 Jiji Press (4th photo)

 A female member of the Japan Innovation Party (JIEP)'s election campaign accused the party of padding her salary and pinning the difference on her. The woman says, "Before I knew it, I was forced to be a part of the fraudulent activities that took place by taking advantage of the Uguisuyo....

Japan Innovation Party Campaign Announcer Claims Salary Deductions and Unexpected Police Search

 JMPA

 Kako, the second daughter of the Akishino family, and Prince Hisahito of Akishino, the eldest son, have been performing official duties together. This was the first time since the World Championships in Athletics last September that the two of them performed official duties together. According to experts, there will be an increase in the number of "official duties performed by a sister-brother pair" in the future. The following is an explanation of the possible advantages.

Princess Kako&#8217;s Elegant All-White Look Draws Attention as Speculation Grows Over More Joint Appearances with Prince Hisahito

 Kyodo News (1st and 3rd pictures)

 Fumitaka Kobiazu, 52, a former police lieutenant who has devoted most of his 30-year career to the investigation of organized crime and drug cases, details the field of firearms countermeasures.

Ex-Narcotics Investigator Goes on the Record About the Fight Against Illegal Guns in Organized Crime

 Shinji Hasuo (1st to 5th), Takero Yuzuru (8th)

 On May 17, an incident occurred at the Ichikawa Zoo and Botanical Garden in Chiba Prefecture, where a foreigner intruded into the monkey mountain where the popular "Punch-kun" lives. This behavior drew condemnation from around the world, but it seems that problems had been brewing there for some time.

Ren Meguro&#8217;s Busy Schedule Fuels Competition as SHOGUN and Drama Projects Line Up

 Nakahira Ryo

 Shinji Hasuo

 On May 11, the trial of a man who took voyeuristic pictures of women and broke into their rooms concluded at the Tokyo District Court. The man, who was released from prison in 2011 after serving 17 years, committed the crime using a smartphone that he got for the first time. What was the man's motive?

Former Long-Term Inmate Blames Trend After Committing New Voyeurism Offense with Smartphone

 On May 13, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested the representative of an information provider and six others on suspicion of violating the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law (unregistered business) for soliciting investments in overseas financial products without registration. Their clever tricks are available at .......

Suspect Behind ¥87 Billion Illegal Fund Scheme Allegedly Used Investor Money for Luxury Lifestyle and Sophisticated Organization Building

 Satoru Ota

 Hinano Toshima

 The Showa period (1926-1989) monster soft vinyl market has seen an extraordinary surge in prices, with Garamon selling for approximately 30 million yen. Nabeyakan sounds an alarm about the dark side of this boom, which has been triggered by the COVID-19 crisis and the influence of social networking services (SNS), as well as the appearance of elaborate forgeries.

From Collectibles to Gold Mines? Nabe Yakan Exposes the Risks Behind the Kaiju Sofubi Craze

 On May 21, the Tokyo District Court sentenced a woman accused of murdering a baby she gave birth to at a girls' bar where she worked to three years and six months in prison. The woman's confession, which was revealed at the trial, can be found at .......

Woman who gave birth to a baby and killed him at a girls&#8217; bar where she worked is sentenced to three years and six months in prison for repenting too late.

 Born in Yamagata Prefecture in 1983, Yoko Tunemochi worked for 10 years in the editorial department of a health information magazine, editing monthly magazines and web media before becoming a freelance writer. Currently, she interviews, plans, and writes about doctors and specialists, focusing on health care and medical fields.

 Yoko Kemmochi

 Courtesy of Kazuhiko Hayashi

 With 70,000,000 in assets and 250 million in debt... The former vice-president of Tokyo Women's Medical University, who bled from the anus due to the severe stress, is now ready to start a yogurt business at the age of 60. This film looks at the miraculous turnaround of an elite doctor who abandoned his position and took on the challenge of supporting cancer patients from the bottom of the heap.

With 70,000,000 in assets and 250 million in debt&#8230;former vice-president of Tokyo Women&#8217;s Medical University, who &#8220;bled from the anus&#8221; in a medical accident, is ready to take on the challenge of starting a yogurt business.

