Ex-KAT-TUN singer Tanaka jailed for drug possession

Feb 28, 2023 | News On Japan

Feb 28, 2023 (Japan Today) - A former member of KAT-TUN, an all-male idol group, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison after being found guilty of violating the Stimulants Control Law.

The Chiba District Court on Tuesday convicted Koki Tanaka, 37, who had pleaded guilty to possessing stimulants, Kyodo News reported. Tanaka was arrested last year, just nine days after he was convicted and given a suspended sentence for a similar crime earlier in the year.

The court heard that Tanaka was acting in a “suspicious manner” outside Kashiwa Station at around 10 p.m. on June 30. Prosecutors did not specify what Tanaka was doing, but said that he tried to avert the gaze of police officers as they approached him. He was found to be in possession of a plastic bag containing stimulants. ...continue reading

Source: ANNnewsCH

Typhoon No. 6 Expected to Strengthen Rapidly as It Approaches Okinawa

As of 9 p.m. on May 30th, Typhoon No. 6 (Chanthu) was strengthening as it moved northwest east of the Philippines, with forecasts calling for the storm to develop into a strong typhoon before passing near Okinawa from June 1st to June 2nd, bringing the threat of violent winds, high waves and torrential rain while raising concerns over heavy rainfall across western and eastern Japan.

Saw, Iron Pipes and Shovel Seized as 30 Teens Get Ready to Rumble

A social media dispute between a 17-year-old high school student from Tokyo's Itabashi Ward and a 16-year-old boy from Edogawa Ward escalated into a planned group fight involving around 30 youths, some of whom allegedly brought weapons including a rusty saw, iron pipes, a special baton and even a shovel.

Japan's Population Falls by 3.1 Million in Five Years to 123 Million

Japan's population stood at 123.05 million in 2025, according to preliminary results from the national census released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, marking a decline of 3.097 million people over the past five years.

Japan Volleyball Player Busted Over Marijuana Possession

Volleyball player Shunichiro Sato, a member of Japan’s men’s national team, was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of possessing marijuana after allegedly leaving a bag containing the drug at a pachinko parlor in Tokyo.

Naphtha Shortage Disrupts Japan's Housing Industry

The “naphtha shortage” triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East is now spreading into Japan’s housing industry, with shortages of paint, thinner, insulation materials and other building products forcing construction delays across the country.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Juso Retro Town Gets First Tower Condo, Bringing New Life

A major transformation is underway in Osaka's Juso district, where the area's first large-scale tower condominium has opened in a neighborhood long known for its retro downtown atmosphere and entertainment district. While the development is bringing new conveniences and attracting new residents, concerns are also emerging over rising rents and the future character of the community.

Woman Dies After Leaning Out of Car Window in Gifu Accident

A traffic accident that occurred beneath an elevated section of the Meitetsu railway line in Kasamatsu, Gifu Prefecture, on Thursday morning claimed the life of a 21-year-old woman who was riding in the front passenger seat of a car.

Wanted Man in Mother-Daughter Killings Changed Clothes Many Times

Police in Hyogo Prefecture on May 27th released a new image of a wanted murder suspect believed to have changed clothes multiple times while fleeing after the killing of a mother and daughter in Tatsuno City, raising concerns that he may still be hiding in the surrounding area.

Monkey Attacks Continue in Himeji Neighborhoods

Two junior high school students were injured after being attacked by a monkey in a residential area of Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, on May 26th, as reports of similar incidents continue across the city.

Bear Hunter Shortage Raises Alarm

Black bears trapped inside box cages have been filmed thrashing about violently and attempting to lunge at handlers, as a sharp rise in bear sightings across Japan this spring raises concerns among local communities and hunters alike.

Prince Hisahito Makes Debut at Imperial Palace Banquet

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako hosted an imperial banquet at the Imperial Palace on May 27th to welcome Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, who are currently visiting Japan, with Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, attending the event for the first time.

Two Vietnamese Workers Die After Being Trapped in Concrete

Two Vietnamese construction workers died on May 26th after becoming trapped during concrete pouring work inside an underground agricultural water pipe in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture.

Living Alone in a Japanese Village Near Extinction

Deep in the mountains of Ayabe in Kyoto Prefecture, 74-year-old Kazuyoshi Watanabe continues living alone in the isolated settlement of Koya, which has been reduced to a single resident after a stroke left the left side of his body partially paralyzed, despite the village having no supermarkets, convenience stores, or even vending machines.

< 2 3 4 5 >