 Chihiro Sato

 Kazuhiko Nakamura (2nd photo)

 [Part 1] They Met in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho in ’22 and Got Married

 Shinichi Fukushima, Anri Sakaguchi’s ex-husband who faced her “darkness” up close, opens up! They met in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho in ’22, and he felt he “wanted to protect her.” It was a casual remark from Anri—who had lost her mother and was emotionally scarred—that made him decide to marry her…

Anri Sakaguchi’s Ex-Husband Shinichi Fukushima Opens Up About Their Turbulent Year Together Despite Warnings

 [Part 2] Facing Her “Dark Side” Up Close

 The couple discussed sleeping pills and tried to reduce her dosage, but… in September 2023, after just over a year of marriage, they divorced. At the end of the following year, 2024, an incident occurred that revealed the depth of her darkness. Mr. Fukushima says, “The problem was that Anri would casually rely on complete strangers without hesitation.”

Inside Anri Sakaguchi’s Stormy Marriage: Ex-Husband Shinichi Fukushima Recalls the Turmoil

 Kazuhiko Nakamura

 “The Underworld Is Where Delinquents, Information, and Money Converge”: He Hone His Skills and Expanded His Network During the Event Service Boom

 After graduating from a Tokyo Six University, he worked at a major advertising agency and a foreign consulting firm before transforming into the “King of Illegal Lending.” The phrase “Legendary Negotiator of the Gray Zone” is perhaps the most fitting description of his life story. Why has he chosen to reveal his past to the world now…?

Akio Kudo The Underworld Fixer Reveals His Identity and the Pride He Holds in the Gray Zone

 On a Saturday in early October, a couple stood out in the crowded international departure lounge at Haneda Airport—TV personality Saeko and Ryota, the bassist for the rock band “ONE OK ROCK.” They seemed to be acting quite intimate…?

Saéko and ONE OK ROCK’s Ryota Spotted Holding Hands on a Romantic Trip to South Korea! [Scoop!]

 Kyodo News

 Interim Manager Hideki Hashigami (60), who took over the Giants from former manager Shinnosuke Abe (47) midway through the season, led the team to a second-place finish in the regular season, but the club continues to search behind the scenes for its next manager.

Giants’ Managerial Search Intensifies: Hideki Hashigami Set to Step Down as Yoshinobu Takahashi May Cut Short Overseas Trip

 Shinji Hasuo

 This past June, crime journalist Taihei Ogawa undertook an investigative report on “Tokuryu,” a criminal organization based in Thailand and Cambodia. He reports on the reality of “kake-ko” (young women forced into prostitution) and the current state of the criminal organization, as revealed through his on-site reporting.

Crime Journalist Taihei Ogawa on the Reality of Tokuryū Crime Groups in Thailand and Cambodia

 It has become virtually certain that former SoftBank manager Kimiyasu Kudo (63) will take over as the new manager of the Chunichi Dragons following the resignation of former manager Kazuki Inoue (55). Although Kudo is a native of Nagoya, he is also known for maintaining a certain distance from his hometown.

Chunichi Dragons’ New Manager Kimiyasu Kudo Eyes Coaching Staff, With Keizo Kawashima and Fumikazu Takanami as Top Candidates

 Former “timelesz” member Shuto Inomata was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a female acquaintance and subsequently had his contract terminated by his agency. However, given that this is a popular group, the impact appears to be significant…

Who Will Pay Former timelesz Member Shuto Inomata’s Contract Penalties? His Most Troubling Deal May Not Involve TV or Commercials

 Aika Kanda

 [Series No. 129] Me, Pink, and Sometimes NY

 I’ve been looking forward to this summer for a whole year… This year, I’m finally going to complete the entire Route 66 across America. Following last summer’s trip, I’ll be driving the approximately 2,300 km to Santa Monica in five days. In late August, we returned to Oklahoma City!

Aika Kanda Takes on Route 66 Again! The Himura Couple’s American Road Trip, Part 1

 Akira Ikoma

 The Failure of the Amended Entertainment Business Act [Part 2]

 More than a year has passed since the amended Entertainment Business Act took effect. While its primary purpose was to regulate unscrupulous hosts and recruiters, was it effective? When we asked industry insiders about the reality on the ground, we heard some rather scathing comments regarding the current situation—.

How Japan’s Entertainment Business Act Amendment Is Affecting Men’s Esthetic Salons, Host Clubs, and Cabaret Clubs

 On September 30, a former sumo wrestler was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting digestive aids worth approximately 50,000 yen from a drugstore. The man is said to be the “ringleader” of the Tokuryu Group, which has been carrying out a series of thefts nationwide since last year.

From Sumo Ring to Shoplifting Mastermind? Inside Japan’s ¥50 Million Theft-for-Hire Scheme

 Kyodo (1st and 3rd photos)

 History of the Prostitution Prevention Act [Part 2]

 Amendments to the Anti-Prostitution Law, enacted 70 years ago, are imminent. What was the intent behind the current law, and what were its problems? We spoke with Kazuhiro Harada, a former member of the House of Representatives with extensive experience in fieldwork on the ground.

Has the Anti-Prostitution Act Outlived Its Purpose? Experts Warn of Underground Prostitution and the Law’s Biggest Flaw

 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

 Kenji Matsuoka

 Bank of Japan Rate Hike Poses a Crisis of 40,000 Yen per Month for “Variable-Rate Mortgage Holders”! What Are the 4 Measures to Prevent the “Reiwa Mortgage Hell”? As the era of 2% interest rates approaches, we thoroughly explain why you should prioritize “early repayment” over investing through NISA.

