 Hironori Jinno (Nonfiction writer)

 A restaurant owner was cheated out of ¥500 million by a former elite employee who was the president of a megabank group company. When he realized that he had been cheated and went to talk to the man demanding repayment, he received a shocking response.

SMBC Customer Service Responds Shockingly After 5 Billion Yen Scam by Group President

 The financial industry is rife with scandals, and in January it was reported that an employee of Prudential Life Insurance Company was involved in financial troubles. In this article, we bring you the story of a ¥500 million financial trouble committed by a former elite employee who served as president of a megabank group company.

Victim Blows the Whistle: 500 Million Yen Lost Under SMBC Group President’s Influence

 Sayuri Saito

 Afro

 Create a week's worth of documents in a day!　The divine use of Google's latest AI "Nano Banana Pro". This article reveals the secret technique of an active consultant who uses Canvas integration to speed up slide generation.

How Nano Banana Pro Made My Work Lightning-Fast—Finish PowerPoints in One Day

 Masayoshi Katayama (Journalist)

 Jiji Press (2nd photo)

 The cause of the wildfire, which took 17 days to extinguish and burned 84 Tokyo Domes, is "global warming.

 A massive wildfire that burned for 17 days on Mount Ogiyama in Yamanashi Prefecture burned an area equivalent to 84 Tokyo Domes. Wildfires have been raging across Japan due to abnormally dry weather with zero precipitation and once-in-30-year low rainfall. Experts warn of the dangers and relationship to global warming.

Yamanashi Wildfire Burns Area Equal to 84 Tokyo Domes; Low Rainfall Raises Risk Through May

 Yoshio Tsunoda/Afro (1st), Takeshi Kinugawa (2nd)

 The Liberal Democratic Party of Takaichi has decided to dissolve the Diet at the beginning of the new year. The Democratic Party of Constitutional Democrats and New Komeito combined to form the "Coalition for Reform of the Middle Way," but they were unexpectedly facing the prospect of a major defeat. ......


“Half the Seats at Risk?”—The Last Strategic Move of PM Takaichi in an Unconventional Election

 Daisuke Iwasaki

 Courtesy of Mr. A

 In Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture, which ranked first in the Tokyo metropolitan area in the "Countryside to Live" list, a group of immigrants filed a lawsuit against the local construction company that built their homes. The company was sued for damages for building defective housing in violation of the law. We followed up on the furor.

Why Migrants Sued a City Councilor’s Construction Company in Tokyo’s Most Desired Countryside City

 Shinji Hasuo

 Obata, the head of "Natural," who disappeared just before the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department roundup last January and had been on the run for about a year, was arrested on Amami-Oshima Island. What is the "legend" of this man, who was also the keystone of the organization's unity? And what is the future of the organization?


Revered as a Living Legend by Young Scouts, Suspect Obata’s Charisma and the Organization’s Uncertain Future

 Shimei Kurita (nonfiction writer)

 Afro (1st photo)

 The Rufie group has been involved in a number of violent incidents across the country. The trial of Seiya Fujita, who was in charge of directing the group, began on January 26. What facts came to light? We will report on the details.

Ex-Luffy Gang Executive Kojima Exposes the Lies of Fearsome Commander Seiya Fujita

 Mitsutoshi Abe (former Taito City Councilor, political journalist)

 Higashi-Ueno, Taito Ward, where the 420 million yen heist took place. Mitsutoshi Abe, a former reporter who served two terms on the Taito City Council and still lives in Taito City, talks about the "truth of Taito City." ......

420 Million Yen Heist in Taitō Ward—Former Councilor Talks Safety Myths and Reality

 Shinsuke Sakai

 Kazuhiko Nakamura

 The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and politicians are shouting loudly about "food security. Behind the clamor, there are hidden huge interests that take precedence over the lives of the Japanese people. A former MAFF bureaucrat reveals the deep dark side of agricultural policy and the true nature of JA Bank's "107 trillion yen money.

Former Agriculture Ministry Bureaucrat Reveals Agricultural Policy Problems and JA’s 107 Trillion Yen Amid Rising Rice Prices

 Kyodo News

 Taro Yamamoto's resignation came as a shock at a time when the general election was about to begin. The reason was not to run for the House of Representatives, but to recuperate from an illness. What kind of condition is "one step away from multiple myeloma," as he described it?　We asked an expert.

The Disease Behind Yamamoto’s Resignation and the Hidden Toll of Overwork in Parliament

 Shimei Kurita (Nonfiction writer)

 Takayuki Ogawauchi

 Shinjuku 2-chome in Tokyo is known as one of the world's leading gay towns. As the town has been opened up to foreigners and female customers, longtime residents of the area say that it has reached a turning point.

