 Nihonbashi Group*.

 Hiroyuki Komatsu (1st photo) Sankei Shimbun (2nd photo) Courtesy of Nihonbashi Group* (app photo)

  We will take a closer look at the "black organization" that makes a huge amount of money, said to be 5 billion yen a year, in Shinjuku's Kabukicho and other areas.

 A former member of "Natural," the largest and most powerful scouting group in Japan, confesses the contents of a "black market app" that he developed. And what is the inside story of the most dangerous "black organization" that makes huge sums of money?

The Full Picture of Dark Apps Used by Illegal Scout Natural from Police Officers&#8217; Photos to Arrest Manuals

 Daisuke Iwasaki

 Takeshi Kinugawa (1st), Afro

 The search for the "leaker" within the party is intensifying in regard to Prime Minister Ishiba's handing out 100,000 yen in gift certificates to new Diet members who attended a meeting. How did a problem that could shake the administration come to light?

Ishiba&#8217;s Suspicion Grows in 10 Million Yen Gift Certificate Leak: Hunt for Leaker and Mastermind

 Blank Green

 A mahjong parlor in Ueno was busted in February, and it is said that high-rate mahjong parlors are secretly popular nowadays. The "condominium mahjong" that once brought in large sums of money has all but disappeared, but stores that offer high rates are said to be making a comeback, starting around the COVID-19 crisis.

High-Stakes Mahjong Shops Make a Comeback in Kabukicho After Apartment Mahjong Fades

 A worker at the site sadly confesses, "We are working around the clock.

 As the opening of the "Osaka Kansai Expo" draws near, workers lament that they "will never make it in time." FRIDAY went to the site and found a shocking scene... "We're working around the clock," a worker heartbreakingly confessed.

Exclusive Sneak Peek at Osaka/Kansai Expo: Impossible to Complete in Time

 Takuma Arimura

 On March 19, a plastic bag containing a piece of meat was found on a promenade along the Dojima River in Fukushima-ku, Osaka City. As a result of the autopsy, the piece of meat was found to be part of the body of a man of unknown age. We interviewed local residents at the site three days after the incident.

Shocking Eyewitness Accounts from Neighbors at the Dojima River Body Discovery Scene in Osaka

 White Paper Green

 The tragic stabbing of a woman during a live-streaming event in Shinjuku City is still fresh in our minds, but there are cases in which people go overboard when they "throw money" in a live-streaming event. Why do people go so far as to borrow money to give money? We interviewed the people involved.

Man Who Went Into Debt for Super Chats Reveals His Emotional Struggles

 Masahiro Kawayanagi, Tomoyuki Hanai, Kenji Natsume, Jun Mayumi

 In this issue of "Playback," we look back at what this magazine was reporting 30, 20, and 10 years ago. In this issue, we introduce a report on the site of the Aichi Expo 20 years ago to commemorate the opening of the Osaka-Kansai Expo.

Exhaustion and Reflection: A Reporter’s Two-Day Experience at the Aichi Expo 2005

 Keitaro Haga

 Mr. Higashiyama overcame a restructuring at the age of 50 and heavy losses from FX to become a "200-millionaire. Now a winner, what does he want to tell people who are just starting to invest?

After restructuring at the age of 50, he became a &#8220;200 millionaire&#8221;&#8230; What a Legendary Investor Wants to Tell People Starting to Invest

 In January this year, investor Ichigo Higashiyama published a book titled "29 Truths I, a company stockbreeder who earned 200 million yen through investment, want to tell my 15-year-old daughter. How did Mr. Higashiyama, who used to be an "ordinary company stockbreeder," build up an asset of 200 million yen?

From an &#8220;Ordinary Company Employee&#8221; to 200 Million Yen in Total Assets&#8230; Investor whose new book is the talk of the town reveals his &#8220;past of losing big in FX

 Keiko Tsuji

 Is it possible for store clerks to say "I don't understand because I'm a part-timer"?　The hospitality industry is facing a number of challenges, such as labor shortages and the problem of harassment, and employment patterns are diversifying. Is it wrong to question the quality of customer service in such an era?

Don&#8217;t demand quality from your part-timers! Soon 80% of customer service will no longer be necessary&#8230; The future of customer service, which is becoming increasingly mechanized and automated.

