 Sayuri Saito

 Afro (1st photo), Kyodo News (2nd photo)

 The successor to McDonald's, which withdrew from Russia, has reportedly launched a limited-edition hamburger bearing the "Hello Kitty" name. Since the article about this was distributed, there have been a number of posts on social networking sites from Sanrio fans complaining and accusing the company.

Lamentation in Japan over the launch of &#8220;Hello Kitty Burger&#8221; at the successor to McDonald&#8217;s in Russia&#8230; Sanrio asked Sanrio for the truth.

 Hiroyuki Sasaki (entertainment journalist)

 Kei Kato

 Governor Motohiko Saito of Hyogo Prefecture is still very popular among the people of Hyogo Prefecture, having been reelected in a rerun election. The leader of the NHK party, Takashi Tachibana, who ran for the seat to attract the "Motohiko madam," his bedrock support base, was unsuccessful in the Upper House election, but he is still a popular figure in the prefecture. ......

The &#8220;allegations&#8221; of Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito are &#8220;fading away.&#8221; The &#8220;hand of the magistrate&#8221; is the last fortress that &#8220;will not allow him to get away with it.

 Aida En (1st photo), Kazuhiko Nakamura (2nd photo), Takeo Yuzuna (3rd photo)

 In this issue of Playback, we look back at what this magazine reported 10, 20, and 30 years ago. In 2003, parents sued a major restaurant chain, Saizeriya, claiming that their daughter committed suicide due to sexual harassment by her boss. What was the nature of the "sexual harassment"?

Playback &#8217;15] The Mystery of the &#8220;Sexual Harassment&#8221; that Drove a Female Employee to Suicide: &#8220;He Visited Her Home and Forced Her to Perform Sexual Acts&#8221;&#8230;

 Kyodo

 Maki Takubo, the mayor of Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, who has been making headlines for allegedly falsifying her academic credentials, finally appeared before the Article 100 Committee for witness examination. He even made a catchy "stray remark" about diplomas, which is a point of contention. ......

New Controversial Heroine Emerges After Mayor Takubo’s Bizarre Statement

 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 healthcare and medical fields.

 Yoko Kemmochi

 Dr. Takeshi Kurihara, a hepatologist, says, "The habits you continue for your health may actually be the cause of a weakened liver. The doctor warns against drinking too much not of alcoholic beverages, but of sugary drinks that are claimed to be good for the body.

Think It’s Healthy? These Common Drinks May Cause Fatty Liver

 Shinji Hasuo

 A 61-year-old man was arrested for relentlessly chasing a woman in her 30s and spraying her in the face. He said he was looking for someone "who looked weaker than he was" and "wanted to blind her and stab her with a knife." What is the reason for this?

When Cruelty Meets Arrogance: Man Sprays Unknown Woman, Cites Weakness as Motive

 Nakahira Ryo

 On August 7, the Chiba District Court held the first trial of a man accused of kidnapping a 15-year-old high school girl and having sexual intercourse with her without her consent. The trial revealed the "escape to death" of the man who took the high school girl around for four days, saying, "Let's die together.

Deadly Manipulation: Man, Forces Teen on Run Under Threat of Suicide

 Takero Shigeto (2nd to 9th photos)

 A landfill far from people's homes in Tokyo. There are cats living in a harsh environment with no food. We accompanied a group of volunteers engaged in protection activities to find out what is really going on.

Landfill Cats Face Hunger and Parasites—Documenting Their Protection Efforts

 Shirakami Midori

 In this age of video distribution, used pornography is fetching high prices. It is only natural that used pornographic videos that cannot be re-released due to the bankruptcy of the manufacturer have a scarcity value, but there is another reason for the popularity of used porn among enthusiasts.

Vintage Adult Videos Fetch Premium Prices as Collectors Chase Impossible Today Footage

 A man was arrested for attempted murder for stabbing his drinking buddy with a knife in a drunken rage. When he noticed the media waiting for him at the time of his arrest, he swore at them and said, "What the hell are you filming? and behaves in a menacing manner.

&#8220;Don’t Take Pictures!&#8221; Intoxicated Man’s Violent Outburst After Stabbing Incident

 Izumi Nakagawa

 Courtesy of the Deaflympics Steering Committee

 The Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics will begin on November 15. There will be 21 events, including track and field, badminton, judo, and karate. How do deaf athletes compete differently from hearing athletes? We asked the Secretary General of the Games Management Committee.

Deaf Athletes at a Disadvantage? The Unexpected Challenges of the Deaflympics

 Daisuke Iwasaki (2nd and 3rd photos)

 Yasuko Funamoto (1st photo)

 While the LDP is being called upon to "bring down Ishiba," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (68) says that "public opinion is on my side" and that he does not seem to be bothered by the situation. What is the reason for such a statement?

Amid Party Infighting and Calls to Step Down, Why PM Ishiba Refuses to Resign

 Shinsuke Sakai

 The "Kamakura Koukoumae Station," known as the sacred land of the hit manga "Slam Dunk," has been flooded with foreign tourists over the past few years, causing a serious toilet problem. Not only defecation on the street, but even urination. We interviewed local residents and the local government.

