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Tag: Japan

  •  3 Countries Offering Financial Incentives for Marriage

     3 Countries Offering Financial Incentives for Marriage

    By  Milcah   Tanimu

    As many countries face a decline in marriage rates and its impact on economic growth, some governments have introduced financial incentives to encourage more people to marry. Here are three nations where getting married can come with monetary benefits:

    1. Japan
    In Japan, newlywed couples can receive financial assistance of up to 600,000 yen (approximately $5,700) through the municipality’s newlywed support program. This aid helps cover rent and other living expenses, aiming to bolster marriage rates and support young couples starting their lives together.

    2. Hungary
    Hungary offers a substantial financial incentive for marriage. Couples who marry before the bride turns 41 can access subsidized loans of up to 10 million forints (about $33,000). Moreover, if the couple has three children, they are not required to repay the loan, significantly easing their financial burden.

    3. South Korea
    South Korea, facing a notable drop in marriage rates, has introduced a pilot program offering financial rewards ranging from $64,000 to $85,000 to couples who marry. If successful, this program might be expanded in 2025 to include international residents working or living in the country. The initiative reflects efforts to address the low marriage rates and the associated demographic challenges.

    These programs highlight how governments are using financial incentives to counteract declining marriage rates and support economic stability.

  • 10 Countries Allowing Foreign Students to Bring Dependents

    10 Countries Allowing Foreign Students to Bring Dependents

    By Milcah Tanimu

    Some countries with renowned educational institutions recognize the importance of having loved ones nearby while studying. These countries have established dependent visa programs allowing foreign students to bring their family members along.

    Canada
    Canada is a top choice for students wanting to stay with their families while studying, despite the higher costs. The country’s immigration policies enable students to bring their spouses and children, with dependents allowed to work full-time under specific conditions. Required documents include visa applications, proof of relationship, acceptance letters, financial proof, language proficiency, medical exams, and police clearance. More information is available at [IRCC Canada](https://ircc.canada.ca).

    Finland
    Finland offers a D visa, providing 100 days of residency before obtaining a full residence permit. It’s easier for international students to bring their spouses after settling in. Applicants need financial stability to support dependents. For detailed information, visit [Finland](https://www.finland.fi).

    Germany
    Germany provides a family reunion visa, allowing dependents to reside temporarily or permanently. Dependents can also work in Germany. Requirements include the sponsor’s valid residence permit, adequate living space, health insurance, financial security, German language skills, and age declarations. More details can be found at [German Foreign Office](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/buergerservice/faq/09-familiennachzug-studenten/606700).

    Malta
    Malta is a popular English-speaking destination in Europe for international students. The country offers family visas for spouses, children, and other dependents. Eligibility criteria include relationship proof, financial stability, health insurance, and accommodation proof. More information is available at [Identity Malta](https://identita.gov.mt).

    Japan
    Japan allows foreign students to bring their spouses and children through a dependent visa. Applications can be made via overseas Japanese embassies or through a Certificate of Eligibility at an immigration bureau in Japan. It’s advisable to secure stable accommodation first. Visit [GRIPS](https://www.grips.ac.jp/en/education/students/visa_information/depend_visa/) for more information.

    Australia
    Australia permits most students to bring their immediate family members, including spouses and children under 18. Dependent partners may have unrestricted work rights, and children can attend school. Details can be found at [Study Australia](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au).

    Austria
    Austria allows students to bring their family members by applying for residence permits and visas. Requirements include financial proof, being over 21 for married couples, and ensuring sufficient funds. More information is available at [Migration Austria](https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/family-reunification/).

    China
    China offers S1 and S2 visas for family members of foreign residents. The S1 visa is for long-term stays and can be extended, while the S2 visa is for short-term visits. For more details, visit [China Embassy](http://ng.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/zytz/201903/t20190301_7775770.htm).

