 Kyodo News

 The vacation rental industry has now grown to a market size of 800 billion yen. As it emerges as a major industry for Japan, a certain area is drawing the industry’s attention as the next hotspot.

Chinese Wealthy Travelers Are Flocking In, and Short-Term Rentals Are Cashing In—Despite Mounting Trouble

 Ryo Nakahira

 Shinji Hasuo

 The sentence of four years in prison handed down to Defendant Oka for the crime of non-consensual indecent acts against three women has become final. Although the defendant admitted to the crimes during the trial, he continued to assert that “the acts were not committed for lewd purposes.” What exactly was the substance of that claim?

“I’ll Kill You, I’ll Kill You, I’ll Kill You” — What Was Really Behind the Defendant’s Claim He Had No Sexual Motive?

 Born in 1970.After graduating from college, he joined a mass-market clothing retail chain and became a reporter for a textile industry newspaper in 1997. After resigning in 2003, he worked in public relations for a T-shirt apparel manufacturer, as a magazine editor, in sales for a major trade show organizer, and in public relations for a fashion vocational school before becoming independent. He currently works as a freelance textile industry writer and public relations advisor.

 Mitsuhiro Minami

 Kyodo News (first photo), Afro (second photo)

 If you’ve been feeling like “my Airism isn’t working lately,” you need to check this out! Could the real cause of performance decline be “fabric softener”—not the product’s lifespan? A pro explains the washing mistakes to avoid and thoroughly breaks down the “true time to replace” your Airism when its cooling and odor-eliminating functions start to fade.

Think Your AIRism Still Works? This Laundry Mistake May Have Ruined It

 Daisuke Takahashi

 Mayumi Abe (Reporting), Kyodo News (First Photo)

 Japan is in the midst of a debate over “middle-aged men’s leg hair.” At a cosmetic clinic where half the clients are now men, a reporter in his 40s tries medical hair removal for “nose and ear hair”! We take a close look at the latest trends in unwanted hair care for middle-aged and older adults—which can make or break a person’s appearance—and the reality of the procedures.

Are Middle-Aged Men in Shorts a Turn-Off? A 40-Something Reporter Tries Medical Hair Removal for Nose and Ear Hair

 Depas, which is widely prescribed in Japan, has been designated a controlled substance in the U.S. It’s surprising to learn that it falls into the same category as heroin and MDMA. Experts explain the differences in perspective between Japan and the U.S., as well as the underlying risks.

Prescribed for Insomnia, Headaches, and Stiff Shoulders—But How Dangerous Is Depas?

 In September 2024, defendant Shōtarō Sakaida applied for an illegal part-time job and conspired with accomplices to break into a residence in Nerima Ward, Tokyo. He is currently on trial at the Tokyo District Court on charges of robbery resulting in injury for causing injury to a resident. The defendant’s mother appeared in court and testified.

Former Sumo Wrestler’s Mother Blames His Kind Nature—But His Extensive Alleged Crimes Undercut the Defense

 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 Definitive Guide to Making Money with Cashless Payments*. ■X (formerly Twitter) → @1847mattsuu

 Kenji Matsuoka

 Mayumi Abe

 Choruko, a mom investor who reached 100 million yen through day trading while on maternity leave, only to suffer a massive loss of 24 million yen in a single day. We delve into the secrets of her ultra-reliable “large-cap swing trading” strategy—the method that allowed her, after going through hell, to surpass 500 million yen in assets.

From ¥500,000-a-Day Gains to Crushing Losses: How a Mom Investor Built a ¥500 Million Fortune

 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 Definitive Guide to Maximizing Benefits from Cashless Payments*. ■X (formerly Twitter) → @1847mattsuu

 The Journey of a Mom on Maternity Leave Who Built 500 Million Yen from an Initial Investment of 2.4 Million! We Explore Her Indomitable Trading Strategy and Frugality Rules—How She Rebounded from the Despair of Losing 24 Million in a Single Day by Going All-In on High-Dividend Stocks.

How a Mom of Two Turned High-Dividend Stocks Into a ¥500 Million Fortune—All From Her Smartphone

 Hiroto Kato

 As a result of Tokyo becoming “the city where you can buy a Tesla for the lowest price in the world,” sales have surged to four times the pace of recent years

 Tesla forced through a massive, unauthorized vehicle delivery at a public parking lot in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Although sales surged to over 12,000 units in the first half of the year—fueled by subsidies of up to 2.37 million yen—the delivery system couldn’t keep up and collapsed. Here’s an inside look at the chaotic reality of Tesla Japan.

Trouble Mounts as Tesla Takes Over Daikoku Pier After Selling 12,000+ Cars in Just Six Months

 Naoki Kandatsu

 [Playback] looks back at what this magazine reported 10, 20, and 30 years ago. This time, we focus on Hideki Yokoi, the former president of Hotel New Japan, who was released from prison in ’96. After his release, this magazine witnessed his shocking appearance.

[Playback &#8217;96] Uttering sounds beyond words… Hideki Yokoi of “Hotel New Japan” and His “Ecstatic” Final Years

 Shinji Hasuo (Photos 1–4)

 Suspect Sakurai, who made headlines for sewing shut the lips of a woman she lived with, has been re-arrested. She is suspected of coercing the victim into sewing her own lips shut on a different day from the previous incident. Why was she re-arrested this time? We asked a former investigator.

&#8220;Come on, hurry up&#8221;&#8230; The &#8220;reason&#8221; why the woman who forced the victim to sew her own lips shut with a needle and thread was re-arrested

 Shirashi Midori

 Short videos are so popular that people can’t stop watching them, but a flood of content is circulating that consists of clips cut from overseas videos and mass-produced solely to rack up views. This has given rise to a “strange cycle” created by generative AI.

