 Shinji Hasuo

 The first trial was held for a man who allegedly killed a 30-year-old woman by stabbing her to death in a hotel room. The two had met on a dating website. The following is a look back at the details of the trouble and the defense's arguments in court, based on interviews conducted immediately after the incident.

“We Were Dating”—57-Year-Old Defendant Claims Relationship After Allegedly Stabbing 24-Year-Old Woman to Death

 Kei Kato

 The final day of the Expo was a success, and the association was in the "black". At first glance, the closing process appears to be proceeding smoothly, but numerous problems have immediately erupted. The association says, "We are doing everything we can to deal with the situation...

Unpaid Bills and Piles of Waste—The Osaka-Kansai Expo’s Biggest Problems Come After Closing Day

 Born in Taiwan in 1976. Winner of TV Tokyo's "TV Champion" in 2002 and 2007. He loves cooking, sweets, and alcohol, with a focus on fine dining and hotel gourmet cuisine. He writes easy-to-understand articles with his unique perspective on everything from inflammatory incidents to gastronomy and trends, and from the state of food to issues facing restaurants. He is also a judge, lecturer, producer, and consultant.

 Dong Long

 Kyodo News (1st photo)

 Michelin Tokyo 2026] Behind the decline of Michelin stars, chefs and patissiers are "investment targets"!　What is the identity of the "black market" fund behind the decrease in Michelin stars? We also introduce a hot new restaurant, "Night Market," which has been listed in the Bib Gourmand after only two months in business.

Owner Relationship Exposed—Inside the Case Surrounding Wakasa Tano

 Yuuki Okukubo

 Since the COVID-19 crisis of 2008, coma rip-offs have been rampant in Yushima. The tactics are becoming more and more heinous, and in some cases there have been deaths. The following is an explanation of what is happening in Yushima.

Yushima in Danger—The Evolving Sleep-and-Scam Scheme and Its New Tricks

 Ryo Nakahira

 On October 21, the Saitama District Court heard the trial of a man accused of kidnapping a minor and having non-consensual sexual intercourse with her by luring her through a matching app. What was revealed about the despicable crime and the "regret" shown by the defendant?

Man Accused of Abducting 13-Year-Old Met on Dating App Expresses Regret in Court

 JMPA

 Princess Kako attended Girls Messe 2025. She wore a pure white dress with black dots. Recently, her blue dress has been the subject of controversy because of its "conspicuous body line. An expert explains Kako's concern for her attire.

A Hint of Change? Princess Kako Stuns in a White Dress with a Soft Silhouette

 Takeshi Kinugawa

 Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has become the first female prime minister in the history of constitutional government after forming a coalition with the Restoration Association of Japan. She has chosen Satsuki Katayama, a former finance bureaucrat, to be the key finance minister in her administration. ......

Takaichi’s Smartest Move Yet? The Political Shock of Naming Satsuki Katayama Finance Minister

 Blank Green

 One week has passed since the Osaka Expo closed on October 13. Dismantling of the pavilions is said to be in full swing. At the time of the opening of the Expo, there were many concerns such as "a toilet that was reportedly 200 million yen in construction costs and burst into flames" and "a stone hanging from the ceiling".

Why Osaka Expo Ditched Its No-Smoking Rule—The Untold Story

 On October 22, the former head of a judo school accused of 10 crimes, including non-consensual sexual intercourse with seven girls, was sentenced. What was the "important thing" that the defendant, who committed a series of crimes in accordance with his own desires, told the judge? And what was the verdict?

Inside the Trial: Former Judo School Director’s Disturbing Confession and the Court’s Judgment

 A manager and a female employee were arrested for forcing a female staff member of a girls' bar into prostitution while monitoring her with GPS. The victim said that she was not treated as a human being. ......

 With the conclusion of his policy speech, the Takaichi Cabinet is now in full swing. A poll conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun revealed some shocking figures. The KDP's approval rating, which had made a major breakthrough in the recent Upper House election, has dropped to almost half. ......

I&#8217;m not blinkered! Yuichiro Tamaki, &#8220;the man who failed to win the reigns of power,&#8221; whose approval rating has dropped by half, is aiming for a &#8220;counterattack.

