 Takeo Ketsu

 [Playback] looks back at what this magazine reported 10, 20, and 30 years ago. In this installment, we examine the events that followed reports 10 years ago regarding the then-Emperor’s “intention to abdicate while still alive.” It is said there were certain circumstances behind the reports.

[Playback &#8217;16] The &#8220;Imperial House Law&#8221; Remains the Sticking Point&#8230; The &#8220;Inside Story&#8221; Behind Reports of the Emperor Emeritus&#8217;s &#8220;Intention to Abdicate While Still Alive&#8221;

 Daisuke Iwasaki

 These days, more and more people are turning to AI for advice on everything, but one go-getter has emerged who used AI to outmaneuver real estate agents and buy a home for 6.2 million yen less than the market price. We asked this self-proclaimed “IT novice” for his secrets.

&#8220;It&#8217;s More Expensive Than the Market Price&#8221;: An &#8220;IT-Illiterate&#8221; Salaryman Who Used AI to Buy His Dream Home for 6.2 Million Yen Less Than Listed

 Hironori Jinno (Nonfiction Writer)

 Afro (First Photo)

 The Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly has been the target of widespread criticism… From city council members to prefectural assembly members to national Diet members, they’re all cut from the same cloth. There were other politicians who held political fundraising parties while the Kumamoto earthquake was unfolding—as one scandal after another comes to light, will they be able to root out all the corruption?

Other Politicians Also Held Political Fundraising Parties Amid the Kumamoto Earthquake… Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly Exposes a “Den of Corruption”

 Money writer and financial planner. After working as a market analyst at a securities firm, he became independent in 1996. He writes articles on finance and asset management, primarily for business and economic magazines.His books include *The First-Year Guide to Robo-Advisor Investing* and *Easy to Understand with Plenty of Illustrations! The Definitive Guide to Making Money with Cashless Payments*. ■X (formerly Twitter) → @1847mattsuu

 Kenji Matsuoka

 Mayumi Abe

 Net Worth Over 12 Trillion Yen! The creator of the blockbuster mutual fund “Orukan” reveals the untold story behind its creation. We explore the ultimate long-term investment mindset needed to aim for “hundred-million-yen wealth” through “set-it-and-forget-it investing” under the new NISA system, without being swayed by market volatility.

12 Trillion Yen in Net Worth! The Creator of the “Orkan”—a Huge Hit on NISA—Reveals the Secrets to Becoming a Millionaire with a Hands-Off Approach

 Pasya/Aflo

 Defendant Takashi Tachibana was arrested and indicted last November on charges of defamation against former Hyogo Prefectural Assembly member Hideaki Takeuchi. Although he has been in custody at the Kobe Detention Center for nearly nine months, he appears to be more defiant than ever……

Takashi Tachibana Plans Hyogo Assembly Bid Next Spring as His Bail Application Is Rejected

 “Find balance in life through yoga”—under this slogan, a yoga organization that has attracted female clients nationwide is now embroiled in a financial dispute involving its customers.

Dozens Left in Limbo After Popular Yoga School Abruptly Cancels Retreats and Fails to Issue Refunds

 “Meal skipping”—such as eating only one meal a day—is becoming increasingly common in Japan. While it may seem like a healthy practice that doesn’t put a strain on the body, if a state of starvation becomes chronic, “simply eating can put your life at risk.” A warning from the medical community

Skipping Meals Can Be Dangerous: Hairdresser Rushed to the Hospital After Eating Due to Refeeding Syndrome

 Ryo Nakahira

 Shinji Hasuo (Defendant Tanaka)

 A trial for a murder case that took place in ’25. The defendant was the wife of the victim’s eldest son. What was the “motive” that led her—who claimed she had been treated worse than a cat by her family for 10 years—to kill her mother-in-law?

[Video Released] Murder, a Body Hidden Under the Floor, and 10 Years of Living Hell Inside a Tormented Family

 Tsuyoshi Kinugawa

 LDP Personnel Shuffle Expected by Early September… A Surprising Yet Convincing Politician Suddenly Emerges as the New Secretary-General!

