 Hide Nishihara

 At 6:00 p.m. in late July, a burly man wearing sunglasses emerged from a luxury high-rise apartment building in Tokyo. It was Shinno-suke Yamase (25), the Giants’ promising catcher with a powerful arm. Beside him stood a beautiful woman dressed in a matching outfit. Who is she…?

Giants’ Rising Catching Star Shinnosuke Yamase Goes Public With Romance With Older Female Celebrity

 Hiroyuki Sasaki

 NHK’s morning drama series “The Scent of the Wind” is struggling. It follows the classic morning drama formula—a “coming-of-age story of a woman surviving a turbulent era”—and the dual heroines, Ai Mikami and Juri Uesaka, generated a lot of buzz… but experts offer a thorough analysis.

Why Is NHK’s Kaze, Kaoru Struggling Despite Being Based on a True Story? Experts Blame Its Dull Romance

 Daisuke Iwasaki

 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

 Ryo Sakamoto (Former Head of the Culture and Society Department at “Tokyo Sports”)

 REX/Afro

 Robert Downey Jr. is set to star in the popular “Avengers” series for the highest-ever fee. What helped him turn his life around after he was a “drug addict” in his youth—one who even ended up behind bars—was…

Robert Downey Jr.’s Record $160 Million Paycheck—and the Behind-the-Scenes Support Behind His Comeback

 Travel writer Yoichi Arashi has visited 94 countries around the world. He says that wherever he goes, he always looks forward to eating Chinese food—especially Mapo Tofu. We asked Mr. Arashi about the appeal of Mapo Tofu from around the world.

What Is the World’s Best Mapo Tofu? One Man’s Answer After Eating It Across 21 Countries

 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

 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

 Tsuyoshi Noto

 Takehiko Kohiyama

 He will assume the role of the first principal of “Ame ni mo Makezu High School” (an official correspondence high school as defined in Article 1 of the School Education Act), scheduled to open next April

 Hiroshi Osaki—the astute manager who launched Downtown into the spotlight and served as chairman of Yoshimoto Kogyo—is set to become the principal of a correspondence high school. What on earth is this man up to!? We caught up with him for an exclusive interview!

From Downtown’s Manager to Yoshimoto Chairman—and Now a Principal: Hiroshi Osaki’s Final Place in Life

 Yusuke Kondo

 Daiki Shigeoka and Takahiro Hamada of “WEST.” announced their marriages on the August 9 episode of “W.” With four out of the seven members now married—an unprecedented situation—a wide range of opinions are circulating among fans.

WEST.’s Double Marriage News Has Fans Talking—And Digging Up Their Controversial Past Hints

 Kazuhiko Nakamura

 The first romance rumor has emerged from the popular idol group “M!LK.” Just as reports surfaced about member Taichi Shiozaki and actress Rina Koyama dating, a new drama starring Mei Nagano—who is with the same agency as Shiozaki—was announced…

M!LK’s Daichi Shiozaki Hit by Romance Report—Then Mei Nagano’s Hostess Drama Announcement Drops the Next Day

 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

 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

 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

 Sayuri Saito

 Afro

 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

 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

 Kumatarō Arai

 The TV drama series “GTO” has returned after a 28-year hiatus. It was in mid-July that I spotted Takashi Sorimachi, who plays the protagonist, Eikichi Onizuka. Before filming began, Sorimachi was having a thorough discussion with a staff member holding the script. He exuded the aura of an “ultra-cool older guy.”

Takashi Sorimachi’s Super Cool Uncle Aura Shines on the Set of GTO After 28 Years

 Jiro Sato, who was reported to have been involved in a harassment incident with Ai Hashimoto—his co-star in the drama *Detective: Separate Surnames for Married Couples*—announced in August that his mother had passed away. Yet even then, what he tweeted was…

The Truth Jiro Sato Was Determined to Tell—and the Regret That Remained After His Mother’s Death

 Izumi Nakagawa

 “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

 Keisuke Nishi, Afro

 Reports of the Yomiuri Giants player Yuhei Takanashi’s “overnight affair” have caused a stir not only among fans but throughout the baseball world. He had been dating two beautiful women over the course of about a month, but how did the team respond…

Long Dress or Mini Skirt? Inside the Giants’ Different Responses to Yūhei Takanashi’s Affair Report

 Koichiro Umeki

 Masaki Sone

 Her return to acting after a five-year hiatus is making headlines! The streaming drama series *The Great Marriage Hunt War of the Shallow Cinderellas*, in which she stars, is a hit set to run through Season 3

 Yuka Ogura is making headlines with her return to acting after a five-year hiatus! The streaming drama series *The Great Marriage Hunt War of the Shallow Cinderellas*, in which she stars, has become a hit that’s now in its third season… She shared her thoughts on her acting, behind-the-scenes stories from her gravure photo shoots, and her dedication to body sculpting.

Yuka Ogura on Yoga, Stress Relief, and Her Secret to Staying Fit

 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

 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

 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

 The Staff Saw It! Behind the Scenes of Weekly TV

 Ginji Watanabe of “Don Decorte” has placed second in three consecutive competitions: M-1, R-1, and Double Impact. He’s in high demand, with his McDonald’s commercial racking up 30 million views and an appearance in the “VIVANT” spin-off. We take an in-depth look at the make-or-break moment for this “hot comedian.”

Three Straight Runner-Up Finishes—and Now They’re Everywhere: How Don Decorte Is Poised for a Breakout

 Shota Suzuki

 Akane Tachibana

 Yuki Murohashi (Trauden), Kanako (Nakagawa)

 I Want to Meet, Hear From, and Learn From That Top Performer [Part 4: Part 1]

 [Anna Nakagawa’s FRIDAY Report · Part 4] This episode’s guest is Naomi Trauden, whose acting career is going strong! Nakagawa, who hit it off with Trauden from the moment they met and “felt a sense of kinship,” delves into Trauden’s inner world and values.

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