 Born in Gifu Prefecture in 1969, Katsuhide Takahashi is the Representative Director of Malibu Japan Co. After working for Mitsubishi Bank, Citigroup Securities, and Citibank, he established Malibu Japan in 2013. He has visited more than 60 countries around the world. He is an expert on resorts in Japan and abroad, including the Bahamas, Maldives, Palau, Malibu, Los Cabos, Dubai, Hawaii, Niseko, Kyoto, and Okinawa. He graduated from Keio University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in economics and received a master's degree in economics from Aoyama Gakuin University in 2000. His many publications include "Bank Zero Era" (Asahi Shimbun Publications), "Why Only Niseko Became a World Resort" (Kodansha + alpha Shinsho), "Regional Banks Disappear" (Heibonsha), and "Super Wealthy People Do Not Need 'Omotenashi'" (Kodansha + alpha Shinsho).

 Katsuhide Takahashi

 The real wealthy are secretly shifting to "high-end low-rise residences" in Minato-ku and Shibuya-ku, and we take a closer look at the reality of these "low-rise fortresses" being secretly traded for 9.5 billion yen, and why.

Towers are the luxury ruins of the future&#8230; Ultra-wealthy people are secretly targeting &#8220;low-rise fortresses&#8221; in central Tokyo&#8230; The reality is that they are being secretly traded for 9.5 billion yen.

 In this issue of Playback, we look back at what we reported 10, 20, and 30 years ago. In May 2006, five bodies were found in an apartment. What is the "relationship" between the arrested woman and the five bodies?

Playback &#8217;06] &#8220;The Hiratsuka 5-body Incident&#8221;: Bodies Rumble from a 1K Room&#8230; The Mystery of the &#8220;Suspected Mother&#8221; Remains to This Day

 Hideki Asai

 The latest tactics of the professional-level "AI scam," in which even half of the well-informed are deceived, are thoroughly explained, along with five defensive measures to protect oneself from the scam.

Could You Be the Next Victim? Harvard Highlights the Rise of Convincing AI-Generated Phishing Emails

 Kako, the second daughter of the Akishino family, continued her energetic official duties during the Golden Week holidays, wearing a black dress on the 7th and a white one-piece on the 9th, in contrasting fashions. Behind her contented smile, there were two changes.

Princess Kako Appears in an Elegant Dress from a Favorite Brand as Two Shifts Shape Her Busy Days

 On May 14, two Vietnamese nationals were arrested on suspicion of breaking into the vacant house where the Setagaya murders took place in order to steal. The incident has continued at the site since the police stopped providing security to preserve the scene in '20. ......

How a Recent Break-In Incident Highlighted the Ongoing Unsolved Setagaya Family Murder Case

 Yasuko Funamoto (FRIDAY photographer)

 In Yamaya, Tokyo, redevelopment projects have led to the construction of condominiums and the conversion of inns into guesthouses. The workers' culture and places of support are disappearing, and support groups are protesting that they are "eliminating the weak". Where will the former town of day laborers disappear to?

How the World of &#8220;Ashita no Joe’s&#8221; Sanya Has Been Redefined in Modern Tokyo

 Megumi Nakajima (Journalist)

 AFRO

 The number of Chinese salespeople at major Japanese life insurance companies is rapidly increasing. Most of them are doing well and contributing to the sales of their companies. On the other hand, there is a downside. ...... This is the second part of a series of articles by journalist Megumi Nakajima on the realities of the Chinese living in Japan.

Major Life Insurers See Surge in Chinese Employees — Success Stories Shadowed by Compliance Concerns

 The number of Chinese salespeople at major Japanese life insurance companies is rapidly increasing. Most of them have excellent grades and contribute to the sales of their companies. On the other hand, there is a downside. ...... Journalist Megumi Nakajima introduces "Part B" of "The Reality of Chinese in Japan.

Booming Numbers of Chinese Insurance Sales Staff Reshape Award Ceremonies and Office Composition

 Blank paper, green

 In the early hours of May 16, four men were attacked by about 10 men with weapons while walking in the streets of Kabukicho, Shinjuku. We asked those who happened to be at the scene to share their "horror stories. What is the background of the incident?

