 Yuuki Okukubo

 Kyodo News (Obara suspect), Yuuki Okukubo (crime scene)

 The body of a mutilated infant was found in the waiting room of a dispatch-type brothel in Kinshicho, Tokyo. A "colleague" of the arrested former female employee revealed the suspect's suspicious behavior after the incident.

Former Colleagues Speak Out After Adult Worker Arrested in Infant Mutilation Case

 Tetsudo Takehiro

 In mid-December, while some 60 investigators were on high alert, the head of the Yamaguchigumi VI, Shinobu Tsukasa, appeared in kimono. On that day, he visited the headquarters of the Shimizu Family, an affiliate of the Yamaguchigumi, to report the inside story of the "Jikki-Meeting," which was revived for the first time in seven years.

Top Yamaguchi-gumi Leaders Convene in Broad Daylight; Boss Tsukasa Appears in Traditional Dress

 Kyodo News

 Tombstone 2025] This year, too, a national star, a famous actor, and a famous host have passed away. We bring you his words of regret along with his treasured photos.

 Ishiba said, "I have been a politician for 40 years, but I have never met a prime minister like Mr. Murayama. Even in Nagata-cho, there was no one who disliked him. He fondly remembers the character of Tomiichi Murayama as a man of honesty, sincerity, simplicity, and open-mindedness.

In Memoriam &#8217;25] Shigeru Ishiba looks back on Prime Minister Murayama: &#8220;Honest and sincere&#8230; there was no one who could say they disliked him.

 Hiroyuki Komatsu (1st), Takahiro Kagawa (3rd)

 In this issue of Playback, we look back at what we reported 10, 20, and 30 years ago. The "Tochigi Elementary School Girl Murder Case" occurred in December 2005. At first, a lot of information was received and the case seemed to be solved quickly. ......

Playback &#8217;05] &#8220;The Murder of a Tochigi Elementary School Girl&#8221;: The unexpected end to a heinous case that seemed to have been solved quickly.

 Diceke Takahashi

 The popular MBTI is a fake! A professor at Waseda University sounds the alarm about the true nature of diagnoses that have no scientific basis. What is the risk of "modern-day blood type discrimination" contaminating job hunting and love? The dangerous truth of the heated blood type boom is approached.

The popular MBTI was a &#8220;fake&#8221;! The true nature of the &#8220;personality assessment boom with no scientific basis&#8221; that is polluting human relationships.

 Motoko Abekawa is a freelance writer mainly for the web. She is also involved in the production of books and corporate PR magazines. She does not specialize in any particular field, but covers a wide range of topics that intrigue her, including history, comedy, health, beauty, travel, gourmet food, and nursing care.

 Motoko Abekawa

 From the hell where 24 million melted down to 1.6 million to 330 million yen in assets. The ghost story teller and honey trap Umeki reveals the secret of "air trading" that allows you to win with zero yen. Even salarymen can become millionaires with this "30 minutes in the morning" investment technique!

24 million melted down to 1.6 million&#8230; A ghost story teller who saw hell made 330 million yen by &#8220;zero yen trade&#8221;.

 Yoshio Tsunoda/Afro (Mr. Tachibana), Takeshi Kinugawa (Mr. Otsu)

 The defendant Takashi Tachibana, leader of the "NHK Party," was arrested on suspicion of defamation. His request for bail was also denied, but there is another "serious case" that is likely to hunt him down. ......

Takashi Tachibana, the defendant, suddenly started &#8220;debt consolidation&#8221;&#8230; behind the scenes, authorities are investigating &#8220;another serious case&#8221;.

 Hiroyuki Komatsu (1st photo)

 Tombstone Epitaph 2025] Another year, another national star, famous actor, and emcee has passed away. We bring you his words of regret along with his treasured photos.

 Until just before his death, Takuro Morinaga was writing energetically, publishing about 10 books in one year. Mayumi Kurata said she felt he was determined to write down everything he knew. She describes him as a hardworking, erudite, but mischievous person with an endearing charm.

