 Mika Yanagihara (Journalist)

 Courtesy of the bereaved family and others

 A verdict has been handed down in the case of a 1-year-old toddler who died in an accident caused by “distracted driving.” The defendant was sentenced to four years in prison. The bereaved family commented that the verdict “causes further suffering to the victim.” Journalist Mika Yanagihara, who covered the trial, details the accident and the defendant’s absurd testimony in court.

Toddler Dies in Crash, Defendant Gets Four Years—Then Claims He Changed Clothes While Driving About 48 Times

 Kei Kato (On-site photo) Jiji Press (Mayor Matsui)

 In a residential neighborhood in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, a mountain of industrial waste approximately 8 meters high—nearly as tall as a three-story apartment building—is plaguing local residents. Residents suffering from dust, noise, and vibrations have voiced their concerns, and the City of Kyoto continues to issue administrative guidance to the contractor. Our magazine interviewed the company’s CEO directly.

A Mountain of Industrial Waste Towers Over Homes Near Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari—Residents Furious Over Dust

 Office worker and writer. An office worker and writer who explores Chinese restaurants in Tokyo. While attending university, he studied abroad for a year at Fudan University in Shanghai, where he became hooked on authentic Chinese cuisine. Currently, while working at an IT company, he explores newly opened Chinese restaurants, primarily in Tokyo.

 Asei

 The “Authentic Chinese Feast,” featuring dishes like “Whole Roasted Lamb” and limited-edition mapo tofu, is making waves after selling out in just one day following an announcement on social media. We explore why the casual atmosphere—where even a single person can enjoy dishes typically meant for large groups—and the chance to interact with the owner are driving young Japanese people wild.

Real Chinese Food Is Taking Japan by Storm—Inside the Banquet That Sold Out Overnight

 Tsuyoshi Kinugawa (Prime Minister Takaichi), Hiroyuki Komatsu (Mrs. Akie)

 A memorial service for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was held on July 11. Prime Minister Takaichi, who considers herself his “successor,” attended the event, but as for Mrs. Akie Abe, the former prime minister’s wife…

“Takaichi, Really?” Criticism Erupts Over Her Abe Speech—And Her Relationship With Akie Abe Raises Questions

 Sayuri Saito

 Afro

 Behind the phenomenon of new-crop rice failing to drop in price despite a surplus lie the agricultural cooperatives’ reluctance to sell and the wall of vested interests held by politicians and bureaucrats. An expert provides a thorough explanation of the mechanics of government intervention, which aims to maintain high prices while ignoring consumers.

Japan’s Rice Prices Stay High Despite Ample Supply—What’s Really Behind the ¥2,000 Rice Problem?

 Masahiro Kawayanagi

 On July 3, while investigators from the local Aichi and Hyogo Prefectural Police maintained a security presence, five top executives of the Sumiyoshi-kai visited the headquarters of the Hirai-ikka, a second-tier affiliate of the 6th-generation Yamaguchi-gumi. We captured exclusive photos of the meeting between the two groups, which was attended in person by Shinobu Tsukasa, the leader of the 6th-generation Yamaguchi-gumi.

Yamaguchi-gumi Boss Shinobu Tsukasa Personally Joins Outreach to 10 Major Groups—Exclusive Photos

 Izumi Nakagawa

 “Is a reduced workweek a burden?” The “10-year career wall” faced by working women. In response to this concern, SS Pharmaceutical, a long-established pain reliever manufacturer, has launched an unprecedented “AI career counseling” service. What is the goal of this new strategy to address the “emotional pain” that medicine cannot cure?

Can AI Ease the Pain Medicine Can’t? Inside a Pharma Giant’s Bold New Career Support Venture

 A trial was held at the Tokyo District Court for a man who responded to a post on an online message board asking, “Will you sexually assault a woman?” and proceeded to sexually assault a woman and steal her money. The trial revealed the man’s numerous despicable acts.

Ex-Boyfriend Allegedly Hired a Man to Rape Her for ¥30,000—What the Court Revealed

 Kyodo News (1st photo) Kazuhiko Nakamura

 On July 6, “Zento Shin,” a credit card early payment processing company, filed for quasi-bankruptcy. The company had business relationships with over 200,000 merchants, primarily restaurants and nightlife establishments, and this bankruptcy has plunged its affiliated merchants nationwide into a state of emergency

Zen Tōshin’s Collapse Leaves Victims in Despair as ¥115 Billion Bankruptcy Triggers a Financial Nightmare

 Shimei Kurita (Nonfiction Writer)

 Kyodo News (Komae Crime Scene) / Shinji Hasuo (Watanabe, Kojima)

 Art Students, Sex Workers, Daughters of Prominent Families… The True Faces of the Female Fraudsters Who Rose to Power

 Even now, more than four years after the “Rufi Group” committed its widespread robbery spree, fraud and robberies involving “black-market part-time jobs” continue unabated. The group consisted of just under 20 women, and its boss, Yuki Watanabe, skillfully manipulated the women in his organization.

Inside the Luffy Group—The Women Behind the Criminal Network Linked to ¥6 Billion in Losses

 The shockingly sloppy and brutal details of a heinous crime in which seven people, including a popular child actor, were arrested

 In April 2024, the charred bodies of a couple who ran a restaurant in Ueno, Tokyo, were found in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture. The lay judge trial for defendants Sasaki and Hirayama was held at the Tokyo District Court. What came to light were details that were incredibly sloppy and inhumane.