Predawn Assault Rocks Kabukicho: Witnesses Recall a Frightening Few Minutes of Chaos

 Hiroto Kato

 The EV buses used at the Osaka-Kansai Expo are about to meet an unexpected fate. The "graveyard of Expo buses" in Osaka City is now being dismantled. The new buses were moved to a recycling plant in Toyama Prefecture.

Osaka&#8217;s EV Bus Graveyard Enters Its Final Phase with Dismantling Now Underway

 Motoko Abekawa is a freelance writer working mainly on the web. She is also involved in the production of books and corporate PR magazines. She does not specialize in any particular field, but covers a wide range of topics that intrigue her, including history, comedy, health, beauty, travel, gourmet food, and nursing care.

 Motoko Abekawa

 Courtesy of Oak House

 The number of middle-aged and older adults who are choosing to live in a share house after divorce or raising children is rapidly increasing. In addition to the peace of mind that someone will be there when they return home, the luxurious facilities and multi-generational interaction are also appealing. We take a closer look at the latest trends in adult share housing to relieve loneliness.

“There’s Always Someone at Home” — Why More People in Their 40s Are Choosing Shared Housing

 Blank Green

 On May 16, a bomb threat was made against the University of Tokyo's "May Festival," resulting in the cancellation of all events that afternoon. On that day, Mr. Kamiya, the representative of the Sangen-tei Party, was scheduled to give a lecture.

The Sohei Kamiya Speech Controversy That Brought UTokyo’s May Festival Events to a Halt

 Nakahira

 On May 12, a man was sentenced in Saitama District Court for sending obscene videos to 20 junior high and high school students. The trial also revealed that one of the victims was dead. What are the details of this despicable crime?

A Victim Among the Dead: Court Hands Down Verdict to Man Who, Under the Guise of “Work,” Induced Dozens of Junior and Senior High School Girls to Send Explicit Images

 Kyodo News

 A female employee of Nishi-Nippon City Bank caused a firestorm when she posted a video on a social networking service. The video she filmed showed customer information and other information. This kind of trouble, called "Seishain (regular employee) terrorism," has been occurring one after another. Experts have found a surprising link between this and the "seller's market" for job hunting.

Nishi-Nippon City Bank Faces Backlash After Internal Posts Expose Workplace Grievances

 On May 12, the Takinogawa Police Department arrested a Chinese company employee on suspicion of indecent assault by attacking a woman in her 20s whom he followed, kissing her, and biting her lower lip, causing her injuries. The man's excuse is available at .......

News

Japan Innovation Party Campaign Announcer Claims Salary Deductions and Unexpected Police Search

Princess Kako’s Elegant All-White Look Draws Attention as Speculation Grows Over More Joint Appearances with Prince Hisahito

Ex-Narcotics Investigator Goes on the Record About the Fight Against Illegal Guns in Organized Crime

Ren Meguro’s Busy Schedule Fuels Competition as SHOGUN and Drama Projects Line Up

Former Long-Term Inmate Blames Trend After Committing New Voyeurism Offense with Smartphone

Suspect Behind ¥87 Billion Illegal Fund Scheme Allegedly Used Investor Money for Luxury Lifestyle and Sophisticated Organization Building

From Collectibles to Gold Mines? Nabe Yakan Exposes the Risks Behind the Kaiju Sofubi Craze

Woman who gave birth to a baby and killed him at a girls’ bar where she worked is sentenced to three years and six months in prison for repenting too late.

With 70,000,000 in assets and 250 million in debt…former vice-president of Tokyo Women’s Medical University, who “bled from the anus” in a medical accident, is ready to take on the challenge of starting a yogurt business.

Towers are the luxury ruins of the future… Ultra-wealthy people are secretly targeting “low-rise fortresses” in central Tokyo… The reality is that they are being secretly traded for 9.5 billion yen.

Playback ’06] “The Hiratsuka 5-body Incident”: Bodies Rumble from a 1K Room… The Mystery of the “Suspected Mother” Remains to This Day