 Hiroyuki Komatsu

 Close-up on her unique practice "Ballet Stretch

 The curling team "Fortius" won the national team competition in September this year. Sayaka Yoshimura, the leader of the team, is a mother of a 2-year-old son and juggles work, child-rearing, and curling. We caught up with her to learn her unique practice, "Ballet Stretch.

Curling Team &#8220;Fortius&#8221; Commander Sayaka Yoshimura: &#8220;Challenging with All Her Might&#8221; for the Winter Olympics in Milan

 Kokuyo, Pilot, Mitsubishi Pencil, Pentel, Zebra, and Tombo Pencil in a fierce battle!

 In Japan, stationery products with meticulous attention to detail, functionality, and design are available at low prices, and in recent years, these products have gained tremendous popularity among foreign tourists as travel souvenirs. Each company is working day by day to develop products that will take the market by storm.

The six major makers of pencils and pencil products are engaged in a fierce battle for the top spot in the global stationery industry!

 Six major manufacturers compete with pencils!  Kokuyo, Pilot, Mitsubishi Pencil, Pentel, Zebra, Tombo Pencil

 Mitsubishi Pencil for practicality, Pentel for creativity. Zebra sells the world's best-selling "Mackie" pencils, and Tombo pencils use "erasing" as a weapon. Kokuyo is very good at handling paper. Each stationery manufacturer is working hard to develop new products.

The Stationery Industry: The Secrets of Jetstream&#8230; Japan&#8217;s World-Class Export Industry &#8220;At the Forefront of Product Development

 Pasya/Afro

 The battle of the onnagata has broken out. On November 26, Sohei Kamiya, 48, the representative of the Sangen-tei Party, held a press conference in the Diet and announced that Mizuho Umemura, 47, a member of the House of Councilors, had been removed as a board member (decision-making body).

The &#8220;Melancholy&#8221; of Sangen Party Representative Munehide Kamiya in Mayuko Toyoda vs. Mizuho Umemura

 In this issue of Playback, we take a look back at what this magazine was reporting 10, 20, and 30 years ago. The year '95 is called "the first year of the Internet" in Japan. In its early days, the Internet was a world where "anything goes. We report on the state of affairs at that time.

Playback &#8217;95] The early days of the Internet, when &#8220;anything goes&#8221;&#8230; Drugs could be bought through PC communications!

 NTV and other companies have produced "Bikkuri Irando," a vertical short variety show featuring AI and humans. How are short videos, which are very popular among young people, being treated in the TV industry?

Can comedians and TV personalities expand their work if they can&#8217;t edit videos? The TV world is watching the &#8220;short video&#8221; boom

 Toru Yokota

 In recent years, incidents of bears appearing in the wild and human casualties caused by bears have been on the increase, and bear extermination has become an urgent issue. What is happening at bear hunting sites? We will accompany the hunters and report the reality of what we saw there.

On-Site Look at Hunters’ Dangerous Encounter With a Large Hokkaidō Brown Bear

 Keitaro Nakagawa

 On November 24, freelance announcer Maki Okazoe served as police chief for a day at LaLa Terrace Minami-Senju, a commercial facility in Arakawa Ward, Tokyo, to promote traffic safety. Her fresh smile and wheat-colored skin are still in great shape!

Okazoe Participates in Traffic Safety Campaign as One-Day Police Chief

 AFRO

 The "January Dissolution" is becoming more and more realistic.

 The "Cold War between Japan and China" is coming to an end, and the "worst-case scenario" is now in sight. In addition to trade sanctions, there is an increasing risk of physical damage. After only one month in office, the administration has already reached a critical juncture.

Ongoing Japan–China Standoff Raises Concerns Over Potential Worst-Case Scenarios

 Kumataro Arai

 On November 21, the year-end jumbo lottery event was held at the Nishi-Ginza Chance Center, where the jumbo siblings took the stage. Mio Imada appeared with her shoulder-length hair hanging down. She was also selected as one of the "2025 Best of Jumbo Siblings.

Mio Imada Appears With Shoulder-Length Hair at Year-End Jumbo Event

 Kei Kato (2 photos from Tsujigawayama Park, Hyogo Prefecture) Tomohiro Arikawa (2 photos from Sayo Shrine, Miyazaki Prefecture)

 The "human-faced fish" boom swept Japan. Thirty-five years have passed since then, and the previous article reporting that "the phantom fish is still in ponds" received a huge response, "There is one in my hometown, too. The reporter went to Hyogo and Miyazaki prefectures, where the fish was particularly believed to be present.

Human-Faced Fish Reported Again After 35 Years in Hyōgo and Miyazaki

 Shinji Hasuo

 By November 19, three members of the illegal scout group "Natural" were arrested. During the transfer, one of the members stuck up his middle finger at the reporters. The future of this group, which is expanding its power, can be found at .......

Both middle fingers raised&#8230;Illegal scout group &#8220;Natural&#8221; member arrested and locked up, threatening appearance during transfer.

