Today's Close-Up

Wealthy overseas tourists have been visiting depopulated parts of rural Japan in increasing numbers to savor unique culinary experiences specific to those regions. So-called gastronomy tourism allows visitors to experience the culture and history of a region through its food, and the unexpected economic benefits are already being felt. We explore the new frontier of fine-dining tourism in Japan.

Guests:
Kashiwabara Kotaro (Chairperson, Japan Gastronomy Association)
Murayama Keisuke (Inbound strategy advisor)

Japan's medical system is facing a crisis, but it's not one that affects everyone — or everywhere — equally. Despite the fact that overall doctor numbers are increasing, they are unevenly distributed, both in terms of physical location and specialty. Changes in working styles and the way doctors are trained and recruited appear to be fueling the trend. We look at what the country can do to reverse the problem of medical unevenness.

Guest:
Takahashi Tai (Professor, International University of Health and Welfare Graduate School)

New data shows the average monthly pension for Japanese women is about 300 dollars less than it is for men. Across all generations, women face a greater risk of financial insecurity in retirement. The reasons for this can be attributed to restrictive gender roles in Japanese firms: men are promoted to managerial positions, while women are assigned lower-paying roles so they can focus on home and childcare commitments. As a result, women are forced to accept jobs that offer lower pension benefits. The "pension gap" is turning into a serious social problem as lifespans lengthen and more women choose to live alone. We look at what companies and the government are doing to combat the issue, and how we can ensure we have a comfortable retirement.

Guests: 
Ido Mie (Social Insurance Labor Consultant)
Bo Mioko (Social Development Research Department, NLI Research Institute)