Society

Marijuana Arrests Surpass Stimulants for First Time in Japan

TOKYO, Mar 22 (News On Japan) - For the first time since the 1950s, when statistics began to be collected, the number of people arrested in drug-related incidents involving marijuana has surpassed those involving stimulants, with 6,482 arrests for marijuana and 5,914 for stimulants last year, according to the National Police Agency.

In total, police made 13,330 drug-related arrests last year. Of these, marijuana arrests have shown an increasing trend, while stimulant arrests are on the decline. Nearly 90% of those arrested for marijuana were under 40 years old, with people in their 20s constituting half of the total, indicating a continued rise in use among younger demographics.

The distribution of concentrated cannabis liquids, gummies, chocolates, and other products with similar ingredients has expanded. Additionally, the spread of misinformation on social media, claiming these substances are "legal" and "not harmful," is believed to be a contributing factor to the trend.

Police departments nationwide continue to take measures against such sales and postings, including requests for removal, in response to this issue.

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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