 Shinji Hamasaki (1st, 3rd, and 7th photos), Takeo Yuzuna (4th photo), Kazuhiko Nakamura (6th photo)

 In this issue of Playback, we look back at what we reported 10, 20, and 30 years ago. In this issue, we introduce a report on the disaster-stricken areas one month after the Great East Japan Flood of September 2003. Despite the lack of progress in recovery, people were looking forward to the future.

Playback &#8217;15] Deep Scars of the Disaster&#8230; Walking in the Disaster Area One Month after the Great East Japan Floods

 Hideki Asai

 Kyodo News

 The Takaichi Administration is "tightening" the system for foreigners. But the future of the "labor shortage of 11 million people" looms. Convenience stores and nursing care services can't operate...?　What are the barriers to "coexistence" with Japanese society?

The Future of the &#8220;Stricter System&#8221; for Foreigners under the Takaichi Administration and the &#8220;Labor Shortage of 11 Million&#8221;&#8230; What is Really Needed for &#8220;Coexistence&#8221;?

 Which is the "strongest cup yakisoba" that is cheap and tasty? The "three wise men", Mr. Takero Kanda, a home-made ramen researcher, Mr. Takayuki Oishi, a cup noodle researcher, and Mr. Ichiro Yamato, an instant noodle hunter, debated and came to a conclusion!

Three people who have eaten all kinds of instant noodles discuss thoroughly! The three men discuss the best cup yakisoba noodles in a ranking format!

 The cabinet of Sanae Takaichi was born after a "difficult birth" due to the withdrawal of the New Komeito Party from the coalition. In the midst of such a situation, a "letter of instruction" given to all ministers has become a topic of conversation. Moreover, it has been "leaked" to some of the mass media. ......

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi&#8217;s &#8220;directive&#8221; to all her ministers reveals her &#8220;strong arm&#8221; in her &#8220;daring to release to the media&#8230;

 Which is the "best cup yakisoba" that is cheap and tasty? The "three wise men", Mr. Takero Kanda, a home-made ramen researcher, Mr. Takayuki Oishi, a cup noodle researcher, and Mr. Ichiro Yamato, an instant noodle hunter, debated and came to a conclusion!

This is the cheapest and tastiest &#8220;strongest cup yakisoba&#8221;&#8230; Three people who have eaten all the instant noodles thoroughly discuss it!

 Two of the seven men accused of robbery, assaulting and injuring a business partner during a three-month period of confinement were held for the first time at the Tokyo District Court, where their gruesome lynching was revealed.

I&#8217;ll go to your parents. I&#8217;ll go to your parents, I&#8217;ll kill your parents&#8230; The defendant, in his 20s, laughed in court.

 Company employee and writer. A corporate employee and writer who eats Chinese food in Tokyo. Studied abroad at Fudan University in Shanghai for a year while in college and fell in love with Chinese food. Currently, while working for an IT company, he eats at newly opened Chinese restaurants around Tokyo. ■Blog: https://chuka.tokyo/ ■X : https://x.com/iam_asheng ■Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/asheng_chuka/

 Asei

 The Gen Z craze for ma la tan has evolved into something new! Combined with bean curd, Singaporean-style baksa, and the deliciously spicy soupless "hot and sour pot". Here are three "evolved ma lattangs" that are at the forefront of the boom, and that are sure to make the most serious Chinese food experts swoon.

Why Food Experts Are Buzzing About Japan’s Next-Gen Málàtàng Movement

 The Osaka Expo drew to a successful conclusion, with the total number of visitors topping 25 million. On the final day of the Expo, former Chairman Hiroshi Osaki, the former "Don" of Yoshimoto who discovered "Downtown," made an appearance.

After 17 FRIDAY Encounters, Yoshimoto’s Kingpin Finally Speaks on Osaka Expo’s Results

 The not-so-rosy future for a female prime minister: In the wake of her falling out with the New Komeito, she has accepted the Restoration Party's proposal to reduce the number of Diet members.

 President Takaichi has successfully won the position of the first female prime minister in the history of constitutional government, and within a little more than a week the "Liberal Democratic Party- Restoration Party coalition government" was born, but the party has been subject to a wave of criticism from within its ranks for its heavy-handed steering. However, she has been criticized by many within the party for her forceful leadership.

