 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

 Kyodo News

 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

 Shinsuke Sakai

 Shinji Hasuo

 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.

 Daisuke Iwasaki

 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

 Afro

 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.

Instant Exchanges, Mega-Value Assets—Inside the Financial Revolution of Japan Post’s Digital Currency

 Hiroyuki Sasaki (Entertainment Journalist)

 Yoshio Tsunoda/Afro

 The Tokyo District Court has awarded 880,000 yen to Takashi Tachibana, leader of the "Party to Protect Citizens from NHK," in a libel suit against Kan Kanno. What is the message of the judiciary contained in this case? ......

Takashi Tachibana Ordered to Pay 880,000 Yen in Defamation Case Against Kan Ken

 Shinichi Sato, a graduate school professor at the University of Tokyo, was arrested for bribery of high-class clubs and sexual entertainment. When entering the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department in a police vehicle, the suspect was looking at the press with only one eye open. There was none of the dignity of the "charisma" he was once known for.

Once a Charismatic Professor? Arrest Over Bribery Reveals a Completely Different Side

 Kazuhiko Nakamura

 Prudential Life Insurance was a hotbed of the ¥3.1 billion fraud. A former employee of Prudential Life Insurance told the inside story. One of the factors that contributed to the fraud was the existence of the "Executive Committee," a group of top salesmen.

Former Prudential Life Employee Blames Sales-First Culture for 3.1 Billion Yen Scam

 Takeshi Kinugawa

 Will the "chaos" LDP vs. the "magical merger" centrist reform coalition reach a "single majority" without the reliable Komei vote?

 On January 27, the election for the House of Representatives was announced. The election will be held on February 8. FRIDAY asked three experts to predict the outcome of the disputed lower house election. What are the results?

Prime Minister Takaichi Declares “We’re on the Edge!” Amidst Unusually Fast-Paced Election

 Blank Green

 The large number of touts for menkon and menkyo in front of Shibuya Station have disappeared and moved to Shinjuku Station. The reason may be due to stricter regulations, but an interview with the touts reveals a surprising reason.

The Great Shift — What Drove MCafe and Men-Chika Recruiters Out of Shibuya?

 Jiji Press (Agriculture Minister Suzuki), Kazuhiko Nakamura

 Minister of Agriculture Norikazu Suzuki's "rice coupons" are meaningless. 5 kg of rice now costs 4,000-5,000 yen or more.

 The average price of 5 kg of rice has reached a record high of 4,416 yen. The reason why prices have not fallen despite a 10% increase in harvest volume lies with JA. The "rice coupon," a key initiative of Agriculture Minister Suzuki, is actually a bailout for the JA, not the consumers. Experts uncover the dark side of the rice price hike.

Reiwa Rice Turmoil Continues as Expert Predicts Another Year of High Prices

 Nakahira Ryo

 Takaaki Yagisawa

 Twenty-six years ago, on January 28, 2000, the "Niigata girl confinement case" came to light and shook the world. The author, who covered the incident as a reporter for "FRIDAY" at the time, looks back on the media frenzy surrounding the incident and the inside story behind the coverage of the confinement scene.

26 Years On: Journalist Reflects on Media Frenzy and Contact with Niigata Abduction Perpetrator

 A man was arrested in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, on New Year's Eve last year for the brutal murder of a female manicurist in her home. The man arrested was the victim's "ex-boyfriend" who had been following her even after they broke up. Why was the man so obsessed with the victim?

[Mito Nail Technician Murder] Suspect Placed Tracker in Plush Toy, Obsessively Stalked Victim

 Sayuri Saito

 Japan's national land disappears...a startling hole that can be bought with "no contact information". What are the limits that cannot be prevented even by the "tighter regulations" of the Takaichi administration? We look at the devastation of Niseko and the danger of land becoming ownerless land, and the "trump card" proposed by experts for local governments.

Japan’s Territory Disappearing? Alarming Loopholes You Can Exploit Without Any Contact—Beyond Government Control

 Nihonbashi Group*.

 The flames of the crematorium, which sends the body to heaven at 1,300 degrees Celsius... Reporting on the real scene of a multi-death society.

 Not much is known about the reality of crematoriums. Adjustment of fire power is still a manual and extremely nerve-wracking job, even for veterans, and equipment used daily at high temperatures requires detailed maintenance. This article introduces the harsh work conditions and the latest equipment.

[Feature] Life at a Restricted Crematorium—Handling Death When the Smell Lingers

 Documentary No-entry "Crematoriums"--Daily life of people who burn death at the end of their lives

 Private companies that operate crematoriums are debating raising fees due to soaring fuel and labor costs. In addition to the difficulty of securing and training personnel in a harsh working environment, new entrants are not expected, and existing facilities are becoming increasingly important as public infrastructure.

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