Inside the Urisen Industry Former Top Earner Discusses Affluent Clients and Emotional Demand

 Naoyuki Miyashita, nonfiction writer

 In the morning of January 29, a new candidate of the People's Democratic Party of Japan, Tomiko Kitanoya (北野谷富子), was elected in the Shizuoka 7th Constituency (including parts of Hamamatsu City), which includes the area around Lake Hamana on the western edge of Shizuoka Prefecture and mountainous regions of the prefecture. Kitanoya

Exclusive Affair Allegations Surface Against a Democratic Party for the People Female Candidate With Two Shot Photos

 Akira Ikoma

 The case of a 12-year-old Thai girl who was forced to perform sexual services at a massage parlor in November last year has triggered calls for "punishment for the prostitutes as well. This report examines whether or not the decriminalization of prostitution is right or wrong, based on precedents from other countries.

Ban or Legalize? What Japan Can Learn From Global Approaches to Prostitution

 Shikama Aki

 Screams of "islanders can't get on" remote Okinawan islands...!　The "Mileage Trainee Monks" who fly only for the sake of earning status, taking over the routes of daily life, and scavenging for "free food" in the lounges. This article follows the end of Japan's own extraordinary training boom.

“Island Residents Can’t Even Get Onboard”—The Dark Side of Elite Lounge Access

 White Paper Green

 The House of Representatives election will be held on February 8, and for the first time in 36 years, the election will be held in February, which some say is unfair to those living in areas with heavy snowfall. We asked people in snowy areas about the reality of winter elections.

Democracy on Ice? Snow Country Residents Speak on February Election Challenges

 Aflo

 She drove a Porsche at 268 km/h and collided with a passenger car. The defendant was sentenced for the accident that killed the passenger car driver and his wife. The runaway defendant received a 12-year prison sentence. We introduce the whole story of the accident and the defendant's appalling argument.

“Insane Speed” — Inside the Fatal High-Speed Porsche Crash and the Driver’s Shocking Claims

 Yuuki Okukubo

 Since last year, a number of arrests have been made in the "child pornography community" on the Internet. Why does the malicious crime of viewing the indecent images of young girls without their knowledge seem to be going on unabated? We went undercover to the actual community to find out.

A Secret World of Illegal Images—Tracking the Child Porn Crackdown

 In this issue of Playback, we take a look back at what we reported 10, 20, and 30 years ago. In this issue, we take a look at the harsh working conditions of tour bus drivers, which came under close scrutiny after a ski bus accident in Karuizawa ten years ago.

Playback &#8217;16] &#8220;17-Hour Days, No Days Off&#8221; &#8211; Overworked Tour Bus Drivers &#8220;Worked Too Hard

 Kazuhiko Nakamura (first photo)

 Current employees reveal the reality of the "distorted performance-based system" that led to the spread of massive fraud: "The corporate culture of 'sales are everything' has created monsters.

 The company's corporate culture has created monsters.

Prudential Life Insurance&#8217;s Top Salesman&#8217;s &#8220;Disgusting Behavior&#8221; and &#8220;Harsh Video

 The Sangseito, together with the People's Democratic Party of Japan, created a great sensation in last year's Upper House election. In this year's lower house election, Representative Kamiya is showing his "aggressive" stance by fielding candidates in 182 constituencies. ......

General Election Report] Fiercely opposing the treatment of &#8220;Hare for Takaichi&#8221; The ambition of Sohei Kamiya, the representative of the Sangyo Party, who has been retained in 182 electoral districts

 Shinichi Sato, a professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, was arrested on suspicion of bribery. In May last year, a civil suit was filed against him by the Japan Cosmetics Association, the bribing party, demanding compensation for damages and other claims. We report the full story.

Former Professor of the University of Tokyo&#8217;s Graduate School of Law, who was arrested, threatened to &#8220;eliminate him from society.&#8221; The entire &#8220;astonishing demand&#8221; as seen in the complaint.

 Takeshi Kinugawa (1st photo)

 The House of Representatives election will be held on February 8. Prime Minister Takaichi is believed to have decided to go ahead with the election because of his cabinet's high approval rating, which has led to predictions of a major victory for the LDP, but these predictions of a major victory are beginning to look shaky. What is happening to the LDP now?

Has Prime Minister Takaichi &#8220;cut off&#8221; the people who are suffering from high prices&#8230; His true nature as manifested in his stance on the food consumption tax, an issue in the election?

 Hideki Asai

 Japan Post Bank's entry into the market has attracted attention! What is the true nature of "Digital Currency" that enables the immediate exchange of 100 million yen worth of real estate? This article provides a thorough explanation of the next-generation infrastructure that will overturn common financial wisdom, including the crucial differences from Suica and Bitcoin and how fees will be drastically reduced.

News