Society

Ex-marathon champ Yumiko Hara handed suspended sentence for shoplifting

Nov 11 (tokyoreporter.com) - A court here on Wednesday handed former marathon champion Yumiko Hara, 35, a suspended prison term for shoplifting from a convenience store in Ashikaga City, reports the Sankei Shimbun

At the Ashikaga branch of the Tochigi District Court, presiding judge Kaizan Nakamura handed Hara a one-year prison term, suspended for three years, for stealing eight items worth about 2,700 yen from an outlet of chain 7-Eleven located in the Minamiomachi on July 30. The prosecution sought a one-year term, arguing that Hara acted out of selfishness. The defense argued that restrictions placed on her body weight during her career caused her to suffer from bulimia, a condition that led to her becoming a shoplifter. It added that a settlement had been reached with the operator of the convenience store. In handing down the ruling, judge Nakamura took into consideration that Hara entered a hospital voluntarily to receive treatment, a sign that she has reflected upon her crime, the judge said. "The hope is that you will rehabilitate within society," the judge said. Hara took first place in the Nagoya International Women's Marathon in 2005 and the Osaka International Ladies Marathon two years later.

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

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