 Akira Ikoma

 The Failure of the Amended Entertainment Business Act [Part 2]

 More than a year has passed since the amended Entertainment Business Act took effect. While its primary purpose was to regulate unscrupulous hosts and recruiters, was it effective? When we asked industry insiders about the reality on the ground, we heard some rather scathing comments regarding the current situation—.

How Japan’s Entertainment Business Act Amendment Is Affecting Men’s Esthetic Salons, Host Clubs, and Cabaret Clubs

 Shinji Hasuo

 This past June, crime journalist Taihei Ogawa undertook an investigative report on “Tokuryu,” a criminal organization based in Thailand and Cambodia. He reports on the reality of “kake-ko” (young women forced into prostitution) and the current state of the criminal organization, as revealed through his on-site reporting.

Crime Journalist Taihei Ogawa on the Reality of Tokuryū Crime Groups in Thailand and Cambodia

 Kazuhiko Nakamura

 “The Underworld Is Where Delinquents, Information, and Money Converge”: He Hone His Skills and Expanded His Network During the Event Service Boom

 After graduating from a Tokyo Six University, he worked at a major advertising agency and a foreign consulting firm before transforming into the “King of Illegal Lending.” The phrase “Legendary Negotiator of the Gray Zone” is perhaps the most fitting description of his life story. Why has he chosen to reveal his past to the world now…?

Akio Kudo The Underworld Fixer Reveals His Identity and the Pride He Holds in the Gray Zone

 Works as a freelance writer primarily for the web. She is also involved in the production of books and corporate PR magazines. Without a specific area of expertise, she covers a wide range of topics that pique her interest, including history, comedy, health, beauty, travel, food, and caregiving.

 Motiko Abe-gawa

 A woman in her 20s who has worked at a cumulative total of 300 different places reveals the reality of “Timee,” a platform for short-term part-time jobs. What is the reality of being treated as the “lowest rung of the caste system” on the job, where you aren’t even called by your name? She also shares tips on how to spot a “good workplace”—insights only someone with her experience can provide.

A Woman in Her 20s Shares Her Experience Working at 300 Job Sites and Facing Social Stigma

 Money writer and financial planner.<br /><br />
After working as a market analyst at a securities firm, he became independent in 1996. He writes articles on finance and asset management, primarily for business and economic magazines.His books include *The First-Year Guide to Robo-Advisor Investing* and *Easy to Understand with Plenty of Illustrations! The Book That Guarantees You’ll Save Money with Cashless Payments*. ■X (formerly Twitter) → @1847mattsuu

 Kenji Matsuoka

 Bank of Japan Rate Hike Poses a Crisis of 40,000 Yen per Month for “Variable-Rate Mortgage Holders”! What Are the 4 Measures to Prevent the “Reiwa Mortgage Hell”? As the era of 2% interest rates approaches, we thoroughly explain why you should prioritize “early repayment” over investing through NISA.

Bank of Japan Rate Hikes Raise Mortgage Fears: Monthly Payments Could Jump ¥40,000 by 2027

 Kyodo (1st and 3rd photos)

 History of the Prostitution Prevention Act [Part 2]

 Amendments to the Anti-Prostitution Law, enacted 70 years ago, are imminent. What was the intent behind the current law, and what were its problems? We spoke with Kazuhiro Harada, a former member of the House of Representatives with extensive experience in fieldwork on the ground.

Has the Anti-Prostitution Act Outlived Its Purpose? Experts Warn of Underground Prostitution and the Law’s Biggest Flaw

 On September 30, a former sumo wrestler was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting digestive aids worth approximately 50,000 yen from a drugstore. The man is said to be the “ringleader” of the Tokuryu Group, which has been carrying out a series of thefts nationwide since last year.

From Sumo Ring to Shoplifting Mastermind? Inside Japan’s ¥50 Million Theft-for-Hire Scheme

 “Stinging at the Limit” [Part 1]

 How do male customers appear through the eyes of a sex worker? *Mandala*, author of *Stinging at the Limit*—a raw, candid account of the daily life of a low-tier sex worker—says that when she first started working in the industry, her days were “hell.”

