 Kyodo News

 There are reports that Takumi Kuriyama (42), who has announced his retirement at the end of next season, and Takaya Nakamura (42), who will begin his 25th year as a professional player next season, may not be protected by the Seibu team.

Controversy as Seibu Fails to Protect Star Players Nakamura and Kuriyama

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

 Shortly before his death...after the concert, Hashi was unresponsive, but when we asked him to say a few words, he suddenly stood up from his wheelchair and spoke powerfully. Ishida says it was a moving scene that symbolized a great star of the Showa era who maintained his professionalism.

Remembering Yukio Hashi: Yume Group Chief Celebrates His Professional Spirit

 Kumataro Arai

 In mid-December, Nanako Matsushima was spotted in Shinjuku, Tokyo, filming for the January '26 drama "Okome no Onna - National Tax Bureau, Material Investigation Division, Zokoku Shitsu" in the midst of heavy rain. She was wrapped all over in a coat, but her beautiful style was still there!

Nanako Matsushima Stuns in Rainy Drama Shoot, Black-Rimmed Glasses and All

 A former Neyagawa City Council woman who was sentenced to prison for abusing a loan program to an organization whose business had deteriorated in Corona. It was decided to grant benefits to the victims. The photo book sold out at 1,000 yen per book.

Former Female Councilor Convicted of Fraud Releases Photo Book, Sold Out at 1,000 Yen

 Courtesy of osaka-subway.com

 The 150 EV buses introduced for the Osaka Expo have been plagued by numerous defects. In the midst of these problems, it has been discovered that a large number of these large buses have accumulated in Osaka City. We take a closer look behind the scenes at what looks like a "graveyard.

Frequent Malfunctions Raise Questions About the Future of Osaka’s Expo EV Buses

 Nakahira

 Shinji Hasuo (1st to 5th photos)

 A woman was stabbed to death in Akasaka, Tokyo, in November. The perpetrator was indicted on December 12 and sent to prosecution on December 17, but he still denies having committed the crime. However, despite the many false pretenses, numerous pieces of evidence support the crime. ......

Suspect Denies Crime in Akasaka Case, But Evidence Closes In

 Tetsu Taniguchi (1st photo) Yutaka Asai (2nd photo) Kei Kato (3rd photo)

 The latest information on the "unsolved case"...the "main suspect" who continues to remain a mystery, is reported by up-and-coming journalists.

 The president of the "Gyoza no Ousho" restaurant operator was shot and killed...The issue in the trial is the culpability of defendant Tanaka. If he is acquitted, the mystery of the true culprit will remain. If he is convicted, on the other hand, there is a mastermind who drew the picture of the case. The case appears to be a cold case.

Tracking the Deepening Mystery of the Gyoza no Ohsho President’s Shooting

 Sota Shima

 Akira Ogawa resigned as mayor of Maebashi City due to a "love hotel meeting". He has decided to run for re-election, but it looks like a "proxy war" with Gunma Governor Kazuta Yamamoto, the head of the prefectural government. ......

Former Mayor Ogawa Takes On Gunma Governor Yamamoto in a Proxy Political Battle

 Kazuhiko Nakamura

 Keiko Kitagawa, who won the Best Actress Award for her role in the movie "Night Flower," and Nozomi Morita, who won the Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in "Night Flower," wore shoulder-baring dresses together at the "50th Hochi Film Awards" ceremony held in Tokyo on December 15. There were many scenes of them getting along well and synchronizing with each other.

Keiko Kitagawa and Nozomi Morita Shine in Bold Dresses at the Hochi Film Awards

 Sota Shima (LEO) and Keisuke Nishi (Mayu Yokota)

 Hot Love Scoop Part 2

 LEO, the leader of the boy group "BE:FIRST" who debuted in 2009 and is scheduled to participate in the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen for the fourth consecutive year, is in a serious relationship with the model Mayu Yokota. The two are semi-living together...

Pop Idol LEO and Top Model Take Relationship to the Next Level with Semi-Cohabitation

 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

 Kotaro Tajiri

 After finishing his third year with the New York Mets, Kohdai Senga is already moving on to the next season. The possibility of being traded has been in the news every day this offseason, but Senga is positive.