 White Paper Green

 On November 26, three stand-up girls were arrested while waiting for customers in Umeda, Osaka. It is said that the number of street vendors around "American Street" where they were arrested has recently drastically decreased. What is the "reason" for the decrease, which is different from the situation in Kabukicho?

Street Solicitation Declines on Osaka’s American Street Due to Unique Local Factors

 Hideki Asai

 The famous "Soba Boro" store also closed its doors. What is the desperate reason why the town's confectionery shops are being forced into a "record number" of bankruptcies? Egg shock, utility costs, difficulty in finding successors... The flavors of Japan's "four seasons" are quietly disappearing.

Record Number of Confectionery Shops Going Bankrupt Due to Severe Conditions

 Sports Hochi/Afro

 The world of professional women's golf has been rocked again. The popular professional golfer Reika Miyako and her 30-year-old coach Shinobu Ishii were reported to be having an affair. In March of this year, three young professional women golfers were reported to have had affairs with male caddies. ......

Pro Golfer Reika Miyako’s Alleged Age-Gap Affair Raises Legal Questions

 Takayuki Ogawauchi

 Serious love nurtured over two and a half years of "living together" since they co-starred in a movie and discovered their relationship.

 Sousuke Ikematsu, an actor, appeared from a high-class designer's apartment in Tokyo. On the other day, actor Kawai Yumi appeared from the same apartment. Two and a half years have passed since they first started dating after co-starring in a movie, and they have been steadily nurturing their love under the same roof.

Ikematsu–Kawai Relationship Develops After Living Together for 2.5 Years

 Takeshi Kinugawa (2nd to 4th photos) Hiroto Kato (5th to 7th photos)

 Toyota of Japan and BYD of China are making their presence felt with their unique strategies, while Tesla of the U.S. is...

 At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, where top manufacturers from around the world gathered, Toyota of Japan and BYD of China attracted attention with their unique strategies. Meanwhile, the U.S.-based Tesla is focusing on robo-taxis, and the car industry is entering a new era.

Touch-Panel Controls Highlight Changes in the Future of Cars at Japan Mobility Show

 Takero Yui, Jiji Press, Inc.

 The first trial for the appeal of the large ski bus accident in which 15 people lost their lives was held. The defendants, including the president of the operating company, pleaded not guilty. However, immediately after the accident, the people involved in the accident revealed a shoddy management system and a clear lack of skill on the part of the driver.

Ski Bus Driver Admitted Lack of Driving Ability Prior to Fatal Crash

 Kyodo News

 On November 26, Rakuten announced the acquisition of Kenta Maeda, 37, who played for the Dodgers of Major League Baseball in the United States and declared his return to the Japanese baseball world after an 11-year absence. What was behind Maeda's reversal of plans to join the Giants?

Kenta Maeda’s Unexpected Rakuten Signing: What Drove Him Away From the Giants

 Nakahira Ryo

 Shinji Hasuo, NAKAHIRA (6th photo)

 On November 13, a 74-year-old man murdered a 29-year-old woman who lived with him in Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama. Neighbors said they did not know the woman lived there. What was the relationship between the suspect and the woman?

“A Woman Lived There?” — Uncovering the Suspect’s Ties to the 29-Year-Old Victim in the Yokohama Murder Case

 Blank Green

 Recently, the number of underage girls in the Kabukicho and Okubo Park neighborhoods has been increasing. There is a struggle between male prostitutes who want to avoid the risk of arrest and underage girls who want to earn money. What is the latest trend of girls falsifying their ages?

MyNumber checks spread in Kabukichō as underage girls adopt a new method of age falsification

 Norifumi Arakida (FRIDAY Digital Entertainment Desk)

 Shu Nishihara (Matsuzaka), Afro (Yokohama)

 It has been announced that the "Super Sentai" series, which has continued for 50 years, will officially come to an end. As a gateway to success for young actors, the series has helped many actors grow into big stars. ......

Super Sentai proved to be the ultimate training ground that left a major legacy in the entertainment industry

 Born in Tokyo in 1977. Nonfiction writer. He has reported and written about culture, history, and medicine in Japan and abroad. His books include "Absolute Poverty," "The Body," "The House of 'Demons'," "43 Killing Intentions," "Let's Talk about Real Poverty," "Social Map of Disparity and Divide," and "Children Who Hurt Each Other.

 Kota Ishii (Nonfiction writer)

 Host clubs are a hotbed of problems such as "tachimbo" and rip-offs. The reason behind the rise and fall of host clubs in Kabukicho has a long and deep history. Nonfiction writer Kota Ishii presents "The History of Kabukicho Hosts" (Part 2).

Inside Club Ai: Knife Threats and a Clientele of 60–70% Enjo-kōsei Girls

 Kota Ishii, nonfiction writer

 Host clubs are a breeding ground for a variety of problems, including "stand-up drinking" and rip-offs. The reason why host clubs have flourished in Kabukicho has a long and deep history. Nonfiction writer Kota Ishii presents "The History of Kabukicho Hosts" (Part 1).

Latest Articles

Curling Team “Fortius” Commander Sayaka Yoshimura: “Challenging with All Her Might” for the Winter Olympics in Milan