In Memoriam &#8217;25] Mayumi Kurata felt &#8220;Takuro Morinaga&#8217;s determination&#8221; as he wrote energetically until just before his death.

 Daisuke Iwasaki

 Two months have passed since Sanae Takaichi became prime minister. Despite her high approval rating, some members of the Prime Minister's Office and those around the PM are distrustful of the PM's comments. This is the latest in-depth report from Nagatacho.

High approval rating, but serious discrepancy with the public? Prime Minister Takaichi calls a senior official of The Japan Innovation Party &#8220;this guy,&#8221; and people around him are shocked.

 Nakahira Ryo

 Shinji Hasuo

 A man was arrested for selling fake Ukiyo-e paintings on the Internet and swindled buyers out of about 1.2 million yen. There are many problems with online auctions, but is it possible to recover the money that was swindled? We asked a lawyer.

Fake Ukiyo-e Sale Lands Man in Trouble – What This Case Teaches About Online Auctions

 A man was arrested in Tokyo for attempting to import the largest quantity of "zombie cigarettes," or etomidate, from Thailand. What is the reason why this product, which became popular in Okinawa, has finally started to spread in Tokyo?

“It Will Spread in Tokyo Too” – The Rise of Zombie Tobacco After Massive Seizure

 Mika Yanagihara (nonfiction writer)

 Courtesy of the bereaved family

 There was the first trial of an accident that claimed the life of a one-year-old toddler. The defendant's car veered into oncoming traffic and collided with the victim's car. The family in the car was killed or injured. Nonfiction writer Mika Yanagihara provides images of the moment of the accident and the family's voice [Part 2].

Family Furious at Defendant’s Outrageous Actions After Fatal Crash Claims One-Year-Old Son

 There was the first trial of an accident that claimed the life of a one-year-old toddler. The defendant's car veered into oncoming traffic and collided with the victim's car. The family in the car was killed or injured. Nonfiction writer Mika Yanagihara provides images of the moment of the accident and the family's voice [Part 1].

Family Speaks Out on Deadly Accident That Claimed One-Year-Old, Shares Shocking Images

 Hiroyuki Sasaki (Entertainment Journalist)

 Pasya/Afro

 Takashi Tachibana, the leader of the "Protect the People from NHK" party, was arrested and indicted on suspicion of defamation. His request for bail was denied, but at the same time, a comment made by an NHK Party city councilor caused a stir. ......

NHK Party Councilor’s Comment Sparks Pressure Allegations From Detained Tachibana

 Born in 1970. After graduating from college, he joined a chain of mass retail clothing stores and became a reporter for a textile trade newspaper in 1997. 2003: After retiring, he worked in public relations for a T-shirt apparel manufacturer, as a magazine editor, in sales for a large exhibition organizer, and in public relations for a fashion college. Currently, he works as a freelance textile industry writer and PR advisor.

 Mitsuhiro Minami

 Farewell Skinny, Farewell Cheap Down...' For 25 years, two "national staples" have completely disappeared from UNIQLO. We explain the surprising reason why even mild yankees have left, and the "desperate behind-the-scenes situation" that makes it impossible to buy down clothing for less than 10,000 yen.

Goodbye Skinny Jeans, Goodbye Cheap Down Jackets — Why Uniqlo Removed Two Iconic Staples in 2025

 A man was arrested for trying to smuggle about 1 kg of marijuana liquid hidden in a clay dish. The amount of marijuana liquid seized has increased dramatically over the past two to three years. Why are marijuana liquids so popular among young people? A former drug enforcement officer explains.

Why Smugglers Are Turning to Cannabis Liquid Instead of Leaves

 KIKUCHI Masayuki

 After crossing the Pacific Ocean, they followed the long voyage from North America to South America.

 192 elite cadets of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, after graduating from the National Defense Academy of Japan, spent five months on a voyage across the Pacific Ocean and South America. The film shows the true faces of these cadets, who will bear responsibility for Japan's national defense, including a female cadet who aspires to be a submarine pilot and a young man who wants to become a patrol aircraft pilot, amidst a training ship where strict instructions are given to the cadets.

