 Shinji Hasuo

 A man and a woman who operated a pharmacy in Tokyo were arrested on suspicion of violating the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law for selling medications such as Manjaro without a prescription. Many of the customers are believed to have been Chinese nationals from both inside and outside China. What is the background behind the rampant illegal sales of Manjaro targeting Chinese customers?

Pharmacy Owner Arrested on Suspicion of Selling Manjaro and Other Products “Without a Prescription”… Illegal Sales Rampant Amid Huge Boom in China

 Chihiro Sato

 In March 2025, an incident occurred on a street in Takadanobaba in which Airi Sato—known online as “Ai Mogami”—who was livestreaming at the time, was stabbed to death with a knife by defendant Kenichi Takano. Her fiancé, Hiroaki Yui, recounted the story of how he met Ms. Mogami and their eventual parting.

Takadanobaba Livestreamer Murder: Fiancée’s Heartbreaking Confession—“The Modest but Happy Days with Ai Mogami” [Exclusive]

 Kodansha Archives Center

 I Was Happy to Have Lived in the Same Era and the Same World as You

 Ryū Murakami, a writer who long led the way in Japanese literature, passed away at his home on October 17. While he published one work after another that vividly captured the spirit of the times with his bold writing style, he was, in contrast, a gentleman beloved by both editors and fellow writers…

In Memoriam: Ryu Murakami—The “Writer Beloved by Writers” Whose “Charm Even Men Admire”

 Ryo Nakahira

 On October 22, the Yokohama District Court handed down a verdict to a former Hawks player charged with sexual assault and other crimes against 10 women. The man had denied some of the charges and pleaded not guilty—so what was the court’s ruling?

Former Hawks Player Gets 16-Year Prison Sentence for Sexually Assaulting 10 Women

 Izumi Nakagawa

 Kyodo News

 Don’t Rely Too Heavily on Hazard Maps! What Are the 3 Hidden Conditions for “Neighborhoods You Should Never Live In,” as Warned by Financial Planners? A thorough explanation of the pitfalls that can cause property values to plummet, including flooding from rivers and semi-basement units, the trap of vacant lots, and poor maintenance.

3 Hidden Warning Signs of a Dangerous Neighborhood That Hazard Maps Won&#8217;t Show

 Sayuri Saito

 Prime Minister Takaichi has maintained high approval ratings even one month after the cabinet reshuffle. What lies behind her succession of policies perceived as a shift to the right? We examine the current state of Japanese society by exploring the reality of “passive support”—driven by an enthusiastic core base and the weakening of the opposition parties.

Does the Takaichi Cabinet’s Approval Rating Prove a Shift to the Right? The Mystery Behind Its Resilient Casual Support

 The trial of a man accused of stealing six luxury cars worth approximately 35 million yen took place at the Tokyo District Court. The man admitted to purchasing a luxury car theft system from a foreign national and learning how to use it by watching videos on YouTube and other platforms before carrying out the crimes. What was this surprising method!?

Six Luxury Cars Worth ¥35 Million: Theft Suspect Reveals Shocking Scheme in Court, Says “I Learned It on YouTube”

 Hideki Asai

 Afro (2nd photo)

 Reserving osechi in the middle of summer, being turned away at the door of an izakaya because you didn’t make a reservation! What is the suffocating nature of this “Ultra-Reservation Society” born from a focus on “just in time” and the psychology of risk avoidance? We explore the pros and cons of modern, restrictive daily life and the joy of serendipity that is being robbed by an excessive advance reservation system.

Japan’s Reservation-Only Society: The Pros and Cons of Prioritizing Efficiency at All Costs

 Akira Ikoma

 A bill to amend the Anti-Prostitution Law is expected to be submitted during the extraordinary session of the Diet this fall. While the bill is expected to include new provisions criminalizing solicitation by clients, what impact will this have on the adult entertainment industry? We asked industry insiders for their opinions.

