Society

Shooting at building of pro-N.Korea group

Feb 24 (NHK) - Japanese police have arrested 2 men in connection with a shooting at the headquarters of a pro-North Korea organization in central Tokyo.

The pair arrived by vehicle at the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan early Friday morning and fired several shots into the gate.

No one was injured in the incident.

Riot police who were near the site arrested the men on the spot on suspicion of damaging property.

Police say the men are 46-year-old Yoshinori Kawamura, and 56-year-old Satoshi Katsurada. They say Katsurada was an active member of a right-wing group until last year.

They say Kawamura fired shots from the front passenger seat, while Katsurada was behind the steering wheel.

Police confiscated what appears to be a gun.

They say the men have admitted to the allegations, and that Katsurada staged propaganda activities in front of the building several times last year.

Nam Sung U, vice chairman of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, told a news conference that the crime is an unforgivable act against North Korea and its residents in Japan.

He also said the organization demands authorities determine what was behind the act and take proper measures to prevent a recurrence.

Source: ANNnewsCH

Japan Set for First Female Leader

A special session of the Diet convened on October 21st, where Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Takeuchi is expected to be chosen as Japan’s next prime minister in the afternoon’s leadership vote. Following a coalition agreement reached on October 20th between the LDP and Nippon Ishin no Kai, Takeuchi’s appointment is now virtually certain, paving the way for her to become the first woman in Japan’s constitutional history to lead the government.

Typhoon No. 24 (Fung-shen) Strengthens Over South China Sea, Heavy Rain Forecast For Japan

Typhoon No. 24 (Fung-shen) is strengthening over the South China Sea and is expected to make landfall in Vietnam later this week, according to forecasts. Satellite images on October 201st show extensive cloud coverage over the central South China Sea. After passing over the Philippines, Fung-shen temporarily weakened but is projected to intensify again as it continues westward through Tuesday.

Tourist Graffiti Threatens Kyoto’s Iconic Bamboo Forest

Kyoto’s world-famous Arashiyama district, a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists, is facing a growing problem of graffiti etched into the bamboo along its iconic “Bamboo Grove Path,” with more than 350 stalks now damaged — a practice that experts warn could eventually cause bamboo to weaken, fall, and even injure visitors.

Japanese Streaming Services Struggle Against Netflix

Japan’s streaming industry is under growing pressure as foreign giants tighten their grip on the domestic market, with Netflix’s latest move to secure exclusive broadcast rights in Japan for every game of the World Baseball Classic next March highlighting the widening gap.

Japan Tightens Rules on Foreign Business Visas

Investigators from the Immigration Services Agency conducted on-site inspections in Osaka on October 14th amid a surge in so-called 'paper companies' created by foreign nationals seeking residency.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Mako Komuro Appears in Six-Page Town & Country Feature

The October issue of the long-established American lifestyle magazine Town & Country features Mako Komuro, the eldest daughter of the Akishino family, on the cover under the headline "Princess Ingognito," dedicating a six-page spread to Komuro and her husband Kei, exploring their life in the United States.