Foreign Visitors’ Troubling Behavior Mar Popular Slam Dunk Destination

 Shigeru Nekota

 The Osaka Expo '70 Kansai has come to the end of its run. Gourmet writer Shigeru Nekota, who has visited the Expo more than 10 times to cover the event, introduces some of the best deals known only to those who went to the event.

Kansai Expo Free Hacks Vol.2 — Insider Secrets from a Gourmet Writer Who’s Been There 10+ Times

 Noriyuki Kanda

 Yoshiko Souishi

 Still at the top of her profession after 32 years, she has 10,000 "students" in Yoshiwara, Kanazien, and other areas throughout the country.

 NHK's historical drama "Belabo - Tsutaju Eika no Yume Banashi" has become the talk of the town. The drama depicts Yoshiwara and the culture of oiran (courtesans) in the Edo period in greater detail than previous dramas. In Fukuhara, Kobe, a colorful town that rivals Yoshiwara, there is a legendary soap operative who is called "sensei" (teacher) by the girls.

Legendary Fukuhara Soapland Star Reveals Her Secrets and Pride: Breaking Bad Habits to Protect the Girls

 A Chinese student who gave cash to a high school girl and performed indecent acts on her at a hotel was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of child prostitution. The man stated that he did it because it was a good way to study Japanese, and that he frequented Toyoko. ......

Chinese Student’s Troubling Justification for High School Girl Solicitation in Tokyo

 Akira Ikoma

 History of the "Revision" of the Entertainment Establishments Control Law: (1) Part 1

 The revised Entertainment Establishments Control Law, which came into effect in June, has caused confusion in the adult entertainment industry. 38 amendments have been made to the law, which was enacted in 1948. A sex industry journalist looks into the history of this law, which has changed according to the needs of the times.

Gambling, Dancing, Drinking—What the Entertainment Law Once TargetedGambling, Dancing, Drinking—What the Entertainment Law Once Targeted

 Takeshi Kinugawa

 Sanae Takaichi is virtually the spearhead of the campaign to remove Ishiba from office, and she is now in the running for president. She is seeking to rally the right wing of the LDP to restore her party's power, but the key to her success will be her visit to Yasukuni Shrine on August 15, the anniversary of the end of the war. ......

Prospects for Japan’s First Female Prime Minister Dim as Takaichi Faces Party Confusion

 History of Amendments to the Entertainment Establishments Control Law: (1) Part 2

 This is a series of articles tracing the changes over the past 77 years of the Entertainment Establishments Control Law. When it was first enacted, the Entertainment Establishments Control Law covered entertainment such as eating and drinking in bars and cafes. However, after prostitution was banned, the law became a law regulating "sex services" that emerged one after another.

The 1966 Entertainment Law Revision That First Targeted Japan’s Sex Businesses

 Afro

 There has been a series of bear attacks on people in residential areas. In Hokkaido, a newspaper delivery man was attacked and killed by a brown bear on the 12th of last month. DNA analysis of his body hair revealed that it was the same male bear that attacked a woman in her 70s in the same town in 2009.

Increasing Carnivorous Behavior in Bears Raises Concerns About Human Safety

 Courtesy of Mr. Shimizu, Kazuhiko Nakamura

 The political entity of a municipality is attracting attention due to the issue of the academic background of the mayor of Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The former mayor of Kamagaya City, Chiba Prefecture, tells his own story about the inner workings of the city government in this true confession from a man who served as mayor for five terms and 19 years.

Inside City Politics: Ex-Mayor Comments on Itō’s Education Controversy and Shohei Ohtani Encounter

 Courtesy of Mr. Shimizu

 The mayor of Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, has been attracting attention for his fraudulent academic background. The former mayor of Kamagaya City in Chiba Prefecture talks about the backstage of the city government in a vivid manner based on his own personal experiences. This is a true confession of a man whose wife and daughter were at the mercy of the city government.

Life at City Hall: Former Kamagaya Mayor Shimizu Speaks on Stress, Scandals, and Sacrifice

 Yutaka Asai (2nd photo)

 In this issue of Playback, we look back at what we reported 10, 20, and 30 years ago. The "Osaka Suicide Site Serial Murder" was uncovered in August 2005. What was the "abnormal sexual habit" of the man who took advantage of three men and women to satisfy his sexual urges?

Playback &#8217;05] &#8220;Osaka Suicide Site Serial Murder&#8221; killer also wrote a &#8220;novel&#8221; about his &#8220;sexual proclivities&#8221;.

 Molly Riley/White House/ZUMA Press/Afro

 Akamasa Akazawa, Minister of State for Economic Revitalization, negotiated the reduction of tariff rates on automobiles and other goods from 27.5% to 15%. His true face and reputation, which he professes, "My hobby is stonewalling," are ......

Akazawa, Minister of State for Economic Revitalization, &#8220;came to the U.S. without an appointment&#8221; was effective&#8230; &#8220;True Reputation&#8221; in Nagata-cho.

News

Lamentation in Japan over the launch of “Hello Kitty Burger” at the successor to McDonald’s in Russia… Sanrio asked Sanrio for the truth.

The “allegations” of Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito are “fading away.” The “hand of the magistrate” is the last fortress that “will not allow him to get away with it.

Playback ’15] The Mystery of the “Sexual Harassment” that Drove a Female Employee to Suicide: “He Visited Her Home and Forced Her to Perform Sexual Acts”…