 yen to change residency status or extending the period of stay. The fee for permanent residency was 10,000 yen.

From Thursday, the fee varies according to the period of stay granted, starting at 10,000 yen for three months or less and rising to 75,000 yen for five years or more.

The change comes following a revision to Japan’s immigration and refugee law enacted in May, with the government citing rising costs for visa screening.

For some foreign residents trying to continue working and living in Japan, including asylum seekers who fled hardship at home, the higher fees are adding to their financial burden.

A man in his 30s from East Africa, who came to Japan in 2023, said he is seeking refugee status for political reasons. He is currently unemployed after his seasonal job ended, adding that finding work has been difficult as many Japanese companies are reluctant to hire asylum seekers.

He currently holds a six-month “designated activities” residency status, meaning his renewal fee will rise to 18,000 yen under the new system.

“I like Japan,” he said, adding that he intends to pay the fees required to remain in the country. But he said policymakers should listen more closely to people directly affected by immigration rules.

An Indonesian man, 35, who went to the Osaka immigration office to apply for permanent residency before the increase took effect, said the twentyfold rise had come as a shock.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Now that higher residency fees are already in effect, do you anticipate a huge back backlash by foreign residents and their respective national governments against Japan? Do you think the woke mob and open borders zealots around the world will criticize Japan and pressure them to reverse all the immigration reforms they executed? Do you think the hiked fees will somehow compel illegal aliens and illegal immigrants to surrender to the local authorities and leave Japan?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Japan to Boost Cooperation to Crackdown Against Illegal Foreign Workers

September 26, 2026September 25, 2026carlocarrasco

Japan will intensify its crackdown against illegal foreign workers by boosting cooperation with the other divisions of the government very soon, according to a news report by Jiji Press. While the intention to solve the problems connected with illegal foreign workers is clear, the government of Japan still has varied obstacles that needs to be cleared in order to launch an effective crackdown.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire Jiji Press news report. Some parts in boldface…

Japan’s Immigration Services Agency will boost cooperation with other government divisions to crack down on illegal foreign workers.

Starting as early as October, agency officials will join land ministry inspections of demolition and construction sites.

The land ministry conducts regular patrols of demolition and construction sites. However, its construction-related officials do not have the authority to verify the identities of foreign nationals, even when they are suspected of working illegally.

To address this issue, the Immigration Services Agency will send immigration control officers to participate in these patrols, as these officers have the authority to ask foreign residents to show their residence cards, which they are required to carry under the immigration control and refugee recognition law.

The agency also plans to collaborate with the Environment Ministry, which oversees outdoor storage yards for waste plastics and scrap metal.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you have been living in Japan, did you notice any illegal acts committed by foreign residents over the past three months? Are you aware of the illegal mosque built in Japan by Pakistani nationals who defied the local authorities? Why do you think foreigners from Third World nations tend to behave negatively while living in Japan? Do you think Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and her government can achieve comprehensive immigration reform within the next few years?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Prime Minister Takaichi Spotlights Strong Ties with Trump During Meeting

September 24, 2026September 23, 2026carlocarrasco

As planned, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae met with US President Donald Trump in New York to emphasize the strong bilateral relations before the arrival of China’s president, according to a news report by Kyodo News. Together they discussed several key issues such as the security environment in Asia, Japan’s industry, and more.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt of the Kyodo News report. Some parts in boldface…

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday to demonstrate the strength of bilateral relations, just a day before Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrives in Washington for his first state visit in 11 years.

During a meeting in New York, Takaichi and Trump discussed “various issues concerning China, including economic security” and agreed to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance, the Japanese government said.

Takaichi told Trump that the security environment in Asia and elsewhere is becoming increasingly severe, and that she wanted to show the world “how robust our alliance is through holding another round of meetings.”

Takaichi’s roughly 35-minute meeting with Trump, held on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, was intended to coordinate on China and align policies in areas of mutual interest, according to Japanese officials.

“Thanks to Donald’s leadership and also my own leadership, our bilateral economic security cooperation in areas such as AI, semiconductors and critical minerals has been steadily advancing,” Takaichi also said in front of the press ahead of their closed-door discussions.

Trump also praised his counterpart, saying, “She’s done a great job” and that he has been keeping a close eye on her high approval ratings.

“The industry in Japan is doing very well. The country is doing very well. It’s a very big improvement, and it’s an honor to be with her,” Trump said.

