 Masao Kurihara

 JMPA

 Aiming for the Quarterfinals! Special Feature: Cheering on the Japan National Team at the World Cup—A Heroic Header in the Group Stage’s Toughest Match Against the Netherlands

 Koki Ogawa, who scored the game-winning header against the Netherlands—the toughest opponent in the group stage—says he’s glad he was able to prove through his performance that he is an absolutely indispensable player for Moriyasu’s Japan. Technically, the goal wasn’t credited to him… but Ogawa still held his head high.

“I’ll Bloom When the Time Comes!” Koki Ogawa’s Bold World Cup Declaration

 Kyodo News

 Following the dismissal of former manager Hajime Miki (49) and the surprise appointment of manager Masato Yoshii (61), Rakuten is reportedly plotting a new “move.”

Rakuten Exploring a Trade for Hanshin Catcher Ryutaro Umeno as Both Sides Seek a Better Fit

 Kazuhiko Nakamura

 In mid-June, Shomei Takeuchi, the wakagashira of the Sixth-Generation Yamaguchi-gumi, appeared at the headquarters of a long-established yakuza group located in a residential neighborhood in Asakusa, Tokyo. Also present were top executives from other organizations, including the Inagawa-kai. What was the purpose of their gathering…?

Yamaguchi-gumi No. 2 Appears in Asakusa in Broad Daylight: Why the Top Executive Visited a Long-Established Kanto Yakuza Group With Inagawa-kai Leaders

 Kōji Watanabe

 Aiming for the Quarterfinals!

 At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Keito Nakamura scored his first World Cup goal—and Moriyasu Japan’s first goal of the tournament—in the June 14 match against the Netherlands. Nakamura, who scored the equalizer off an assist from his close friend Kubo Takefusa, looks back on the match.

Keito Nakamura: “We ’00s-Born Players Will Break Through the World’s Barriers With Our Rise!” — Japan’s World Cup Support Feature

 Shinji Hasuo

 On June 17, the CEO of an IT company was arrested on suspicion of murdering a male executive at the same company. The man had previously been arrested in April on suspicion of abandoning the victim’s body and was subsequently indicted. It has also come to light that a “handyman service” was involved behind the scenes of this incident.

“I Want Someone Killed”: The Shocking Request That Put an IT CEO Behind Bars

 Works as a freelance writer primarily for online media. 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 elder care.

 Motiko Abe-gawa

 Afro

 Tax audits are set to undergo a drastic change with the National Tax Agency’s “KSK2” AI system, set to go live in September. The notion that “small amounts and cash won’t be detected”—whether from Mercari, YouTube revenue, or night work—is now a thing of the past. An “otaku” accountant explains who’s at risk and how to protect yourself.

Japan&#8217;s National Tax Agency to Launch AI-Powered KSK2 in September—Who&#8217;s Most Likely to Be Flagged?

 Norifumi Arakida (FRIDAY Digital Entertainment Desk)

 Shinji Hasuo (1st photo), Hiroyuki Komatsu (2nd photo)

 The first hearing regarding the two assault cases involving Mrs. Devi was held on June 23 at the Tokyo District Court. While Mrs. Devi’s side generally admitted to the charges…

[Exclusive] Dewi Sukarno Largely Admits the Indictment&#8217;s Allegations, Yet Offers No Apology or Settlement, Angering the Alleged Victim

 Kumatarō Arai (1st and 3rd photos), Shintarō Kumada (2nd and 4th photos)

 Filming is underway for the July TBS Tuesday drama *Your Love Is Invincible*, and we spotted lead actress Wakana Matsumoto on set. Although she plays a woman who doesn’t understand the concept of “cute” in the drama, her “cute” charm was radiating from her as she held a parasol.