Japan’s New Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Faces a Rocky Start — Experts Predict a Short Reign

 Midori Shirakami

 A bar owner in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, was arrested on suspicion of violating the Entertainment Business Act by allowing his female employees to entertain customers without a license. At the time of the arrest, a 16-year-old girl was entertaining customers at the bar. What is the "dark side" of the nightlife district where young girls casually get involved in the nightlife business?

Girls’ Bar Raid Reveals How the Nightlife Business Preys on Teenagers

 Hiroyuki Sasaki (Entertainment Journalist)

 Yoshio Tsunoda/Afro (Tachibana), Takeshi Kinugawa (Takaichi)

Behind the Formation of the Sanae Takaichi Administration: How NHK Party’s Kenichiro Saito Could Impact the LDP

 On October 20, the Nishi-Arai Police Station of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department arrested three women and a man acting as an instructor who executed the crime for violating the Customs Law by attempting to smuggle 8 kg of gold sand hidden inside their underwear. A man enters the police station and looks unsuitable under the flash of a camera.

Three Women Smuggle 8 Kilos of Pure Gold Sewn Into Underwear — Mastermind Arrested With a Defiant Stare

 Nakahira Ryo

 The trial of a man accused of kidnapping a minor and other crimes for carrying around a 15-year-old (at the time of the incident) high school girl who was suicidal. In his third closing argument, the prosecutor cut to the heart of the defendant's claim that he was in a romantic relationship with the victim.

News

“We Were Dating”—57-Year-Old Defendant Claims Relationship After Allegedly Stabbing 24-Year-Old Woman to Death

Unpaid Bills and Piles of Waste—The Osaka-Kansai Expo’s Biggest Problems Come After Closing Day

Owner Relationship Exposed—Inside the Case Surrounding Wakasa Tano

Yushima in Danger—The Evolving Sleep-and-Scam Scheme and Its New Tricks

Man Accused of Abducting 13-Year-Old Met on Dating App Expresses Regret in Court

A Hint of Change? Princess Kako Stuns in a White Dress with a Soft Silhouette

Takaichi’s Smartest Move Yet? The Political Shock of Naming Satsuki Katayama Finance Minister

Why Osaka Expo Ditched Its No-Smoking Rule—The Untold Story

Inside the Trial: Former Judo School Director’s Disturbing Confession and the Court’s Judgment

Owner Relationship Exposed—Inside the Case Surrounding Wakasa Tano

I’m not blinkered! Yuichiro Tamaki, “the man who failed to win the reigns of power,” whose approval rating has dropped by half, is aiming for a “counterattack.

Playback ’15] Deep Scars of the Disaster… Walking in the Disaster Area One Month after the Great East Japan Floods

The Future of the “Stricter System” for Foreigners under the Takaichi Administration and the “Labor Shortage of 11 Million”… What is Really Needed for “Coexistence”?

Three people who have eaten all kinds of instant noodles discuss thoroughly! The three men discuss the best cup yakisoba noodles in a ranking format!

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s “directive” to all her ministers reveals her “strong arm” in her “daring to release to the media…

This is the cheapest and tastiest “strongest cup yakisoba”… Three people who have eaten all the instant noodles thoroughly discuss it!

I’ll go to your parents. I’ll go to your parents, I’ll kill your parents… The defendant, in his 20s, laughed in court.

Why Food Experts Are Buzzing About Japan’s Next-Gen Málàtàng Movement

After 17 FRIDAY Encounters, Yoshimoto’s Kingpin Finally Speaks on Osaka Expo’s Results

Japan’s New Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Faces a Rocky Start — Experts Predict a Short Reign

Girls’ Bar Raid Reveals How the Nightlife Business Preys on Teenagers

Behind the Formation of the Sanae Takaichi Administration: How NHK Party’s Kenichiro Saito Could Impact the LDP

Three Women Smuggle 8 Kilos of Pure Gold Sewn Into Underwear — Mastermind Arrested With a Defiant Stare

A Chilling Case of Exploitation — and the Prosecutor Who Refused to Stay Silent