    Denmark
    Denmark’s student dependent visa allows spouses and children under 18 to join international students. Although learning Danish is beneficial, English proficiency tests are not required. For more information, visit [New to Denmark](https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/Applying/Familie/Medfoelgende%20familie).

    USA
    The United States offers F-2 visas for spouses and unmarried children under 21 of international students. It’s essential to check specific institutional requirements before applying. More details can be found at [US State Department](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html).

    Before making any applications, conduct thorough research on your chosen course, institution, and country. Consult with the respective country’s embassy to ensure compliance with all requirements and secure your stay with your family.

  • Japan planning for one-month virus emergency extension: PM

    Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday the government would plan for an approximately month-long extension of a state of emergency declared over the coronavirus pandemic.

    Abe put in place an initial month-long state of emergency for seven regions on April 7, later expanding it to cover the entire country.

    But with the measures due to expire on May 6, Abe said he had instructed his minister for the virus outbreak Yasutoshi Nishimura to plan for an extension.

    An expert panel advising the government is reviewing the situation in different parts of the country, he added.

    “We will listen to their opinions and we hope to make a decision on May 4th.”

    Abe said Japan had so far managed to avoid the sharp increase in infections seen in some other parts of the world, but cautioned that vigilance was still needed.

    “The view of experts is that we will continue to need the cooperation of the Japanese people for the foreseeable future.”

    An extension of the state of emergency had been widely expected, despite the comparatively small scale of the outbreak in Japan, with nearly 14,300 infections recorded and 432 deaths so far.

    The state of emergency is significantly less restrictive than measures seen in parts of Europe and the United States. It allows governors to urge people to stay at home and call on businesses to stay shut.

    But officials cannot compel citizens to comply, and there are no punishments for those who fail to do so.

    Despite the relatively small scale of Japan’s outbreak, there have been persistent fears about a spike in infections that could quickly overwhelm the country’s healthcare system

    Doctors’ associations have warned that hospitals are already stretched thin, with officials in Osaka even calling for donations of raincoats to serve as protective equipment for health workers stuck using trash bags.

    Measures have been implemented to try to ease the pressure, including sending coronavirus patients with mild symptoms to hotels for quarantine, rather than keeping them in overcrowded hospitals.

    The government has also said it is increasing testing capacity but continues to face criticism for the relatively low numbers of tests being carried out, in part because of stringent criteria.

  • Japan will scrap Tokyo 2020 Games if not held in 2021, official says

    Japan will scrap Tokyo 2020 Games if not held in 2021, official says

    Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori says the Olympic Games, already postponed to 2021, will be “scrapped” if it can not take place then.

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Japanese government last month postponed the Games until July 2021 because of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

    With the epidemic’s worldwide infection rate climbing and experts suggesting a vaccine is still a long way off, questions are being asked.

    The questions are about whether the huge setpiece event might need to be delayed further.

    “No. In that case, the Olympics will be scrapped,” Mori said in an interview with Japanese sports daily Nikkan Sports on Tuesday, when asked if the Games could be postponed again until 2022.

    However the former prime minister remained confident the Games would go ahead in 2021.

    “We have delayed the Olympics until next summer after we would have won the battle,” he was quoted as saying.

    “The Olympics will be much more valuable than any Olympics in the past if we could go ahead with it after winning this battle. We have to believe this, otherwise our hard work and efforts will not be rewarded.”

    Asked about Mori’s comments, Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya emphasised however that organisers were focusing on next year.

    “New dates for the Tokyo 2020 Games have been set and our mission is to deliver the Games next year,” he told a news briefing.

    “Mori only made his comment in his own thoughts,” Takaya added.

    During the interview, Mori also suggested the Olympics and Paralympics might share opening and closing ceremonies instead of holding their usual separate ones.

    Mori said this would cut costs, though the idea is further complicated by tickets already being sold for all four ceremonies.

    Takaya said that this option had been mentioned but that no concrete plans had been made.

