Japan ranks 118th in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Report

In this week’s news roundup, we report on the Global Gender Gap Report and the World Population State Report for 2025. Nintendo announced it sold a record 3.5 million switch 2 units in the first four days. Foreign owners of the Tokyo apartment building reversed their decision to raise rents from 72,500 yen to 190,000 yen. Famous voice acting actress Megumi Hayashibara sparked online debate in her blog post. Japan completed the World Cup qualifiers in style with a 6-0 Indonesia hammer.

Global Gender Gap Report 2025: Despite progress, Japan is still at 118th

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released Global Gender Gap Report 2025 Thursday. Japan ranks 118th out of 148 countries, the same as last year. It remains the lowest in the G7 countries. However, its overall gender equality score is 66.6%, showing a total of 66.3% in 2024. The Swiss-based think tank noted that equality in almost every sub-index in Japan is increasing compared to last year. Most progress achieved economic participation and opportunities, where scored 61.3%, up 4.5% from 12 months ago.

According to WEF, this shift is “improved by the growth of women involved in the workforce (from 54.8% to 55.6%), with the higher representation of women (from 14.6% to 16.1%) (from 14.6% to 16.1%), the equality of estimated income (59.2%, higher than 58.3%).” However, the political empowerment category showed a regression, with scores falling from 11.8% to 8.5%. Ministerial representatives have dropped from 25% to 10%. The highest global gender gap report for 2025 is Iceland with a score of 92.6%. It leads for 16 consecutive years.

Financial barriers, no choice, drive global fertility crisis

this United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) The World Population Report was presented on Tuesday. A survey of fertility intentions of 14,000 people were conducted from 14 countries. When asked how many kids they want, most people answered that they want two. But one in five people say they don’t or will not be able to have the children they need. Less than 40% of respondents reported that financial barriers, such as the cost of raising children and expensive housing, affected their ability to achieve the size of their required family.

“The world has begun an unprecedented decline in fertility.” explain Dr. Natalia Kanem, the person in charge of demographics. “The fertility rate is largely due to many people’s belief that it’s impossible to create the family they want. It’s a real crisis.” Last week, the Japanese Ministry of Health released the number of births in Japan in 2024 in 2024. Only 686,061 were born, the first time in history that the figure was below the 700,000 mark. This is also the ninth consecutive year of decline.

Switch 2 smashes Nintendo’s record, selling 3.5 million units in four days

Nintendo Announce On Wednesday, the first four days after the console was launched, it sold a record 3.5 million units worldwide. It was released on June 5. Amazing numbers outperform the original switch for the first month (2.7 million units) and Sony’s PlayStation 5 (3.4 million units). Nintendo said in May that Switch 2 will reach 15 million sales in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. However, analysts believe this is a moderate goal set by the company.

Serkan Toto, founder of gaming industry consulting firm Kantan Games, believes it will sell more than 20 million units in its first year. He told CNBC“All signals before the release indicate a lot of demand and I believe we will see further records in the coming weeks or months.” The coveted console is similar in design to its predecessor, although it has a larger screen and a larger controller. In Japan, about 2.2 million people apply to the lottery system for purchase. Even before it started selling, Nintendo began using the Shipting Switch 2 mark as the “Inventory” logo to retailers.

Foreign landlords’ anger after almost Tokyo apartment rental

Foreign owners of a seven-story apartment building in Tokyo Itbashi Ward this week overturned the decision to raise rents from 72,500 yen to 190,000 yen. The reason for the increase in about 2.5 times is the rise in costs. However, it has been suggested that the real reason is to force residents out, so the vacant apartment can be used as short-term rent for travelers. when An News He contacted his owner in China and he said he would withdraw the rent. He added that the cracked elevators in May will reopen soon.

Residents received notes about the sharp price increase in January. This led to several of them moving out. Those who are still upset about this situation. An unknown person with suitcases has been seen entering the building. According to a website that provides information on private accommodation for tourists, a room in the apartment is rented for 25,000 yen per night. When Ann News checked with Itabashi Ward officials, it was confirmed that the notice required by the private accommodation operator has not been submitted. These apartments will no longer be offered on traveler’s short-term rental.

Evangelical voice acting actress Megumi Hayashibara (Megumi Hayashibara) deletes comments on the blog

Famous Japanese voice acting actress Megumi Hayashibara sparked an online debate earlier this week Blog Posts On Sunday. 58-year-old Tokyo The Gospel of the Origin of Neon Lightssharing her concerns about Japanese cultural identity and political indifference. The blog, titled “Indifference, Ignorance and Unknown”, quickly spread. The most concerned international students received subsidies and comments from foreign tourists performed poorly. Referring to the latter, she uses the metaphor of a Japanese crayfish that was flooded by an “invasive species”.

“If we don’t have regulations properly enforced, it can become dangerous,” she wrote. “It’s like Japanese crayfish are immediately swallowed by invasive species. For example, the domination of Japanese queuing for things may eventually disappear.” On Wednesday, Hayashibara removed the line about crayfish. “A part of the way I express myself was considered too extreme, so I removed it,” she wrote. “I used it to illustrate the kind of people mentioned above, but it hurts people who were not involved. I will learn it. Thank you for letting me know.”

Takefusa kubo | Images of Saolab Press

Japan Hammer Indonesia 6-0 in the final World Cup qualifier

Japan completed the World Cup qualifiers with a full victory over Patrick Kluivert’s Patrick Kluivert’s 6-0 on Tuesday. Hajime Moriyasu’s team has shown impressive offensive football as the top spot has been guaranteed. They led 3-0 at the break, thanks to Daichi Kamada’s support, while Captain Takefusa Kubo was supported. In the second half, Ryoya Morishita, Shuto Machino and Mao Hosoya replaced three. Moriyasu praised his players but urged them to continue pushing themselves. “The challenge for players is to go beyond their limits and grow,” he said.

In boxing, Junto Nakatani defeated Ryosuke Nishida in the sixth round of technical knockout on Sunday, becoming the unified bantamweight champion. The two boxers participated in an unbeaten battle from the very beginning. However, when Nakatani started controlling in the fifth round, Nishida’s right eye began to swell. By the end of the sixth time, he could not see the incoming fist, so the circus doctor decided to pull him out. Watch “Ring” is Naoya Inoue. The Nakatani vs. Inoue, which is expected to be held next year, will be the biggest struggle in Japanese history.

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