 Kumiko Kato

 Automotive journalist Kumiko Kato delves into a massive fraud case in the used car sales industry.

 Another allegation of fraud has surfaced in the used car sales industry. This time, 80 people were affected, and the total cost of the fraud was more than 400 million yen. Automotive journalist Kumiko Kato takes a close look at the inside story.

Senior Management Dreams of Collecting Billions of Dollars and Going Planned Bankrupt&#8230;More than ¥400 Million in Damages Caused by &#8220;Used-Car Fraud

 Shinji Hasuo

 An 88-year-old defendant was sentenced to 24 years in prison. He set fire to his room and shot at a doctor and a police officer. He also locked up a woman and holed himself up in a post office. Experts say that the sentence is appropriate despite his advanced age. What was the motive for the crime?

The 88-year-old defendant was sentenced to 24 years in prison for &#8220;shooting at police officers and locking up two women.

 On May 30, the Imperial Household Agency officially announced the birth of their first child, Mako and Kei Komuro. However, the child's date of birth, gender, and the country of birth all remain a secret. The reporters voiced their dissatisfaction at the "unknown" nature of the announcement, but...

Mako Komuro’s First Child Born, But No Birth Date or Gender Revealed — The Akishino Family’s Unspoken Motives

 Born in 1979. Worked as an editor and writer for town magazines, travel books, and recipe books. Currently, as a web writer, he writes on a wide range of topics from decadence to traditional crafts. His life motto is "Sake is best drunk while walking". Shigeru Nekota's food blog, "I love quirky restaurants!

 Shigeru Nekota

 Two months after its opening, the Osaka Kansai Expo has been a great success. Osaka-based gourmet writer Shigeru Nekota offers some of the best deals and tasty information known only to those who visited the Expo.

How to Enjoy the Osaka-Kansai Expo for Free with No Wait — Insider Tips from an Osaka-Based Writer

 A group of people were arrested for repeatedly ripping off men by abusing a matching app for the disabled. The police investigation revealed that the suspects had a despicable criminal technique.

Scam Group Exploits Disabled Individuals with Overpriced Charges and Sauna Confinement

 Born in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Hiroyuki Sasaki became a reporter for FRIDAY at the age of 31, reporting numerous scoops during his time with FRIDAY and later working mainly for weekly magazines. Recently, he has been appearing on TV and radio as a commentator.

 Hiroyuki Sasaki

 Takeshi Kinugawa

 On May 27, the prefectural third-party committee investigating the leak of private information of former Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito announced that there is a strong possibility that the leakage of information was carried out at the direction of Governor Saito and others.

Governor Saito Under Fire, Refuses Criminal Action in Info Leak Scandal — Is His Iron Will Finally Cracking?

 Shikama Aki

 Reservation methods have changed, "reservations required" has become "reservations not required," and so on... Since the opening of the Expo, there have been frequent changes in the rules related to reservations for pavilions and other facilities. However, it is said that these information updates are often not reflected on the official Expo website.

Confusion at Osaka Expo: Unlisted Updates and Ever-Changing Rules Frustrate the Public

 Akira Ikoma

 Osaka's Godai Shinchi, which was rumored to have been exposed during the Expo, is still in business as usual. On the other hand, however, over the past 20 years or so, shoka-gai have been disappearing all over the country. The following is an account of the rise and fall of these "vanished 'chonen-machi'".

Tobita Shinchi Now Busier Than the Expo and the Lost Streets of the Vanished Short-Time Districts

 This is the second part of a series of articles on the "Chon-no-Ma" towns that have disappeared, written by Akira Ikoma, a sex journalist. This article introduces the "aftermath" of various "chon-no-ma," including examples where everything has been torn down and no trace remains, and others where the buildings are being used as tourist attractions.

The Unusual Aftermath of Japan’s Vanished Short-Time Districts

 Takero Shigumura (1st photo) Kazuhiko Nakamura (2nd photo)

 On May 15, the "funeral" of the late President Jiro Kiyota was held at Inagawa Kaikan in the suburbs of Yokohama City. More than 100 yakuza from all over Japan attended the service, and the first to arrive was Shinobu Tsukasa, head of the Yamaguchi Gumi VI. In the midst of the condolences, one change could be seen

Yamaguchi-gumi Leader Shinobu Tsukasa and New Wakagashira Attend Inagawa-kai Boss’s Funeral as Yakuza

 Naoyuki Miyashita (Nonfiction writer)

 The opposition parties submitted a bill at the end of May, and the House of Representatives Legal Affairs Committee finally began deliberations on the issue.

[Exclusive] Allegations Emerge Against Constitutional Democratic Party’s Naoko Shinoda for Overlooking Welfare Fraud

 Shinsuke Sakai

 Kyodo News

 Takashi Fujiwara, a former member of the House of Representatives and former LDP Youth Bureau chief, had lost a lawsuit against X Inc. The request was for the disclosure of information on X's postings that slandered him, but it was not approved. What was the reason?

