Author: Japan Reacts Editorial

At a press conference on September 30, the Osaka Tourism Bureau announced that the number of foreign tourists visiting Osaka in August fell roughly 10% year-on-year. Visitors from China dropped sharply, down about 59%, while Italy and Spain each hit all-time highs for a single month, and nine other countries and regions — including South Korea and Taiwan — set new August records. The weak yen and summer vacation season are seen as the main drivers. On 5ch, opinions were split over whether the drop in Chinese tourists stems from cooling Japan-China relations or from China’s domestic economic slump, with some posters arguing that actual spending matters more than raw visitor numbers.

Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 10:13 AM

At a press conference on the 30th, the Osaka Tourism Bureau revealed that inbound foreign tourism to Osaka last month fell compared to the same period last year, calling the situation “extremely tough.”

According to the Bureau, tourists from Italy and Spain set new single-month records, while nine countries and regions — South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, France, Russia, and the United States — recorded their highest-ever August figures. Long summer holidays and the weak yen are believed to be the main factors.

Source: newsdig.tbs.co.jp / Read the original article here

81AnonymousSep 30, 2026 18:16

Osaka's always had a lot of Chinese and Korean tourists, so this was kind of inevitable, I guess.

145AnonymousSep 30, 2026 18:25

Re: #81
No, the point is that even measured against last year's Expo numbers, a 60% drop in Chinese visitors barely made a dent.

Re: #92

114AnonymousSep 30, 2026 18:20

#Foreign resident ratio
Osaka City: 7.7%
Tokyo's 23 wards: 6.7%

Osaka Ikuno Ward: 24.45%
Osaka Naniwa Ward: 18.13%
Osaka Nishinari Ward: 16.06%

Tokyo Shinjuku Ward: 14.53%
Tokyo Toshima Ward: 13.04%
Tokyo Arakawa Ward: 11.35%

213AnonymousSep 30, 2026 18:36

Expo's waterway transport route falls through

Total construction cost: roughly ¥19 billion
Never ran a single trip to the venue

※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Breaking News+) thread “[Breaking] Foreign tourists in August down about 10% year-on-year — Chinese tourists down about 59% — Osaka Tourism Bureau announces“.

On September 30th, central Tokyo recorded precipitation on every single day of September — a first since records began. The streak of consecutive rainy days has also reached 35, likewise setting a new record for the longest such stretch on record. Once October arrives, the autumn rain front is expected to retreat and clear skies should become more common, but all of September brought a steady mix of chilly temperatures and rain. On 5ch, a thread about this record-breaking rainy spell branched off into several hot topics — comparisons with past long rainy spells, claims that it was actually sunny on the 13th along with pushback against that claim, complaints about inadequate flood-control infrastructure, and suggestions for which industries actually profit from the rain.

Today, September 30th, it rained again in central Tokyo, marking the first time on record that precipitation has been recorded on every single day of September. The streak of consecutive rainy days has also reached 35, continuing to set a new record for the longest such streak on record. In the Kanto region, cloud cover will remain heavy through the afternoon and the chill will continue, but once October arrives, clear weather should finally become more common in many areas.

tenki.jp

Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (News Express+) thread “[Weather] First Time Ever — Rain Recorded Every Day in September in Central Tokyo, Clear Skies Finally Arrive in October“.

Maruka Foods, based in Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture, is planning to build a new factory, aiming to raise Peyoung’s production capacity by up to 1.7 times current levels once it comes online in 2029. The goal is to break into the West Japan market, which lags behind the East, where 70% of sales currently come from. The site will also include “Peyoung Park,” a visitor facility offering factory tours. Rising prices have also been boosting sales of the extra-large portion varieties. On 5ch, the thread buzzed with comments pointing out how few stores in West Japan even stock the product, taste comparisons with regional favorites “UFO” and “Ippei-chan,” and wistful remarks about how the flavor changed after factory upgrades.

Peyoung Holdings (Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture), whose group includes cup yakisoba maker Maruka Foods, will build a new factory in Isesaki. Targeting start-up in 2029, the company plans to raise its production capacity by up to roughly 1.7 times current levels.

The company also plans to build “Peyoung Park,” a hands-on facility offering factory tours, on the site, which is expected to draw more visitors to the area. (By Hiroyuki Sato)

In recent years, rising prices have pushed consumers toward thriftier choices, boosting sales not only of the standard-size “Peyoung Sauce Yakisoba” but also of the hearty “Peyoung Sauce Yakisoba Super Jumbo,” which is also said to be in high demand as an emergency stockpile item.

Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (News Flash+) thread “[Gunma] Peyoung Plans New Factory, Targeting West Japan with Production Capacity Up to 1.7x — Currently 70% from East Japan.”

Starting October 1st, the screening criteria for foreigners seeking permanent residency in Japan have been tightened. The Ministry of Justice revised its guidelines to add a new requirement: applicants’ annual income must consistently exceed the average for Japanese households. The move comes against a backdrop of a string of cases in which foreigners who obtained permanent residency ended up receiving welfare benefits, and is meant to push toward future self-sufficiency. On 5ch, opinions split, with threads debating what the average income threshold actually is, questioning whether this squares with the government’s push to expand acceptance of foreign workers, and asking how this differs from “special permanent residency” status.

As of the 1st, the “income” screening standard for foreigners applying for permanent residency has gotten stricter.

The Ministry of Justice has revised its permanent residency guidelines, and starting the 1st, screening will require that applicants’ income consistently exceed the average income of Japanese households.

This responds to a string of cases in which foreigners who obtained permanent residency ended up on welfare, raising the bar in hopes of ensuring they can support themselves going forward.

Source: fnn.jp / Original article here

43AnonymousOct 1, 2026 09:36

We're supposed to keep ramping up foreign workers going forward —
do we really have the luxury of tightening the rules like this?

54AnonymousOct 1, 2026 09:39

Re: #43
Just adjust our lifestyle to match.
No need to help other countries or copy the developed nations — Japan's a poor country now, so we should just put our own citizens first.

*This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (News Express+) thread “Permanent residency screening for foreigners tightens today… new requirement to ‘consistently exceed average Japanese household income’ added.”