JAL forces pilots to retire by sending them blank schedules

Japan Airlines (JAL) is now forcing its pilots and cabin attendants to take early retirement, threatening to dismiss them if the number of applicants for the company’s voluntary retirement plan does not meet its target by October 22. The Japan Federation of Aviation Workers’ Unions is fighting against the company’s radical downsizing, insisting that in order to restructure its management, JAL needs to ensure employment of its crewmembers as an essential component for safety flight.

Does ‘cheap rice’ benefit the public?

The price of rice has been dropping sharply. The financial circles and some media in Japan are trumpeting, “Consumers are happy with the ‘cheap rice’,” and “The low price of rice works to enhance Japan’s international competitiveness and enables market liberalization, which will result in benefiting the public.”

DPJ rift deepens over Okinawa governor’s election

The Democratic Party of Japan is showing party disunity over Okinawa Prefectural governor’s election to be announced on November 11 and polled on 28.