Ex-LDP Youth Leader Loses Appeal in Defamation Disclosure Case Against X

 Ryo Nakahira

 On May 22, the second trial of a defendant accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl on her way home from buying a birthday present for her father was held. The defendant's repeated self-serving "excuses" and his "true motive" were revealed.

Defendant Who Assaulted 8-Year-Old Girl on Her Way Home From Buying a Birthday Gift for Her Father Offers Appalling Excuses in Court

 Junpei Kota

 A string of tire derailment accidents have been reported across Japan. What can be done to prevent them? A tire professional explains the proper way to change tires and the risks associated with poor maintenance.

DIY Tire Changes Are Risky: Nationwide Spike in Cars Falling Off Jacks — Causes and Prevention Tips Explained

 Blank Green

 The owners of a convenience store in Kabukicho were arrested for illegally purchasing 100 million yen worth of cigarettes. It is believed that they were trying to resell the cigarettes, but in recent years, the resale of cigarettes mainly to China has been thriving. We explored the reasons for this.

Convenience Store Owner Arrested for Buying ¥100 Million in Cigarettes — The Reason Japanese Tobacco Is Booming Among Chinese Resellers

 An incident occurred in the Omiya area where many girls gather. A 32-year-old man called "Sensei" allegedly locked a teenage girl in a multipurpose toilet and sexually assaulted her. There have been multiple reports of sexual assaults in the Omiya area. This is the dangerous reality of the gathering.

Teenage Girl Allegedly Assaulted in Multipurpose Restroom — Ōmiya Sensei Lured Victim Under Guise of Caregiving in Shocking Crime

 Hiroyuki Komatsu (1st photo)

 In this issue of Playback, we take a look back at what this magazine reported 10, 20, and 30 years ago. In May 2005, a man was arrested on suspicion of confining and assaulting a woman. We look back at the case of the man who was called "the prince of confinement.

The Twisted Crimes and Disturbing Fetishes of Japan’s Infamous Confinement Prince

 After working as a money writer, financial planner, and market analyst for a securities company, Matsuoka became independent in 1996. Wrote 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! Cashless Payments: The Book That Will Definitely Benefit You".

 Kenji Matsuoka

 Afro

 The banking industry is on a roll, as evidenced by the recently announced financial results. The three megabanks have posted the highest net income for three consecutive years. What is the interest on the BOJ's "excess reserves" that the BOJ is pumping back into the banking industry like a "subsidy"?

Almost a Waste of Taxpayer Money&#8221; &#8211; Why the BOJ is Still &#8220;Subsidizing&#8221; Banks Despite Megabanks&#8217; Highest Profits

 From "I Liked You, I Had to Kill You

 The "middleman" of the case compilation website "Jiken Bimonenroku" has published "Liked You, Had to Kill Me" (co-authored by Mizuho Takagi, Tetsujinsha), which picks up cases related to love between a man and a woman. From the book, "Encouraging Woman" is introduced.

Wishing you good luck&#8230; The &#8220;true purpose&#8221; of the &#8220;ex-girlfriend&#8221; sex worker who made a man decide to kill a prostitute

 From "You I Loved, I Had to Kill

 A wife who had been called a "maggot" and beaten by her husband for many years finally stabbed him. However, the crime led to unexpected consequences. ......

A wife who was called a &#8220;maggot&#8221; finally decides to take revenge&#8230; The &#8220;ironic result&#8221; of stabbing her verbally abusive and violent husband

 Sayuri Saito

 I am half hopeful and half concerned about Minister Koizumi," said Michiharu Oizumi, professor emeritus at Miyagi University. However, even if stockpiled rice released under a voluntary contract is priced at the 2,000-yen level, it does not mean that the price of rice as a whole will fall.

Rice Prices Set to Stay High Until Next Year’s Harvest as Market Polarization Deepens

 Former NHK announcer Matomo Ushida, who is running for the upper house of the National Democratic Party of Japan this summer, gave a speech at JR Hamamatsucho Station on May 25 with Yuichiro Tamaki, the party's representative, and others. Ushida has yet to make any significant comments, but there is a reason for that...

Why Former NHK Announcer Maatomo Ushida Struggles to Stand Out in Street Speeches Despite Her Charisma

 A group of executives who operated fake dating sites and swindled women out of as much as 5.3 billion yen in cash has been arrested. When they received complaints from victims, they refunded a portion of the money and made the victims write an affidavit saying that they would not consult the police. This is their ingenious criminal technique.

¥5.3 Billion Scam Group Exposed — How They Used Fake Dating Sites and No-Police Pledges to Trap Victims

 Fuji Media Holdings has announced plans to appoint new directors, and while the general shareholders' meeting in June is attracting attention, the fact that President Shimizu has suggested that former directors who "left" the company due to a series of controversies will be "sent down from heaven" is causing turmoil. The company's June general shareholders' meeting is attracting attention.

News

Senior Management Dreams of Collecting Billions of Dollars and Going Planned Bankrupt…More than ¥400 Million in Damages Caused by “Used-Car Fraud

The 88-year-old defendant was sentenced to 24 years in prison for “shooting at police officers and locking up two women.