 A surprising university has topped the list for the first time this spring, beating such prestigious universities as Waseda University, Meiji University, and Kinki University, which always have the highest number of applicants. It is Chiba Institute of Technology in Narashino City, Chiba Prefecture. How did this little-known university come in first place? Experts point out the factors behind its rapid growth and the challenges it faces.

Record-Breaking Applicants Excluding Waseda — The Surprising University That Tops Meiji and Kinki

 Akira Ikoma

 History of the Amendment of the Entertainment Establishments Control Law

 The major revision of the Entertainment Establishments Control Law in 1984 was an epoch-making event that established the general framework of the sex industry up to the present. However, it lacked an important perspective, according to sex industry journalist Akira Ikoma.

1984 Overhaul of Japan’s Entertainment Law — Targeting New Adult Entertainment from No-Panties Cafés to Lucky Holes

 The "Revised" History of the Entertainment Establishments Control Law (Part 2)

 The 1984 amendment to the Entertainment Establishments Control Law imposed space restrictions that had been in place only for Turkish baths, and also prohibited the rebuilding of establishments. Furthermore, no-pants cafes will no longer be allowed to operate. The impact of these changes can be seen at .......

From Wiped-Out Cafés to Booming Fashion Health — The Impact of the 1984 Entertainment Law Reform

 Shiroshi Midori

 Shinji Hasuo (1st to 6th photos), Midori Shirakami (7th to 9th photos)

 A general store owner and his wife were arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana for sale at a store in Asakusa Underground, said to be the oldest underground shopping mall in Japan. The scene of the crime was a store with a rather unique atmosphere combined with its retro location. We asked a neighbor about the store's reputation.

Cannabis Case in Asakusa Underground — Suspect’s Shop Shows Questionable Plants on Sign

 Noriyuki Kanda

 Yoshiko Souishi

 The Yoshiwara brothels are also depicted in the NHK historical drama "Belabo: Tsutaju Eika No Yume Banashi. In Fukuhara, Kobe, a colorful town to the west that rivals Yoshiwara, there is a legendary soap operative. She is also a "soap teacher" who teaches her skills to prostitutes.

[Full Text] Legendary Soapland Worker Fukuhara Reveals Her Secrets and Pride — Breaking Bad Habits to Protect the Girls

 The "FC Barcelona" authorized academy was found to have been involved in an untransparent transfer of business. The problem is not limited to the management company that transferred the business, but has developed to the point of involving the Katsushika Ward Office and the ward assembly that invited the academy. What is it all about? ......

“Did the Ward Really Not Know?” Inside the Opaque Business Transfer at FC Barcelona’s Official Academy

 Reuters/Afro

 South Korean society is on shaky ground. Kim Keon-hee, the wife of the former president of South Korea, has been arrested on 16 charges. The total amount of luxury brand goods she received from supporters and others is said to exceed 20 million yen. What is the tragic end of Kim's life as a result of these unprecedented charges?

South Korea’s Former First Lady Suspected of Taking ¥20 Million in Luxury Goods

 Shinji Hasuo

 A 26-year-old man was arrested for threatening to post online that former AKB member Ayaki Murayama and her family would be "massacred to death." He was arrested last year for a similar post. Why did the man repeat his mistake?

The Reason an Unemployed Man Arrested for Threatening a Former AKB Idol Repeatedly Posted Murder Threats Online

 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

 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

 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. ......

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