 The latest developments in the LDP Secretary-General appointment, which surfaced following the August 15 visit to Yasukuni Shrine. We delve into the full picture of the “LDP’s first female Secretary-General”—a prospect rapidly gaining traction amid the rift between Prime Minister Takaichi and party headquarters, as well as considerations for the Aso faction.

Useless Secretary-General? Behind Shunichi Suzuki’s Possible Replacement, Takaichi Eyes a Historic First

 Shinji Hasuo, Ryo Nakahira (at the scene of the abandonment)

 On August 12, a 33-year-old Vietnamese man was re-arrested on suspicion of abandoning the body of a 91-year-old woman in a wooded area in Hanno City. Here’s a look at the man’s utterly reckless criminal behavior—he had previously been arrested on July 31 after causing an accident in a stolen car.

“I Was Hungry” — The Shocking Alleged Crime of a Vietnamese Suspect Accused of Killing a 91-Year-Old Woman

 Money writer and financial planner.<br /><br />
After working as a market analyst at a securities firm, he became independent in 1996. He writes articles on finance and asset management, primarily for business and economic magazines.His books include *The First-Year Guide to Robo-Advisor Investing* and *Easy to Understand with Plenty of Illustrations! The Book That Guarantees You’ll Save Money with Cashless Payments*. ■X (formerly Twitter) → @1847mattsuu

 Kyodo News

 Social Media Investment Scams Stealing 440 Million Yen a Day! In fact, cases involving people in their 30s and 40s—the working-age population—are surging. An expert provides a thorough explanation of the reality behind the increasingly sophisticated traps set by fake “millionaire” users, along with the “final verification steps” to avoid being scammed.

Think You Can’t Be Scammed? The SNS Investment Fraud Sweeping Through Japan’s 30s and 40s

 Jiji Press (1st and 4th photos)

 As the number of victims of sophisticated fraud schemes continues to rise, a reporter from this magazine infiltrated a group chat operated by Tokuryu, a Southeast Asia-based organization. Videos and photos of assaults and torture against “traitors” were shared, revealing how the group maintains control over its members through fear.

Lured by High-Paying Jobs, Then Imprisoned and Tortured: Inside the Reign of Terror of a Tokuryū Crime Syndicate

 Izumi Nakagawa

 Afro

 “Created by Aliens!?” The Mystery of Corn That Can’t Reproduce on Its Own. We explore the history of breeding spanning thousands of years and the astonishing potential of “corn-wheat”—a new variety created in 2025 to save us from the food crisis caused by extreme weather.

Made by Aliens?! The Mystery of Corn—and the New Variety Born in 2025 That Could Help Save Us From a Food Crisis

 There have been new developments regarding the “road that has remained unopened for 56 years” in Chiba Prefecture, which served as the backdrop for a scandal that rocked the political world. The head of a local construction company—who was at the center of the controversy—set fire to his own office. We delve into the truth behind the situation.

Key Figure in the Amari Scandal Torches His Own Site Office—The Strange Story Behind a Road Stalled for 56 Years

 Sayuri Saito

 Will your medical history and social media posts be shared with companies “without your consent”? The horror of the “Amended Personal Information Protection Act,” passed under the guise of AI development. We delve into the dark side of this worst-case legislative amendment—which leaves individuals completely exposed with zero right to refuse—and the shadows of a surveillance society created through data matching.

Your Medical History, Social Media, and Personal Data—Taken Without Your Consent? Inside the Worst Legal Reform

 As rising prices cause the “1,000-yen barrier” for dining out to crumble, three experts in “B-grade gourmet” cuisine engage in a thorough debate on the best value meals from various chains, including beef bowls, sushi, Chinese food, and eel. They selected Hidaka-ya as the top choice for light summer meals and Una-toto for hearty meals.

The ¥1,000 Price Barrier Is Breaking—Here Are the Best-Bang-for-Your-Buck Summer Meals

 Patients Who “Just Want Medication” and Clinics That “Just Dispense Medication”… A Good Doctor Doesn’t Simply Give In to Patient Requests

 The practice of prescribing medication without conducting tests is gradually becoming more widespread, but prescribing indiscriminately without drawing blood is extremely dangerous. “Convenience store clinics” carry a high risk of falling into this trap… When convenience takes precedence, these clinics are increasingly being used in ways that deviate from their intended purpose.