Five Months, 56,000 km at Sea – JMSDF’s Young Elite Under the Spotlight

 A defendant accused of attempted murder and violation of the Firearms Law was sentenced to 12 years in prison for stabbing and injuring five passengers with a kitchen knife on the JR Yamanote Line train in January 2012. The trial was told at .......

27-Year-Old Woman’s Life Story Uncovered Amid Yamanote Line Stabbing Trial

 JMPA

 Princess Kako is actively carrying out her official duties. Pundits predict that she will be as busy next year as she was this year. There are also expectations for her marriage. A sudden announcement of their engagement is also a possibility. On the other hand, what about her "life afterwards"?

Princess Kako Faces Another Busy Year, Possible Sudden Engagement Raises Concerns About Life After Marriage

 Shinsuke Sakai

 The Prince Group, a giant Cambodian conglomerate that has been recognized by the U.S. as one of Asia's largest "transnational criminal organizations," has been charged by the FBI with having held a "huge party" in Shirokane, Tokyo. A senior executive of the group, who was arrested in Taiwan in November of this year, held an event at a famous wedding hall in Tokyo in December 2010.

FBI-Indicted Prince Group Throws Massive Tokyo Party — Exclusive Photos

 Kyodo

 Maki Takubo, the former mayor of Ito City, was defeated in the rerun election for the office of mayor due to the issue of her "academic fraud. However, her ambitions seem to be far from over. ......

Former Ito Mayor Maki Takubo Considers Celebrity Career After Election Loss

 Shikama Aki

 Japanese people are denied to get on a bus with a coffee in one hand? The embarrassing etiquette violations that Japanese people tend to commit when traveling in Korea, and the surprising trap of having your airport photo taken as a "military secret". The pitfalls of going completely cashless, and other new knowledge you must know before you travel to Korea.

Japanese Tourists Shocked by Korea’s Strict Bus Etiquette — Coffee in Hand Gets You Denied!

 Sayuri Saito

 Afro

 A 500-yen ticket is reduced to 440 yen with a handling fee? The astonishing mechanism of the rice coupon, which has been criticized as a "waste of taxpayers' money". The shocking fact that the expense ratio is more than 10% and the alleged profit inducement to JA are thoroughly explained, as well as the reasons why Mayor Katano of Fukuoka City and others have rejected the idea.

Taxpayer Money Wasted? Agriculture Minister Suzuki’s Rice Voucher Sparks Backlash

 Yuuki Okukubo (freelance writer)

 Jiji Press (3rd photo)

 Fake pornography is made by combining the faces of celebrities with existing pornographic videos. In the past, victims were often celebrities, but in recent years, ordinary elementary and high school students are increasingly becoming victims.

News

Former Colleagues Speak Out After Adult Worker Arrested in Infant Mutilation Case

Top Yamaguchi-gumi Leaders Convene in Broad Daylight; Boss Tsukasa Appears in Traditional Dress

In Memoriam ’25] Shigeru Ishiba looks back on Prime Minister Murayama: “Honest and sincere… there was no one who could say they disliked him.

Playback ’05] “The Murder of a Tochigi Elementary School Girl”: The unexpected end to a heinous case that seemed to have been solved quickly.

The popular MBTI was a “fake”! The true nature of the “personality assessment boom with no scientific basis” that is polluting human relationships.

24 million melted down to 1.6 million… A ghost story teller who saw hell made 330 million yen by “zero yen trade”.

Takashi Tachibana, the defendant, suddenly started “debt consolidation”… behind the scenes, authorities are investigating “another serious case”.

In Memoriam ’25] Mayumi Kurata felt “Takuro Morinaga’s determination” as he wrote energetically until just before his death.

High approval rating, but serious discrepancy with the public? Prime Minister Takaichi calls a senior official of The Japan Innovation Party “this guy,” and people around him are shocked.