“I Just Hated the Hair”: What Helped a Woman in Her 30s Escape the Hell of Her Life as a Sex Worker

 “Stinging at the Limit” [Part 2]

 *Mandala*, who found herself on the brink of ruin and drifted from one low-end sex work establishment to another, has published *Burning at the Limits*, a candid account of her daily work life. While the book reveals the behavior of various male clients, we asked her to name the three who left the strongest impression.

From Cat-Filled Homes to Mannequin Roommates: The Unusual Male Clients Sex Workers Have Encountered

 On September 25, a man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder for stabbing his ex-wife’s younger brother at a residence in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture. The man’s mother was also found murdered at the scene. While past disputes between the man and his ex-wife had been reported, what exactly was his motive…?

Gunma Family Stabbing: Suspect’s Relationship With Ex-Wife’s Family and the Mystery Behind the Motive

 Mitsutoshi Abe (Former TV Reporter, Political Journalist)

 Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Aflo

 The “Unified Local Elections,” held once every four years, will take place next spring in April. While this should be a valuable opportunity for citizens to shape the details of their daily lives, in one-third of town and village councils, council members are determined without a vote. Behind this situation, which could undermine the very foundations of democracy, lies…

One-Third of Town and Village Assemblies Face Uncontested Elections: The Growing Crisis in Local Politics

 Kyodo News

 The 400-million-yen robbery occurred in January of this year. The trial for the man who served as both the mastermind and the driver took place on September 30 at the Tokyo District Court, but his testimony showed significant discrepancies with that of another defendant who served as a driver, whose trial was held on September 14.

Ueno’s ¥400 Million Robbery Case Takes a Turn as Accused Ringleader and Driver Give Conflicting Accounts

 Shirashi Midori

 The term “Dopagaki,” which refers to young people addicted to dopamine, is gaining attention. Recently, a new term called “Dodopagaki” has also emerged. What kind of lives do these young people lead, and what are they thinking? We asked them directly.

“Dodopagaki” Goes Viral: The ddiction Symptoms of People Who Can’t Stop Watching Short Videos

 Money writer and financial planner. After working as a market analyst at a securities firm, he became independent in 1996. He writes articles on finance and asset management, primarily for business and economic magazines.His books include *The First-Year Guide to Robo-Advisor Investing* and *Easy to Understand with Plenty of Illustrations! The Book That Guarantees You’ll Save Money with Cashless Payments*. ■X (formerly Twitter) → @1847mattsuu

 Is the “iDeCo Rollback” a Myth!? While it tends to get overshadowed by the new NISA, those who wait to see how things play out before the December revisions risk losing several million yen. We’ll thoroughly explain the truth behind the often-misunderstood “taxation at withdrawal” and provide strategies to maximize its powerful tax-saving benefits.

“Don’t Wait for the December iDeCo Changes!” Ignoring Its Enormous Tax Benefits Could Cost You Millions of Yen

 Since the “Residential Accommodation Business Act” (commonly known as the “New Private Lodging Law”) went into effect in 2018, private lodging has spread rapidly across the country. Amid tightening regulations in recent years, I visited that area where private lodging operators are reportedly flocking.

Tighter Regulations Put Japan’s Vacation Rental Industry Under Pressure—Why Some Operators Are Staying

 Shimei Kurita (Nonfiction Writer)

 Kyodo News (1st photo) The Asahi Shimbun (3rd and 4th photos)

 Cases Have Even Arisen Where Accident-Prone Properties Are Converted into Vacation Rentals Due to “Lending Reluctance”

 As of July of this year, the number of registered vacation rental properties stood at 42,070—with the rapid expansion of vacation rentals, disputes with neighbors have also surged, prompting local governments to tighten regulations. Even so, many operators are eyeing entry into the market, driven by the increase in inbound tourists.

Inside Japan’s Minpaku Boom: Facilities Surge 20-Fold in Eight Years as Operators Continue Profiting Despite Stricter Regulations

 Takahide Mizutani (Nonfiction Writer)

 Indicted for demanding 28 instances of entertainment, including visits to a Yoshiwara soapland…

 The first hearing in the case against Shinichi Sato of the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, who is charged with bribery, was held on September 25 at the Tokyo District Court. In response to Sato’s testimony that “there was no coercion regarding the entertainment,” Mr. Hikichi, who was in the courtroom, expressed his anger in an interview after the hearing and showed the author a photograph.