A Blow to the Industry or No Impact? Sex Industry Insiders Weigh In on Criminalizing Solicitation for Prostitution

 Masayuki Katayama

 With the spread of generative AI, data centers are springing up one after another. In Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture, a massive 52.7-meter-tall facility is under construction on a prime site in front of the train station, sparking opposition from residents concerned about noise and fire risks. The dispute has escalated into a lawsuit over building permits and the city’s response.

Lawsuit Erupts Over Massive 52.7-Meter Data Center in Prime Station-Side Location as Residents Push Back

 Tomoyuki Hanai (1st photo)    Takeo Kessoku (2nd photo)

 [Part 2] The “Shocking Truth” Behind the Detective Who Leaked Investigation Information to “Natural”

 Koya Hirano received a message from Daisuke Jimbo, a former colleague who had been leaking investigative information to “Natural.” He had heard that Jimbo had been appointed as an advisor shortly after his conviction… but later learned that “Jimbo had become an executive at Natural.”

Former Detective Reveals the Yakuza’s Favorite Pick for Seventh-Generation Leader

 Shinji Hasuo (Defendant Tazawa) Asahi Shimbun (3rd photo)

 [Part 1] A Former Top-Notch Detective Reveals “What’s Happening in Japan’s Underworld Right Now”

 Former Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Inspector Akiya Hirano served in the Organized Crime Control Division 4 and the Yakuza Control Division, where he investigated major crimes committed by antisocial forces such as yakuza and semi-yakuza groups. This former top-notch detective reveals “what is happening in Japan’s underworld right now”!

“I’ll Explain the Meaning of Yama-Trino’s Hand Sign,” Former Tokyo Police Detective Reveals His Identity

 Afro

 Why Did the Hamsters Have to Be Killed?

 A shocking incident occurred in Takizawa City, Iwate Prefecture, where a person crushed 25 hamsters to death and filmed the act. We delve into the depths of “crush videos”—animal abuse carried out for sexual gratification or commercial purposes.

&#8220;Not Only Did He Stomp to Death 25 Hamsters, He Filmed It&#8221;: A High School Staff Member’s Abnormal Desires and the Ugly World of “Crush Videos”

 It’s Not Just the “Special Unit”: A Comprehensive Overview of All Domestic Intelligence Agencies

 The intelligence agencies that have become a hot topic thanks to the show *VIVANT*. Kotaro Ochiai, author of *The World of “Spies”: So Fascinating You’ll Lose Track of Time*, reveals the reality behind them. He offers an engaging explanation of the day-to-day operations and firsthand accounts of Japan’s intelligence community, including the “Betsuban,” the Public Security Foreign Affairs Division, and the Public Security Intelligence Agency.

&#8220;There Are 1,000 Spies in Japan&#8221;: An Intelligence Expert Reveals the Shocking Truth About Japan&#8217;s Spy Organizations

 Jiro Takewara (Journalist)

 The boss of a massive Japanese criminal organization in the Philippines—which has clashed repeatedly with the “Luffy Group”—…

 A video shows half-naked men with both arms densely covered in tattoos closing in on a man wearing a T-shirt and shorts… The man being violently slapped across the cheek and jostled on the head is Ryuji Yoshioka, the boss of “JP Dragon.” What happened to Yoshioka, who is seen clasping his hands together and begging for his life…?

&#8220;JP Dragon&#8221; Ryuji Yoshioka, Held Captive: Bows His Head in Submission to Chinese Mafia Intimidation in &#8220;Pleas for Mercy Video&#8221;

 Aki Shikama

 Even with the yen at a historic low, overseas travel for “cheering on favorite sports teams” is selling like hotcakes!  Why are high-end tours costing hundreds of thousands of yen seeing a flood of bookings? We take a closer look at the consumer behavior driving fans to watch games live in their home countries, fueled by the excitement surrounding the World Cup and Borussia Dortmund’s visit to Japan.

