Society

3rd man wanted over nurse's death found dead in Niigata

Jun 20 (Japan Today) - A 39-year-old man wanted by police in connection with the death of a nurse has been found dead in Niigata City, having apparently committed suicide, police said Tuesday.

The body of Toyofumi Akutagawa, who is suspected of illegally confining 29-year-old Mayuko Uchiyama, was found dead last Friday in a hotel in Niigata, some 400 kilometers away from where she was abducted late last month, they said. Akutagawa was a native of nearby Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture.

Uchiyama's body was found buried in a mountainous area in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, on June 9. A security camera captured two men forcing their way into her car outside a fitness gym she had been to, and driving off on May 26 in Hamamatsu in Shizuoka, while another vehicle tailed them.

Two unemployed men -- Mitsuru Suzuki, 42, and Motoki Ito, 28 -- were arrested earlier on suspicion of illegally confining Uchiyama, and they have told investigators they were promised payment and given instructions about the abduction by another man. The three men met at JR Hamamatsu Station on May 26 to plan the abduction.

The police had been looking for Akutagawa, suspecting he was behind the attack.

Typhoon No. 24 (Fung-shen) Moves Toward Vietnam, 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 20th 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.

Real-Life Water Police: Protecting Tokyo’s Seas and Rivers

Tokyo’s seas and rivers, once considered lawless backwaters beyond the reach of regular policing, are now under constant watch by a dedicated force known as the “water police,” specialists who patrol the capital’s waterways, chase down smugglers, stop reckless jet ski riders, and carry out dramatic rescue missions to save lives.

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.

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