    “(But) … due to the impact of coronavirus, the situation next year will be completely different,” he said. “(So) …we have to review key areas, including the ceremonies.”

    Tokyo 2020 and the IOC are still assessing how much rearranging the Games will cost.

    The budget was set at 12.6 billion dollars before the postponement and Japanese media reports have said the delay may add a further 300 billion yen (2.8 billion dollars).

    Takaya said extra costs were still being finalised, adding that organisers had never mentioned “this concrete number of 300 billion yen.”

    There have been more than three million documented coronavirus cases globally, with more than 210,000 deaths.

  • Japanese PM’s ‘stay home’ message attracts angry reactions

    Japanese PM’s ‘stay home’ message attracts angry reactions

    Many Japanese were expressing criticism at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “stay home” message on social networks as more people struggled to make ends meet due to the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis.

    The 1-minute video clip on Abe’s Facebook showed the premier sitting on a sofa, cuddling a dog, taking a sip from a cup and reading a book.

    The video uses a split screen, with Abe seen relaxing on one side while the other half shows popular musician Gen Hoshino strumming his guitar and singing a laid back song from another location.

    “You don’t see your friends. You don’t go to drinking parties. However, everyone’s actions like these are helping save many lives,” Abe wrote on Twitter.

    Hoshino said later on his Instagram that the clip of him singing was used without his permission.

    Abe issued a state of emergency last Tuesday for seven prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, requesting residents in the regions stay at home, while critics argued the government’s plan will not provide enough support for small and mid-sized businesses.

    “Our labour union has been swamped with calls from workers who were fired and those whose businesses were forced to suspend without any compensation due to the coronavirus pandemic,” Mitsuteru Suda, an official at the National Union of General Workers Tokyo Tobu, tweeted.

    “Non-regular workers only drinking water, single mothers struggling to survive without paying utilities bills, temporary workers forced to leave their apartment, are you watching Abe relaxing at home? Stay alive and get angry!” Suda said.

  • Japan’s Abe declares state of emergency for Tokyo, virus-hit regions

    Japan’s Abe declares state of emergency for Tokyo, virus-hit regions

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday declared a state of emergency for several regions battling against the coronavirus, as a rising rate of infection caused alarm in major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.

    The state of emergency applies to the Japanese capital, the three neighbouring provinces Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitma, as well as Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka. It is to come into effect on Wednesday and remain in place until May 6.

    The move will empower local authorities to order residents to stay at home, while also closing schools and other facilities.

    However, the measures are not as extreme as the lockdowns seen in Italy or France.

    Japanese citizens impacted by the state of emergency can not be prosecuted for disregarding it, nor can companies be forced to close. Instead, the country is relying on social pressure to keep people from spreading the potentially deadly virus.

    Also on Tuesday, the Japanese government adopted its largest-ever economic stimulus package, worth 108 trillion yen (990.2 billion dollars), in an effort to protect the world’s third-largest economy against the coronavirus crisis.

    The measures mainly aim to support families and small businesses.

    The economic stimulus is far greater than the around 57 trillion yen made available during the 2008 global financial crash.

    Japan’s gross domestic product shrank by 7.1 per cent in the final quarter of 2019, with the ongoing health and economic crisis only adding to economists’ concerns that the country is sliding into a technical recession, defined by two consecutive quarters of economic decline.

    In another blow to the country, the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were to be hosted by Japan, have been postponed until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has ground world travel to a halt and led to the introduction of draconian measures to slow the outbreak across the globe.

    According to the latest figures from the US Johns Hopkins University, almost 4,000 cases of infection have been confirmed in Japan, with 92 deaths from the Covid-19 disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Around 600 people have recovered from the illness.

  • India suspends visas to nationals from Italy, Iran, S. Korea, Japan

    India suspends visas to nationals from Italy, Iran, S. Korea, Japan

    India on Tuesday suspended with immediate effect all regular visas or e-visas granted to the nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan issued on or before March 3 to curb COVID-19, said a revised travel advisory.