 Shinji Hasuo

 A firefighter was arrested for trying to defraud an elderly woman out of her money. The firefighter posed as the woman's son and told her that he had gotten his adulterous partner pregnant and that he needed 3 million yen. The woman became suspicious and consulted the police. The whole story of "Operation Deceived" is introduced here.

A 29-year-old firefighter, who posed as the son of a woman in her 80s, stared at the press and took a photo.

 Takayuki Ogawauchi

 The Ishiba Cabinet has seen its approval rating plummet due to the "commodity coupon issue. If the ruling party loses its majority not only in the House of Representatives but also in the House of Councillors, a change of government will become a reality. Under such circumstances, popular National Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leader Tamaki...

Behind the Birth of &#8220;Prime Minister Yuichiro Tamaki&#8221; of the Democratic Party of Japan, &#8220;Political Influence&#8221; of Claiming Innocence by &#8220;Former Adulterous Partner Resumes SNS Activities

 I can't wait to meet the Director-General of the Bureau of Papa Katsudo.

 Takehiko Kohiyama

 Universe Club

 Papa-katsu activities are generally conducted on apps and social networking services, but there are also dating clubs for high-class men and women. We interviewed popular female members of a major dating club. We asked them about their daily papa activities and private lives.

A 24-Year-Old Beauty Who is inundated with Offers at Dating Clubs Speaks &#8220;Face to Face&#8221; about the Realities of &#8220;Money and Love&#8221; for Girls in the Papa&#8217;s Life

 Motoko Abegawa

 Dr. Copa, who created a feng shui boom in the 1990s by explaining complicated feng shui theories in an easy-to-understand manner with his cheerful character and mild-mannered voice, announced that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer shortly after the start of his new YouTube program.

Dr. Kopa Battling Pancreatic Cancer Dedicates Himself to YouTube and Feng Shui Experiment

 The congressional building's store is gaining support in some quarters because of the unusual souvenirs it offers. The towel and handkerchief with Prime Minister Ishiba's face printed on them are the talk of the town.

Despite Low Approval Ishiba Prime Minister Towel &#038; Handkerchief Sales Soar at the National Diet Building

 Shinji Hasuo (2nd to 4th photos)

 The trial of a man who was arrested for molesting a woman on the Saikyo Line in July 2012 and running away on the tracks has been held at the Tokyo District Court since October of the same year. When asked why he repeatedly molested women, the defendant revealed his past "sexual assaults.

Man Who Molested Women on Saikyo Line Reveals Own Sexual Victimization in Court

 Akira Ikoma

 The Modern History of Tachinbo (3) Part I

 In this third installment of a series of articles, customs journalist Akira Ikoma looks into the history of "tachinbo" from the "night hawk" of the Edo period to the "koin joshi" of the Reiwa era (2025). He explains the reality of "panpan" that emerged in the burned-out areas after World War II.

The Real Reason Behind the Post-War Surge of Panpan Prostitutes

 The Modern History of the "Tachinbo" (3) Part 2

 A Modern History of Tachinbo" chronicles the history of tachinbo, from the "night hawk" of Edo to the "koin joshi" of Reiwa, 2025. The panpan, which was born in the burned-out ruins after the war, enjoyed a prosperous period of media coverage, but eventually disappeared.

Post-War Ueno&#8217;s Pampan Women: The Rise of Kakiya, Nameya, and Tachi Asobi

 Nakahira Ryo

 Hiroaki Fujiuchi (1st), Eiji Ikeda (2nd), Takeo Shigumura (3rd, 4th)

 On March 26th, 25 years ago, Shigeru Yagi, the main suspect in the Honjo Insurance Money Murder Case, was arrested. We asked him about his recent situation.

[Honjo Insurance Murder] Shigeru Yagi Speaks Out 25 Years on Death Row

 Courtesy of Mr. A's parents

 Families of Suicide Workers File Lawsuit Against Government Over Worker's Compensation Determination Behind Bankruptcy of Debt Settlement Company

 Mr. A, who worked for the former Big Motor and had a top-class sales performance despite being new to the company, committed suicide. The event that changed his fate was the "environmental maintenance inspection. His parents are angry and say, "We were forced to resign.