“She’s a friend of mine. We got to know each other very well over the last period of time,” he said of Japan’s first female premier, who took office nearly a year ago. “She’s going to be a great prime minister.”

The meeting was their first since March, when she visited the U.S. capital. They spoke for about five minutes on the margins of a Group of Seven summit in June in France.

Japan and China have been in a diplomatic freeze since Takaichi suggested in November that an attack on Taiwan could constitute an existential threat to her country and warrant a response from its armed forces.

Infuriated by her statement, China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, has since unleashed a series of political and economic reprisals against Japan, including export restrictions on rare earths needed to manufacture various high-tech products.

China has shown no sign of easing tensions with Japan, with Beijing prioritizing a managed detente with Washington. The Trump administration is concerned about the knock-on impact of the restrictions on U.S. supply chains.

With trade and artificial intelligence likely to top the agenda at the Trump-Xi summit at the White House on Thursday, the officials had said Takaichi would likely use the meeting with Trump to discuss China’s export controls and Tokyo’s willingness to boost cooperation on emerging technologies with Washington.

During their talks, Takaichi and Trump also reaffirmed the two countries’ commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and had a candid discussion of U.S. sanctions against International Criminal Court officials, according to the government.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the strong ties between the United States and Japan will eventually have a positive impact on international affairs, the security in Asia and other developments? Do you think the US-Japan alliance will push China back from locking in crucial supply chains and infrastructure projects of sovereign nations?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Japan’s Kikkoman Opens 3rd American Plant to Meet Growing North American Demand

September 21, 2026September 20, 2026carlocarrasco

Kikkoman Corp. – the Japan-based food manufacturer and world’s largest producer of soy sauce – formally launched its third American plant in the state of Wisconsin to meet the growing demand in North America, according to a Jiji Press news article. This is the latest development of Japanese companies (or subsidiaries) investing in the United States.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire news article of Jiji Press. Some parts in boldface…

Japanese soy sauce maker Kikkoman Corp. on Friday held an opening ceremony for its third U.S. plant in Jefferson, Wisconsin.

During the ceremony at the new plant, Yuzaburo Mogi, honorary CEO of Kikkoman, said that the company will increase soy sauce production to meet the growing demand in North America.

The third plant has already begun operating and will start shipping products in October. It is scheduled to produce some 4,000 kiloliters of soy sauce by March next year.

Kikkoman is also considering producing teriyaki sauce and “ponzu” citrus-flavored sauce at the plant in the future.

Other attendees at the ceremony included Kikkoman President and CEO Shozaburo Nakano and Senior Executive Corporate Officer Osamu Mogi, as well as local representatives.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you are based in the United States, how many Kikkoman products do you have in your kitchen right now? Is Kikkoman your first choice whenever you look for soy sauce?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Hitachi to Build $528-million Transformer Manufacturing Plant in America

September 17, 2026September 16, 2026carlocarrasco

Hitachi Energy Ltd. – a global leader in energy technology and electrification – announced yesterday that it will invest almost $530 million to construct a transformer manufacturing plant in the state of Mississippi in the United States, according to a news article by Jiji Press. The investment is to help meet the rising power demand as the use artificial intelligence (AI) keeps on rising.

Hitachi Energy Ltd. is the energy arm of the Hitachi Group with over a century of innovation, and a long list completed projects that helped people for their access to dependable energy.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire news article of Jiji Press. Some parts in boldface…

Hitachi Energy Ltd. said Wednesday that it will invest 528 million dollars to build a transformer manufacturing plant in Mississippi to meet surging U.S. power demand amid wider use of artificial intelligence.

The Swiss unit of Hitachi Ltd. expects the plant to more than double its production capacity compared with an existing transformer plant in Mississippi. Construction of the new plant will begin later this year, with production scheduled to start in 2029.

The new plant will be “the cornerstone” of Hitachi Energy’s 1.5-billion-dollar U.S. investment plan, the company said.

In September last year, Hitachi Energy said it would invest 1 billion dollars in the United States. It later expanded the plan as Japan pledged to make 550 billion dollars in investment and loans to the United States as part of a bilateral trade agreement.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you consider this new investment by Hitachi a crucial one in relation to the rising demand for power in the United States? Are you hoping that the bilateral trade agreement between the United States and Japan will create economic and energy breakthroughs for Americans in the near future?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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