Bank of Japan Rate Hikes Raise Mortgage Fears: Monthly Payments Could Jump ¥40,000 by 2027

 It was announced that Chunichi Dragons manager Kazuki Inoue (55) will step down at the end of this season, and the team is currently searching for his successor, but...

Koji Kudo Emerges as the Clear Favorite for Chunichi Dragons Manager, but One Club Legend Was Eager for the Job

 Works as a freelance writer primarily for the web. She is also involved in the production of books and corporate PR magazines. Without a specific area of expertise, she covers a wide range of topics that pique her interest, including history, comedy, health, beauty, travel, food, and caregiving.

 Motiko Abe-gawa

 A woman in her 20s who has worked at a cumulative total of 300 different places reveals the reality of “Timee,” a platform for short-term part-time jobs. What is the reality of being treated as the “lowest rung of the caste system” on the job, where you aren’t even called by your name? She also shares tips on how to spot a “good workplace”—insights only someone with her experience can provide.

A Woman in Her 20s Shares Her Experience Working at 300 Job Sites and Facing Social Stigma

 A Dramatic Turnaround After a Turbulent Life: Kidnapped by the Yakuza, Eight Years as a Truck Driver, and Life on the Streets

 An interview with Takuji Okugawa, the real-life inspiration for the protagonist of the drama “The Man Who Can’t Give Up Hope” (Kansai TV). We explore what drove him to climb back up from rock bottom—including 100 million yen in debt, being held captive by the yakuza, and falling into homelessness.

“I’ll Turn ¥100 Million in Debt Into Comedy”: The Real-Life Story Behind The Man Who Can’t Despair

 Mitsutoshi Abe (Former TV Reporter, Political Journalist)

 Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Aflo

 The “Unified Local Elections,” held once every four years, will take place next spring in April. While this should be a valuable opportunity for citizens to shape the details of their daily lives, in one-third of town and village councils, council members are determined without a vote. Behind this situation, which could undermine the very foundations of democracy, lies…

One-Third of Town and Village Assemblies Face Uncontested Elections: The Growing Crisis in Local Politics

 On September 25, a man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder for stabbing his ex-wife’s younger brother at a residence in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture. The man’s mother was also found murdered at the scene. While past disputes between the man and his ex-wife had been reported, what exactly was his motive…?

Gunma Family Stabbing: Suspect’s Relationship With Ex-Wife’s Family and the Mystery Behind the Motive

 “Stinging at the Limit” [Part 2]

 *Mandala*, who found herself on the brink of ruin and drifted from one low-end sex work establishment to another, has published *Burning at the Limits*, a candid account of her daily work life. While the book reveals the behavior of various male clients, we asked her to name the three who left the strongest impression.

From Cat-Filled Homes to Mannequin Roommates: The Unusual Male Clients Sex Workers Have Encountered

 “Stinging at the Limit” [Part 1]

 How do male customers appear through the eyes of a sex worker? *Mandala*, author of *Stinging at the Limit*—a raw, candid account of the daily life of a low-tier sex worker—says that when she first started working in the industry, her days were “hell.”

“I Just Hated the Hair”: What Helped a Woman in Her 30s Escape the Hell of Her Life as a Sex Worker

 Takehiko Kohiyama

 Shingo Tsuno (impiger)

 “The response has been so huge, it’s almost scary (laughs),” says actor Motoki Kobayashi, expressing his surprise. He plays a corrupt cop in the wildly popular Netflix drama *Gas Human*, and his intense performance has drawn significant attention. He shared behind-the-scenes stories from the shoot

Motoki Kobayashi Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Stories from Viral “Human Vapor”

 Since the “Residential Accommodation Business Act” (commonly known as the “New Private Lodging Law”) went into effect in 2018, private lodging has spread rapidly across the country. Amid tightening regulations in recent years, I visited that area where private lodging operators are reportedly flocking.

Tighter Regulations Put Japan’s Vacation Rental Industry Under Pressure—Why Some Operators Are Staying

 A growing number of celebrities are losing their lives to colorectal cancer. What’s concerning is how young they are. Yuri Nakamura, who passed away at the all-too-early age of 44, is one of them. Experts explain the mechanisms behind this trend and how to address it

Actress Yuri Nakamura Dies at 44 from Rectal Cancer as Specialists Warn of Rising Colorectal Cancer Among Young People

 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 Book That Guarantees You’ll Save Money with Cashless Payments*. ■X (formerly Twitter) → @1847mattsuu

 Is the “iDeCo Rollback” a Myth!? While it tends to get overshadowed by the new NISA, those who wait to see how things play out before the December revisions risk losing several million yen. We’ll thoroughly explain the truth behind the often-misunderstood “taxation at withdrawal” and provide strategies to maximize its powerful tax-saving benefits.

“Don’t Wait for the December iDeCo Changes!” Ignoring Its Enormous Tax Benefits Could Cost You Millions of Yen

 Kumatarō Arai

 TBS’s “VIVANT” has become a national phenomenon, with viewership ratings exceeding 15% for every episode. Behind its success, however, reports have surfaced of a power harassment incident involving the drama’s director…

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