Society

Police 'guide' over 40 'Toyoko Kids' in Kabukicho, mostly high school girls

TOKYO, Oct 16 (News On Japan) - Tokyo police have conducted a mass guidance operation targeting junior high and high school students out late at night in Kabukicho, with the number of cases increasing sevenfold compared to before the pandemic.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police operation ran for three consecutive weeks in and around the Tohoko area of Kabukicho, Tokyo's red light district, where they guided 42 students aged 13 to 18 who were out after 11 PM.

Out of these, 40 were girls, including high school girls who had come from Niigata Prefecture.

The number of guidance cases in the Tohoko area has increased by approximately sevenfold compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019, as of the end of September 2023.

Over the last several years, 'Toyoko Kids' have been gathering in greater numbers in the backstreets of Kabukicho.

"Toyoko Square", which is located next to the Shinjuku Toho Building, has become a popular gathering place.

by Brian Dentry

World’s Longest 150-Meter Rail Departs for Hokkaido on Freight Train

Transportation of a 150-meter railway rail—the longest in the world—manufactured at a steelworks in Kitakyushu City, began on April 18th. The rail will be delivered to Hokkaido over the course of about four days for use in the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension project.

Japan Obesity Society Warns Against Women's Desire To Be Thin

The Japan Society for the Study of Obesity has issued a warning about the health risks of excessive thinness and poor nutrition among women, positioning what it calls 'women's underweight and malnutrition syndrome' as a newly recognized health condition.

Why Are Japan’s Street Ramen Stalls Vanishing?

Once a familiar and comforting presence on urban streets, Japan's cherished ramen stalls are quietly fading away as stricter regulations, an aging workforce, and evolving consumer preferences make their survival increasingly difficult.

Bear Sinks Teeth Into Live Deer as Tourists Watch From Hotel Window

A bear attacking a live deer outside a hotel in Kamikawa, Hokkaido, has shocked onlookers and prompted heightened alert from local authorities.

Strong Winds Cause 'Shaky Landings' at Narita Airport

Strong winds battered wide areas of Japan on April 15th, disrupting air travel, toppling trees in central Tokyo, and fueling a fire that burned down homes in Toyama.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Emperor Sows Rice Seeds at Imperial Palace to Begin Annual Cultivation

The Emperor sowed rice seeds on April 15th in a paddy near the Biological Laboratory on the Imperial Palace grounds, marking the start of this year's rice cultivation.

Hidden Dangers of Abandoned Hotels

A fire broke out on April 14th at an abandoned ryokan in Hannan City, Osaka Prefecture, which has become known online as a "ghost spot." Authorities suspect arson, possibly by trespassers.

Japan Ordered to Pay Peruvian Man Y110,000 for Prolonged Handcuffing

A Peruvian man detained at the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau has been awarded 110,000 yen in compensation by the Osaka District Court, which ruled on April 16th that keeping him handcuffed for an extended period was illegal.

Bear Sinks Teeth Into Live Deer as Tourists Watch From Hotel Window

A bear attacking a live deer outside a hotel in Kamikawa, Hokkaido, has shocked onlookers and prompted heightened alert from local authorities.

Expo Fan Arrested After Falsely Claiming Bomb in Backpack

An 80-year-old man who calls himself an Expo enthusiast was arrested on April 14th for obstructing operations at the entrance gate of the Osaka-Kansai Expo after falsely claiming that he had a bomb in his backpack.

Runaway Teen Among Dozens Detained in Kabukicho Patrol

A group of teenagers were taken into custody by police in a late-night sweep in Tokyo's Kabukicho district, including a runaway girl who had traveled from Hyogo Prefecture.

Japan's Total Population Falls; Largest Drop Since Records Began

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has released its latest population estimate, showing that Japan's total population, including foreign residents, stood at 123,802,000 as of October 1st last year, a decrease of 550,000 from the previous year. This marks the 14th consecutive year of population decline.

72 Fall Ill and One Dies After Eating Boxed Meals in Tochigi

A total of 72 people reported symptoms of food poisoning after eating boxed lunches from a catering shop in Tochigi Prefecture, with one person confirmed dead. Local authorities have identified the cause as a norovirus outbreak.

< 2 3 4 5 >