Four Doctors Reveal the Hidden Risks of Japan’s Convenience Store Clinics

 Prescriptions and Treatment Plans That “Vary Between Morning and Afternoon,” “Crucial Information Overlooked” in Online Consultations—Patients with Leukemia, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, and Cerebral Infarction Referred to Psychiatry…

 Open for appointments at 9 p.m., on weekends, and on holidays; with appointments booked via LINE and minimal wait times… So-called “convenience store clinics,” which prioritize convenience above all else, are gaining prominence. However, practicing doctors warn that dangers lurk behind this convenience.

The Horror of the “Doctor Gacha” Currently Unfolding in Japan [A Roundtable Discussion by Four Practicing Physicians Using Their Real Names] Part 1

 Junpei Kotaka

 Stickers priced at 300 yen are being listed for over 10,000 yen. More and more children are being left unable to buy merchandise...

 Noto Airport opened on July 7, and limited-edition Pokémon merchandise has become a hot topic. Stickers with a list price of 300 yen are being resold for over 10,000 yen, and even with a one-item-per-customer limit, items are selling out one after another. Visitor numbers have quadrupled in the first week since the airport opened.

The World’s First Pokémon Airport Has Become a Gold Mine for Scalpers

 [Playback] looks back at what this magazine reported 10, 20, and 30 years ago. This time, we focus on “Providence,” a religious group that caused a stir in Japan in 2006. This magazine had obtained a list of women in the founder’s “Joy Group.”

[Playback &#8217;06] The Doctrine Is to Have Sex with the Founder… List of the “Joy Group” from a South Korean “Cult” Obtained by This Magazine

 Dark Clouds of “Selling Japan” Caused by Takaichi’s Tax Cuts

 Behind the tension at Yohei Kono’s memorial service lay fierce internal conflict within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) over the “food consumption tax cut” decided by Prime Minister Takaichi. With backlash from party heavyweights like Taro Kono and a lack of alternative funding sources, will we see a resurgence of “Japan selling” in the markets or a repeat of the “Truss shock”?

Behind the Scenes of Yohei Kono’s Memorial Service: Chief Mourner Taro Kono’s “Act of Defiance” and the Party Split Caused by the “Takashi Administration’s Tax Cuts Without Funding”

 Photos courtesy of various sources

 This summer, baby animals are being born one after another at zoos and aquariums across the country. Analysts say the so-called “baby economic effect”—which drives increases in visitor numbers, merchandise sales, and even helps cultivate future fans—is a major pillar of support for these facilities’ operations.

The Baby Animal Effect: How Adorable New Arrivals Are Transforming Japan’s Zoos and Aquariums

 Wakako Taka

 Escaping Tokyo… The Story of a Couple in Their 50s and Their “5.2 Million Yen Home” [Part 1]

 A couple in their 50s, disheartened by Tokyo’s 250,000-yen monthly rent, chose a 5.2-million-yen, 50-year-old pre-owned single-family home in Chiba. Behind their decision to buy on the spot after just one viewing was their unique philosophy: “A home is something you’re given.” We delve into the true meaning behind this ultimate choice.

Goodbye, ¥250,000 Rent! The 50-Something Couple Who Bought a Used House for Just ¥5.2 Million

 Wakako Ta

 Escaping Tokyo… The Story of a Couple in Their 50s and Their “5.2 Million Yen Home” [Part 2]

 A couple in their 50s, fed up with Tokyo’s skyrocketing rent, bought a 5.2 million yen pre-owned single-family home in Chiba. We take a closer look at their smart financial plan—deliberately taking out a mortgage to preserve cash on hand—and the reality of their dual-location lifestyle, made possible by DIY. A New Optimal Solution for Those in Their 40s and Older!

News

[Playback ’16] The “Imperial House Law” Remains the Sticking Point… The “Inside Story” Behind Reports of the Emperor Emeritus’s “Intention to Abdicate While Still Alive”

“It’s More Expensive Than the Market Price”: An “IT-Illiterate” Salaryman Who Used AI to Buy His Dream Home for 6.2 Million Yen Less Than Listed