    These visas also included visas-on-arrival for Japan and South Korea, according to the travel advisory.

    “Those requiring to travel to India under compelling circumstances may apply for fresh visas to the nearest Indian Embassy or Consulate,” it added.

    Diplomats, officials of the UN and other international bodies, Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders and aircrew from the above countries were, however, exempted from such restriction on entry, adding that medical screening is compulsory for them.

    Three more cases were detected in India on Monday, including places in Delhi, the southern state of Telangana and the western state of Rajasthan.

    Besides, six people who were said to have been in contact with the Delhi case have been kept under watch and their samples were sent for testing.

    Earlier, three patients suffering from COVID-19 were successfully cured in February.

    According to the advisory, all foreign nationals who have traveled to China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, and Japan on or after Feb. 1 have been prohibited from entering India.

    Passengers of all international flights entering into India from any port are required to furnish duly filled self-declaration form and travel history to health officials and immigration officials.

    Passengers (foreign and Indian) other than those restricted, arriving directly or indirectly from a number of countries and regions must undergo medical screening at the port of entry.

    These include China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, China’s Hong Kong, China’s Macau, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, and China’s Taiwan.

  • Japanese stocks tumble amid fears of economic impact of coronavirus

    Japanese stocks tumble amid fears of economic impact of coronavirus

    Japanese shares fell more than 2 per cent on Thursday for the fourth trading day of decline amid growing concerns about economic effects of the novel coronavirus.

    The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 477.96 points, or 2.13 per cent, to close at 21,948.23 after falling as much as 2.6 per cent in the afternoon.

    The broader Topix index was down 38.11 points, or 2.37 per cent, at 1,568.06.

    The sharp falls come one day after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe asked organizers of large sports and cultural events to be cancelled or postponed for the next two weeks.

    National museums across the country are closed from Thursday to mid-March, while concerts have been cancelled and many sports events including baseball games and horse races will be held behind closed doors.

    Nearly 900 people have been confirmed to have the coronavirus in Japan, including seven deaths and about 700 infections on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. (dpa)

  • 99 more coronavirus cases confirmed on cruise ship in Japan

    99 more coronavirus cases confirmed on cruise ship in Japan

    Tokyo, Feb. 17, 2020 Japan’s Health Ministry said on Monday that 99 more people on a quarantined cruise ship in the port of Yokohama have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases on the vessel to 454.

    Japanese health officials have so far screened a total of 1, 723 people on the Diamond Princess, which was carrying about 37, 000 passengers and crew members, broadcaster NHK reported.

    Of the 99 new cases, 43 are Japanese, the ministry said.

    The Diamond Princess, operated by Carnival cruises, was quarantined on Feb. 4, amid a growing coronavirus pandemic originating in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

    China says more than 70, 000 people have been infected so far with the virus, while the death toll has risen to 1, 770 in that country.

    The coronavirus has spread to countless countries worldwide and sparked a number of travel restrictions.

  • Unlike Nigeria, others, Japan considers 70 years as retirement age

    Unlike Nigeria, others, Japan considers 70 years as retirement age

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet on Tuesday approved bills to call on businesses to allow their employees to work until the age of 70. The step was taken to help mitigate a chronic labour shortage and cover growing social security costs in the rapidly ageing country.

    The legislation urges corporations to pick one of five options, including abolishing the retirement age, raising it, or allowing employees to work beyond the age limit, Kyodo News reported. The government is expected to introduce the bills to the current parliament session and hopes to enforce them from April 2021.

    The government also plans to cut benefits given to employees aged between 60 and 64, whose salaries drastically drop when they turn 60, Kyodo reported. Japan is facing an increased demographic burden after decades of rapid ageing of the population and falling birth rates. Critics argue Abe’s government has done little to reverse the trend. People aged 65 or older are expected to reach nearly 40 per cent of the population by 2060, according to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.