It's pretty hard to be thrifty as a family in Tokyo, although it is possible in regional cities and in rural areas. It is generally accepted that the minimum a 2-child Japanese family can get by on, if mom is staying at home, is about JPY4.5M a year. This includes everything and assumes that the family is renting, but possibly saving a small amount each month for a mortgage on a house by the time the parents are in their late 30's or early 40's.

Have fast food and Western decadence taken their toll on the Japanese waistline? With 10% of adults technically classified as obese, what is Japanese society and business doing to alleviate increasing concerns about
'the fatness epidemic'? Read Now

What's next for the Tokyo skyline and what will the towers of Tokyo look like in the future? This week's JIN focuses on construction and architectural trends in the capital Read Now

This week we look at how cheaper petrol taxes are at the center of a political power struggle in the Diet. Join the dots between political factionalism, voter priorities, the construction industry and the levy on gas Read Terrie's Take Now