Wakana Matsumoto All Smiles on Set as She Films Her First Summer Drama Since Saionji-san Two Years Ago

 Takahiro Kagawa (1st photo) Takayuki Ogawachi (2nd photo)

 Junichi Kawamoto of “Jichō Kachō” made his comeback from a hiatus at the end of June last year. He had been facing a series of challenges both personally and professionally—including reports in April of this year that he had divorced his wife—but now it appears Kawamoto has a new girlfriend… Photos of the couple holding hands on a date have surfaced.

Junichi Komoto Spotted Holding Hands With New Girlfriend as She Supports His Comeback

 This Is His First World Cup! “I Watched the Roster Announcement Live Stream with My Heart Pounding”

 The CONCACAF tournament marks Nakamura’s first World Cup. Although he’s had to fill in on the left wing due to a string of injuries, his partnership with Ito—his former teammate at Stade de Reims in France—seems to be going strong. “I just need to stay focused,” says the national team’s most handsome player, showing not a hint of arrogance.

[Full Text] Keito Nakamura Is Ready to Lead the Attack After Battling Through Adversity

 [Aiming for the Quarterfinals! World Cup Japan National Team Support Special] The player meeting led by “Coach” Nagatomo, Kiyo Ueda’s secret training that led to a dramatic goal, and the style of “Endurance Monster” Kaishu Sano…

 Aiming for the Quarterfinals! Behind the scenes of the convincing victory over Tunisia in the second World Cup group stage match: the ace’s hard work, both on defense and offense… With the growth of the “stamina monster” and a pep talk from a veteran, Moriyasu’s Japan’s “full-throttle” run shows no signs of stopping!

The Hidden Ingredients Behind Moriyasu Japan’s World Cup Charge

 A trial was held at the Tokyo District Court for a man arrested on charges of posting sexual videos online. The man was living a polygamous lifestyle with two wives and had been deceiving women using a “reverse honey trap” scheme to secretly film them. The tactics revealed during the trial were...

Court Reveals Shocking Reverse Honey Trap Used by Man Accused of Posting Secretly Filmed Sexual Videos

 Aika Kano, Kyodo News

 It’s not just the Kuril-Japan Trench, where earthquakes have been occurring frequently since late last year, or the Nankai Trough, with an estimated death toll of approximately 300,000…!

 The Kuril-Japan Trench and the Nankai Trough, where massive earthquakes are imminent off the coast of Japan… and experts are also urging caution regarding the Ryukyu Trench, which stretches 1,000 km from southern Kyushu to eastern Taiwan. All of these are epicenters of massive M9-class earthquakes.

New Projections Warn of a Catastrophic Ryukyu Trench earthquake: Up to 30-Meter Tsunamis Could Displace 200-Ton Boulders

 On June 17, a junior high school teacher was arrested on suspicion of non-consensual indecent acts after committing indecent acts against a girl under the age of 16 inside a car. Why do sexual crimes committed by teachers continue to occur? We examine this issue based on past cases and other evidence.

[Teacher Sexual Misconduct] Middle School Teacher Arrested Over Sexual Abuse of a Minor—What Leads to a Loss of Self-Control?

 Financial Planner / Representative, Rapport Consulting Office.After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at Nagoya University, he worked at a securities firm and an insurance agency before going independent. Through financial consultations and writing and supervising articles, he supports people in thinking for themselves and taking action regarding their financial matters. He holds certifications as a Level 1 Financial Planning Specialist, CFP®, Real Estate Transaction Specialist, and Sauna & Spa Professional.

 Hiroki Takekuni

 Amid rising prices and the new NISA boom, “perks-and-points activities”—which combine credit card payments with shareholder perks—are surging! We’ll thoroughly compare the must-have credit cards and point perks from the five major economic ecosystems, including Rakuten and Docomo, and break down the strongest combinations.

The New NISA Boom Is Fueling a New Kind of Point-Hunting—Which Rewards Ecosystem Wins?