AI Creating for AI? Inside the Strange Cycle Emerging in Short Videos

 Kyodo

 Could a nurse—often called an “angel in white”—have committed such a heinous crime? The person arrested for mixing feces into a hospitalized patient’s IV drip, leading to the patient’s death from multiple organ failure caused by sepsis, was, surprisingly, a nurse…

The Nurse Behind the IV Contamination Scandal: What Those Close to Miyuki Furukawa Say About Her

 Financial Planner / Representative, Rapport Consulting Office.After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at Nagoya University, he worked at a securities firm and an insurance agency before going independent. Through financial consultations and writing and supervising articles, he supports people in developing the ability to think for themselves and take action regarding their financial matters. He holds certifications as a Level 1 Financial Planning Specialist, CFP®, Real Estate Broker, and Sauna & Spa Professional.

 Hiroki Takekuni

 Afro

 The Best Defense Against Rising Prices Is “Lifestyle Protection” Shareholder Perks! We’ve carefully selected ultra-popular stocks—including Aeon, Bic Camera, and Muji, with August record dates—that help ease the strain on household budgets. Let’s weather inflation by smartly using these perks to save on shopping and dining out!

Love Shopping? These Popular Japanese Stocks Offer Shareholder Perks You Can Actually Use

 Financial Planner / Representative, Rapport Consulting Office.After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at Nagoya University, he worked at a securities firm and an insurance agency before going independent. Through financial consultations and writing and supervising articles, he supports people in developing the ability to think for themselves and take action regarding their financial matters. He holds certifications as a Level 1 Financial Planning Specialist, CFP®, Real Estate Transaction Specialist, and Sauna & Spa Professional.

 We’ve carefully selected little-known, high-yield stocks from the August shareholder benefit offerings! We’ll introduce seven noteworthy stocks—including those with a total yield exceeding 10% and special-case stocks offering a one-time 10,000-yen QUO Card—that have either been newly introduced or expanded.

7 August Stocks With New or Expanded Shareholder Perks—and Yields Above 10%

 A verdict will be handed down on July 31 to defendant Shunichiro Sato, a former member of the Japanese men’s national volleyball team who was arrested for marijuana possession while on a training camp. Although the defendant admitted to the charges during his initial hearing, experts point out that “there was one point of concern.”

[Verdict Aug. 31] Former Japan Volleyball Player Sato Admits Cannabis Possession—What Concerns Remain Over His Sentence?

 Sayuri Saito

 An unusual “space fund” has appeared under the new NISA program. However, experts are warning that “the key player, SpaceX, is missing, and the fund is actually composed of defense stocks.” We explain the pitfalls of theme-based funds, which carry high fees and the risk of buying at inflated prices.

Space Investing Comes to Japan’s New NISA—But Experts Say the Fund May Not Live Up to Its Name

 Hiroyuki Sasaki

 The other day, the nationwide assessed land values were announced, and among residential areas in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the Higashi-Hatsushiro area near Hatsushiro Station in Nagareyama City posted the highest increase rate at 16.1%. What exactly is happening in this quiet residential neighborhood? A reporter brings you a field report.

A Quiet Chiba Neighborhood Has Japan’s Fastest-Rising Land Prices—Here’s What’s Driving the Surge

 In the early hours of July 20, a man who rammed his car into a convenience store and wandered around wielding a weapon was subdued by police. What kind of man was this individual, who had also set his own apartment building on fire? We visited the scene to investigate.

He Crashed Into a Convenience Store With a Knife and Golf Club—What Was He Like at Home?

 Kei Kato

 Kazuhide Kawaguchi, a former yakuza executive who gained attention in the documentary *Yakuza and the Constitution*, has been living as a law-abiding citizen for four years since dissolving his gang. He spoke about the ongoing restrictions and harassment he faces, his feelings toward his former gang members who have gone their separate ways, and his plans for the future.

The Yakuza Boss Featured in Yakuza and the Constitution Reveals What It Really Means to Leave the Underworld

 A prison sentence has been finalized for a 29-year-old former child welfare agency employee who engaged in sexual acts with a girl under the age of 16 who was in the agency’s care. During the trial, the former employee repeatedly testified that he was “threatened” as the reason for the crime. What exactly happened at the facility?

“I Had Sex With My Teacher”: The Courtroom Testimony Behind a Child Welfare Worker’s Sexual Abuse of a Girl in His Care

 Courtesy of Mr. Kaneko

 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. On the front lines, there is a Japanese man fighting as a volunteer in the Russian military. Daisaku Kaneko, who has served with the special forces unit “Akhmat Spetsnaz,” explained why he went to the battlefield

Why Is a Japanese Entrepreneur Fighting for Russia? He Explains Why He Went to the Front Lines

 [Part 1] Earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 5- or higher are occurring at a rate exceeding last year’s

 Major earthquakes are currently occurring frequently across the country. Last year, there were 15 tremors with a seismic intensity of 5- or higher, but this year there have already been 13—a pace that exceeds last year’s total. It is said that the crust off the coast of Japan has been unstable since the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011.

Earthquakes Are Striking Across Japan—What Would Happen If a Major Quake Hit Tokyo?

 Kota Ishii (Nonfiction Writer)

 What Was the Downward Spiral of a Man Obsessed with a Live Streamer That He Described in Court?——

 What emerged from the trial and interviews was the bottomless loneliness of the people gathered on the app. For defendant Kenichi Takano, who was in dire straits, watching “Fuwacchi” was his only source of emotional solace. What was the downward spiral of Takano’s life—as told in court by a man who became obsessed with live streamers?

News