Mets’ Star Pitcher Senga Talks Daily Grind and Unyielding Sense of Urgency

 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

 Tombstone 2025] This year, too, a national star, a famous actor, and a famous host passed away. Here are some of her treasured photos and words of condolences.

 For Akiko Wada, Ayumi Ishida was her senior who protected her from bullies and loved her since her debut. She loved her so much that she would copy anything she did. Now, she recalls the old days like a running light and says she cannot stop crying.

Akiko Wada Shares Cherished Memories of Her Esteemed Senior, Ayumi Ishida

 Shinji Hasuo

 In April of this year, three men were arrested for the theft of 12 million yen from a man's house in Toshima-ku, Tokyo. At first glance, this case may appear to be a "Tokuryu-type" crime, but according to journalist Yukio Ishihara, it is a little different.

Not Your Typical Tokuryu Heist? Authorities Arrest Key Figure in Major Theft

 Tsutomu Kishimoto (PICSPORT)

 The fastest world champion in the history of Japanese boxing and the first Japanese boxer to win 2 weight classes and the fastest boxer to win 3 weight classes and the first Japanese boxer to win 4 weight classes

 Kazusho Ioka, 36, is the world's fastest boxer and the first Japanese boxer to win four weight classes. This legendary boxer is about to take on an unprecedented challenge in the world of Japanese boxing, winning five weight classes in the final stages of his career. Close-up shots and long interview

Exclusive Photos &#038; Interview: Ioka Shares the Heart Behind His Historic Challenge

 Shinji Tokari

 The LPGA Awards, an annual event to close out the season, was held in Tokyo on March 16. Here we report on the spectacular performances of the female pros who dress up for the event, which you don't usually get to see.

A Night of Elegance: Japan’s Top Women Golfers Dazzle at the JLPGA Awards

 The staff saw it all! Behind the Scenes of Weekly TV

 Public gambling business is a savior amid a 1.5-fold increase in bankruptcies of production companies over the previous year. The reality of the decline in terrestrial TV fees and the entry of celebrities into the industry is explained.

TV Production Firms Rush In as Competition Heats Up for Public Gambling Work

 Toru Uesaka

 Hiroyuki Komatsu

 Koei Tecmo Games has produced games with a large fan base, such as "Nobunaga's Ambition," the "Sangokushi" series, and the "Shin-Sangoku Musou" series. Yoichi Erikawa, the founder of Koei Tecmo Games, talked about episodes in the early days of the company.

The founder of &#8220;Koei&#8221; tells a secret story&#8230;Koh Shibusawa: &#8220;I never thought the game industry would become so big&#8230;&#8221;

 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.

 The comedy duo "La Parfait" drew a lot of attention when they performed a perfect copy of their senior comedian "Male Blanco" in the quarterfinals of the M-1 Grand Prix. Why do they keep going down the wrong path? ......

Comedy duo &#8220;La Parfait&#8221; makes headlines for &#8220;copying a senior comedian&#8221; in the M-1 quarterfinals.

 Kyodo News, Jiji Press

 The All-Japan champion Komazawa, Izumo winner Kokugakuin, last year's winner Aogaku, and Waseda led by the "Mountain Detective" are all in the mix in this historic race!

 The "Hakone Ekiden" 2026 Prediction! Komazawa, the All-Japan champion, Kokugakuin, the winner of Izumo, Aogakuin, the previous champion, and Waseda, led by the "Mountain Detective," are all in the mix. A big battle is sure to ensue! With each of them having their own concerns...the key to victory will be held by the aces of the 5th and 6th wards!

The key to victory in the Hakone Ekiden 2026 is&#8230; &#8220;mountain specialists&#8221;! Hakone Ekiden 2026] The key to victory&#8230; &#8220;Mountain Specialists&#8221;!

 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.

 NTV's publicized compliance issue with Taichi Kokubun is far from over. Nippon TV has reportedly offered a direct apology to former TOKIO leader Shigeru Johjima. ......

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