Despite the Weak Yen, Bookings for High-Priced Tours Are Flooding In! Why Overseas Sports Travel Is Booming Right Now

 A lay judge trial for a former Hawks player charged with nine crimes against 10 women. The defendant, who showed no remorse and repeatedly made statements that could be interpreted as blaming the victims, spoke through tears in court about his “motive”—what was it?

Former Hawks Player Sentenced to 16 Years for Sex Crimes Against 10 Women Breaks Down in Court

 Ryoko Yamaguchi (Journalist)

 “Barou,” a supermarket chain originating in Gifu, and “Yaoko,” which began in Saitama, are going head-to-head in Yokohama. Why are these two regionally-based supermarket chains clashing in Yokohama? How is the market changing? We went out to investigate.

Local Supermarket Chains Take on Retail Giants in the Yokohama War

 Eight years since the much-publicized move to Toyosu—construction of a dome-shaped multipurpose facility, rumored to be the Giants’ new home stadium, was supposed to have been approved, so why hasn’t it happened?

 It was Governor Koike’s pet redevelopment project, but… even eight years after the relocation, the former Tsukiji Market site—a prime location just a 10-minute walk from Ginza—remains virtually untouched, a vast “vacant lot” equivalent to 4.2 Tokyo Domes in size.

[Full Report] Aerial Tour of Tokyo’s Massive Tsukiji Redevelopment Site

 Shirashi Midori

 Crimes involving “black-market part-time jobs” occur on a daily basis. A man who once served time for masterminding sophisticated fraud schemes says, “The methods used in recent black-market part-time job crimes are sloppy.” We asked him exactly what he means by “sloppy.”

Former Scamster Slams Today’s Dark Part-Time Jobs: Fools Join Just for the Money

 Glacier collapses have been occurring one after another in Switzerland and Nepal. In fact, there are 10 glaciers in Japan’s Northern Alps! Is there a risk that a massive collapse could engulf the villages at their base? We delve into the unique current state of Japan’s glaciers—as asserted by experts—and the impact of climate change.

Japan’s 10 Glaciers at Risk of Melting and Collapse, Experts Warn

 Kazuhiko Nakamura

 One day in mid-October, Shomei Takeuchi, the wakagashira of the 6th-generation Yamaguchi-gumi, visited the office of a well-known Kanto-based yakuza group. Executives from the Inagawa-kai and other groups had also gathered at the office. What were these prominent yakuza executives doing, meeting so brazenly in broad daylight?

Yamaguchi-gumi No. 2 Makes Bold Daylight Visit to Veteran Kanto Yakuza Group

 Daisuke Iwasaki (Writer)

 Tsuyoshi Kinugawa, Kyodo News

 He reportedly even scolded her, saying, “Even though you’re no longer needed…”

 Yuma Watanabe worked tirelessly—regardless of the time of night or whether it was a holiday—under former Representative Taro Yamamoto of the former Reiwa Shinsengumi (now the Party for Life)… However, he began to question Yamamoto’s behavior at campaign rallies and the “staged” video shoots. After facing unreasonable contract changes, he resigned and spoke out.

[Exclusive] Former Aide to Taro Yamamoto Speaks Out About Verbal Abuse, Revealing His Identity

 On the evening of October 13, with a pleasant autumn breeze in the air, a man with a piercing gaze was walking through Roppongi Hills. It was Junichi Ishii (68), former Secretary-General of the House of Councillors and known as the former “Godfather of the House of Councillors.” In his left hand, he carried a paper bag containing a bottle of “Opus One,” a premium red wine from California

Ishii Junichi Ousted as Political Heavyweights Rally Against Takaichi

 A Cuban national named Tapia was arrested and charged with attempted murder for stabbing a foreign national at a dance bar in Yokohama. The scene of the incident is a spot where many foreigners gather at night, and it is said to have had a menacing atmosphere even before the incident.

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