 Tsuyoshi Kinugawa

 The “negative campaign video” issue is under scrutiny from opposition parties in the Diet. Amid this, footage of Prime Minister Takaichi appearing “all alone” during a meeting at the recent G7 summit has gone viral on social media, sparking online buzz as a “reverse negative campaign”…

Why G7 Solo Footage Sparked Political Backlash Against Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi

 Yusuke Mimura (Sports Writer)

 Kyodo News (4th photo) Yusuke Mimura (others)

 From Shunsuke Nakamura to Maya Yoshida… “Secret Strategies Shared by the Legends,” Right Down to the Ace’s “Birthday”

 The pre-World Cup training camp in Mexico. During training, the team used drones—introduced since the last World Cup—and received generous support from legendary former players. Amid the grueling training sessions, they celebrated a birthday, and the team’s atmosphere was truly upbeat.

Moriyasu Japan’s Final Preparations: On-Site Report Shows Strong Outlook for a Historic Top 8 Finish

 Asahi Shimbun (2nd photo)  Aflo (3rd photo)

 Industry Rocked by Reports of “150 Billion Yen Sale” of ‘Tokyo Hakuzan,’ Which Holds 70% of the Tokyo Market Share

 The industry was rocked by reports that “Tokyo Hakuzan”—which holds a 70% share of the Tokyo market—is set to be “sold to a U.S. investment fund for 150 billion yen.” With cremation fees set to skyrocket even further, families may find themselves unable to cremate their loved ones… Such a terrifying scenario could very well become a reality.

The Era of ¥1 Million Cremations? Inside the Growing Foreign Investment in Japan’s Funeral Industry

 Hide Nishihara

 Just like the players continuing their impressive run in the World Cup—or perhaps even more so—the “commentary” of former Japan national team player Keisuke Honda is drawing significant attention. What is the surprising “true self” of this man who once shone as a key player for the Samurai Blue?……

Keisuke Honda’s Multi-Faceted Career—Player, Coach, Investor—And the Aggressive Drive That Amazes His Rivals

 The “Announcement from Dragon Quest” released on May 27 drew a flood of criticism from fans. Now that the game has lost two legends—Mr. Sugiyama and Mr. Toriyama—who were indispensable to *Dragon Quest XII*, will it be able to be completed successfully?

Can Dragon Quest XII Be Completed After Losing Two Legends? Why Fans Are Still Willing to Wait

 On June 19, the Chiba District Public Prosecutors Office indicted Toshihiko Yoshii, an unemployed father, on charges of murder for killing his 11-year-old biological son. What exactly was happening in this father-son household of just the two of them……

Child Welfare Agency Had Been Involved Since the Mother Was Alive: The Complex Reality Behind the Narita Killing of a Sixth-Grader

 Hiroyuki Sasaki (Entertainment Journalist)

 Yuri Adachi

 The bullying scandal involving Savanna Takahashi became a hot topic following a confession by stand-up comedian Kota Nakayama. A veteran entertainment journalist analyzes the “essence” of the bullying problem that has come to light as a result and is rampant in the entertainment industry—

The Real Problem Behind Entertainment Industry Bullying, Highlighted by Kenji Takahashi

 Keisuke Nishi

 Shortly after 11 p.m. in early June, a man and a woman entered a Chinese-style izakaya in the city center one after another. They were Kento Nagao of “Naniwa Danshi” and Rio Inagaki, a former member of “E-girls.” Our magazine captured exclusive photos of the two on their “late-night date and overnight stay.”

Naniwa Danshi&#8217;s Kento Nagao Photographed on Late-Night Date and Overnight Stay With Former E-girls Beauty Rio Inagaki

 Courtesy of the Certified NPO “Japan Heart”

 Kaori Takagi (Editor and Writer)

 There is a Japanese doctor who has been providing medical care for over 30 years in Myanmar, a country still ravaged by civil war. He is pediatric surgeon Hideto Oka. In June, Dr. Oka published his new book, *If I Don’t Go, Who Will?*, in which he recounts the harsh realities of providing medical care to children in the field.

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