University of Tokyo Professor Dubbed the Gift-Begging Professor Pictured at an Atami Pole-Dancing Bar

 Masayoshi Katayama (Journalist)

 Risks of Explosions and Infectious Diseases…

 A fin whale approximately 17 meters long washed ashore at Kujukuri Beach in Sosa City, Chiba Prefecture. With a typhoon approaching, efforts to recover and dispose of the carcass stalled. More than 10 days after it washed ashore, the carcass remained untouched, causing it to decompose rapidly and posing a risk of explosion and infectious disease.

[Chiba, Kujukuri] Risk of Explosion and Infectious Diseases! An Overwhelming Stench of Decay… On-Site Photos of the “17-Meter Giant Fin Whale” That Was Washed Ashore

 In this interview, crime journalist Taihei Ogawa—who underwent surgery for Stage 3C colon cancer in August—spoke candidly about everything from the discovery of his cancer to the surgical removal and the excruciating pain he endured afterward.

An Interview with Crime Journalist Taihei Ogawa! “It Was Excruciatingly Painful”: His Harrowing Experience from the Diagnosis of Colon Cancer Through Post-Surgery Recovery

 Yoshio Tsuno/Aflo

 Takashi Tachibana, leader of the NHK Party, appeared at the Tokyo District Court after leaving the Kobe Detention Center for the first time in about 11 months. What can we infer about his life in detention from his visibly changed appearance?

Takashi Tachibana Appears in Tokyo District Court; Expert Reveals Why He Was “Detained for 11 Months” on Defamation Charges, Despite Likely Being Exonerated Again in September

 Masayuki Katayama

 Masayoshi Katayama, Kiyoshi Kase

 Two giant whales have washed ashore at Kujukuri Beach in Chiba Prefecture within a short period of time. The first whale has already been dissected. As of October 1, the second whale is still alive but in critical condition. Why are giant whales continuing to wash ashore? Here are on-site photos and expert opinions.

Two Whales Wash Ashore One After Another at Kujukuri Beach in Chiba…! Giant Whales—&#8221;Possibly a Rare Species&#8221;—Photos of the Dissection and Spout

 Daisuke Iwasaki

 Former Secretary Reveals Harsh Rules That Exhaust Staff

 Amid the LDP’s lackluster personnel reshuffle, Yasutoshi Nishimura has drawn attention for wearing Ferragamo shoes estimated to cost 130,000 yen. Questions are being raised about his electoral prowess as campaign committee chairman, and complaints are emerging from those around him regarding his office’s harsh rules and his overly strict work ethic.

Attending a Press Conference in “130,000-Yen Luxury Brand Shoes”… “Icy Stares” Aimed at LDP’s Yasutoshi Nishimura from Both Inside and Outside the Party

 Debate surrounding the amendment to the Anti-Prostitution Law is intensifying. What were the intentions behind the law, enacted in 1956, and where did its problems lie? We spoke with Professor Yoko Hayashi of Gakushuin University, a researcher in modern and contemporary gender history.

They All Opposed Prostitution—but Couldn’t Agree on What to Do About It

 Kei Kato

 New Allegations Emerge Involving a Sitting Lawmaker from the “Osaka Ishin no Kai” ——

 A new scandal involving a sitting council member of the “Osaka Ishin no Kai” has surfaced. It began in May 2024 when a water leak occurred at the long-established ryotei “Tenhan.” Waterworks Bureau officials investigating the incident pointed out that water was being stolen… and then, for some reason, Osaka City Council Member Emi Kaneko reportedly intervened.

[Full Story] Ishin Lawmaker Accused of Pressuring Water Bureau on Behalf of a Favorite Restaurant

 A trial was held for a man who, despite being arrested for stalking, harbored resentment toward the victim—who had reported him to the police—and was re-arrested for repeatedly sending her harassing emails. Even during the trial, the man displayed an abnormal obsession with the victim.

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