Former Big Motor Employee Forced to Resign After One Month Parents Speak Out About Son’s Tragic Death

 Yoshio Tsunoda/Afro

 Rakuten Securities, Inc. has received a number of horrifying reports of unauthorized access to personal accounts and the sale of stock holdings, followed by the purchase of mysterious Chinese stocks. We spoke to Rakuten Securities, which was the "epicenter" of the incident: ......

Rakuten Securities&#8217; Response to the Surge in Unauthorized Trading Incidents

 Hiroyuki Sasaki (Entertainment Journalist)

 Pasya/Afro

 NHK Party leader Takashi Tachibana is planning to run in the April 6 mayoral election in Kishiwada as the "last two-horse race. However, behind the scenes, he has lost a series of court cases against election watcher Chidai ......

Election Watcher Chidai Sounds the Alarm on Takashi Tachibana After Victory Against the NHK Party

 After working as a money writer, financial planner, and market analyst for a securities company, Mr. Matsuoka became independent in 1996. He writes articles on finance and asset management mainly for business and economic magazines. Author of "A Textbook for the First Year of Robo-Advisor Investing" and "Understanding with Rich Illustrations! The Book of Absolute Benefit from Cashless Payments".

 Kenji Matsuoka

 The term "billionaire" refers to an investor who has amassed assets in the hundreds of millions. In general, most of them have succeeded in investing in stocks and crypto assets, but this time, we will introduce Mr. "I'll quit my job if I have to", who has achieved over 100 million yen by "saving" and "saving money".

From the Employment Ice Age to True Poverty: The 100 Million Yen Quest to Escape a Black Company

 In a quiet residential area near Oji Station in Tokyo's Kita Ward, there is an area lined with "no private accommodations" signs. Why do the residents oppose private accommodations? We asked the residents on the spot.

News

The Full Picture of Dark Apps Used by Illegal Scout Natural from Police Officers’ Photos to Arrest Manuals

Ishiba’s Suspicion Grows in 10 Million Yen Gift Certificate Leak: Hunt for Leaker and Mastermind

High-Stakes Mahjong Shops Make a Comeback in Kabukicho After Apartment Mahjong Fades

Exclusive Sneak Peek at Osaka/Kansai Expo: Impossible to Complete in Time

Shocking Eyewitness Accounts from Neighbors at the Dojima River Body Discovery Scene in Osaka

Man Who Went Into Debt for Super Chats Reveals His Emotional Struggles

Exhaustion and Reflection: A Reporter’s Two-Day Experience at the Aichi Expo 2005

After restructuring at the age of 50, he became a “200 millionaire”… What a Legendary Investor Wants to Tell People Starting to Invest

From an “Ordinary Company Employee” to 200 Million Yen in Total Assets… Investor whose new book is the talk of the town reveals his “past of losing big in FX

Don’t demand quality from your part-timers! Soon 80% of customer service will no longer be necessary… The future of customer service, which is becoming increasingly mechanized and automated.

A 29-year-old firefighter, who posed as the son of a woman in her 80s, stared at the press and took a photo.

Behind the Birth of “Prime Minister Yuichiro Tamaki” of the Democratic Party of Japan, “Political Influence” of Claiming Innocence by “Former Adulterous Partner Resumes SNS Activities

A 24-Year-Old Beauty Who is inundated with Offers at Dating Clubs Speaks “Face to Face” about the Realities of “Money and Love” for Girls in the Papa’s Life

Dr. Kopa Battling Pancreatic Cancer Dedicates Himself to YouTube and Feng Shui Experiment

Despite Low Approval Ishiba Prime Minister Towel & Handkerchief Sales Soar at the National Diet Building

Man Who Molested Women on Saikyo Line Reveals Own Sexual Victimization in Court

The Real Reason Behind the Post-War Surge of Panpan Prostitutes

Post-War Ueno’s Pampan Women: The Rise of Kakiya, Nameya, and Tachi Asobi

[Honjo Insurance Murder] Shigeru Yagi Speaks Out 25 Years on Death Row

Former Big Motor Employee Forced to Resign After One Month Parents Speak Out About Son’s Tragic Death

Rakuten Securities’ Response to the Surge in Unauthorized Trading Incidents

Election Watcher Chidai Sounds the Alarm on Takashi Tachibana After Victory Against the NHK Party

From the Employment Ice Age to True Poverty: The 100 Million Yen Quest to Escape a Black Company

Tokyo’s Oji Residential Area Faces Community Collapse Due to Ongoing Minpaku Issues