Inside the Takarajima Couple Murder Trial: Alleged Organizer and Broker’s Role Comes Under Scrutiny

 Shinji Hasuo (Haneda Airport)

 [Playback] looks back at what this magazine reported 10, 20, and 30 years ago. This time, we focus on a terrorist attack that occurred in Bangladesh in July 2016, 10 years ago. It was a tragic incident in which seven Japanese nationals lost their lives.

[Flashback ’16] Ignoring Pleas for Help… The Brutal Scene of the “Dhaka Restaurant Terror Attack”

 Kyodo News

 The three major convenience store chains are locked in a fierce battle over chilled and retort-packaged curries. Which one has succeeded in developing the “ultimate curry” that’s so addictive you’ll want more after just one bite? Here, we introduce the ultimate curry selected by a panel of experts.

Which &#8220;Convenience Store Curry&#8221; Is the Best? Introducing the &#8220;Ultimate Choice&#8221; Selected by Four Experts

 Which curry is truly the best at 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson? Four curry experts taste-test and judge. We reveal the little-known differences in quality among the three major convenience store chains and present a ranking of the ultimate bowls.

[The 2026 Convenience Store Curry War] Experts Engage in an In-Depth Debate Over the “Ultimate Bowl” That’s Addictive After Just One Bite!

 Aki Shikama

 Don’t give up on travel even with a weak yen and high prices! Travel pros reveal insider tips for overseas travel, such as “skipping the capital” and “booking flights from Seoul.” From hidden gem accommodations in regional areas away from the tourist crowds to tips on using low-cost carriers (LCCs), we’ll guide you through the secrets to traveling smartly with the best value for your money.

Forget Seoul and Okinawa—Travel Experts Share Their Favorite Budget-Friendly Alternatives

 Hiroto Kato, NoriFoodTrip (3rd photo)

 As sales of “Tesla” surge, delivery-related incidents are on the rise. In late June, it was revealed that a large-scale vehicle delivery had taken place after the company occupied a parking lot managed by the City of Yokohama. Automotive journalist Kumiko Kato delves into the issue

Tesla&#8217;s Surprise Car Deliveries Sparked Outrage in Yokohama—The Inside Story Behind the Port Trouble

 Ryo Nakahira

 Shinji Hasuo

 On July 17, a verdict will be handed down to a 75-year-old man who murdered his 29-year-old live-in partner. Although the two had lived together for eight years, the woman’s presence was unknown to their neighbors. What was the nature of their relationship, as revealed in court?

“I Had No Idea a Woman Lived in That House”: Court Reveals the Truth Behind the Relationship Between Elderly Man and Young Victim

 UPI/Aflo, Reuters/Aflo

 Kenji Minemura, Senior Research Fellow at the Canon Global Strategy Institute

 Journalist Kenji Minemura reveals anecdotes from his encounters with four world dictators. Trump, who comes across as combative on TV, is actually affable; Xi Jinping made a lackluster first impression; and Kim Jong-Un gets as excited as a child over new weapons...?

“His Leg Hair Showed When He Sat Down”: A Japanese Journalist Reveals the Hidden Sides of Four World Leaders, Including Trump, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un

 A verdict has been handed down for a former female employee of a nursing facility accused of killing two elderly residents. She was found guilty on one count and not guilty on the other. We take a detailed look back at the case, in which she was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and examine the defendant’s baffling behavior.

Prosecutors Allege Air Was Injected Through an IV Tube in Shocking Nursing Home Killing

 On July 6, a 42-year-old father was arrested in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, on suspicion of strangling his young children to death. To neighbors, the family appeared to be a “happy-looking family.” What happened to this family, which reportedly showed no signs of domestic violence or other issues?

Inside the Gunma Case That Left Two Children Dead and a Community Searching for Answers

 A former NPO director who accepted payment from a man with kidney disease and arranged for a transplant surgery in Cambodia has been arrested on suspicion of violating the Organ Transplant Act. He was also arrested in '23 and continued to run his business even while out on bail. What is the background to these crimes?

Bail, Big Money, and the Cambodia Connection: Inside a Growing Scandal

 On July 3, the trial of a Vietnamese man arrested on charges of trespassing and attempted theft for breaking into the house where the “Setagaya Family Murder” of four occurred took place at the Tokyo District Court. The prosecution sought a two-year prison sentence. The reason was…

A Vietnamese Man Accused of Burglarizing One of Japan&#8217;s Most Notorious Crime Scenes

 Masahiro Senryu

 Shinobu Tsukasa, leader of the 6th-generation Yamaguchi-gumi, held a secret meeting with a top executive of the Sumiyoshi-kai in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture. Although the meeting was brief, it is believed they exchanged information on their respective recent activities. We delve into the inside story of this “diplomacy.”

A Rare Alliance in the Shadows? Inside Shinobu Tsukasa&#8217;s Latest Underworld Moves

 A 37-year-old woman charged with the kidnapping of a 16-year-old boy is scheduled to receive her sentence on July 15. Why did she take the boy despite having discussed the matter with his parents? We look back at the sequence of events based on the court hearing held on the 2nd

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