Japan Reports Record Number of Animal Cruelty Cases

Apr 12, 2024 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Police across Japan cracked down on a record number of animal cruelty cases last year.

The Police Agency reported that incidents of animal abuse, including killings and abandonment, reached 181 cases nationwide last year. This figure represents an increase of 15 cases from the previous year and is the highest since records began in 2010.

Of these cases, abuse involving dogs and cats accounted for 162 incidents, comprising about 90% of the total. There were also reported cases of cruelty toward chickens, hamsters, rabbits, cows, and turtles.

Over 60% of these cases were discovered through reports from third parties, not the owners themselves.

The Police Agency notes that, against the backdrop of a pet boom, there is a rising trend in the number of animal cruelty cases. They state, "If no improvement is seen following guidance, strict enforcement will be pursued."

Additionally, there were 26 cases last year involving individuals who had transitioned or moved from companies and unlawfully took trade secrets related to business activities. This number is down by three from the previous year, yet remains significantly high. Police consultations also increased by 19 from the previous year to a record 78 cases.

Source: TBS

Nine-Minute Drone Video Shows Scale of Aeon Mall Damage

A 9-minute, 13-second drone video filmed inside Aeon Mall Kumamoto two days after the deadly explosion has provided a detailed view of the destruction, showing collapsed ceilings, heavy dust and widespread damage that may have affected between one-third and nearly half of the shopping center.

Conditions Ease as Typhoon No. 18 Passes Okinawa

Strong Typhoon No. 18 was moving northwest through the East China Sea on the night of August 26, gradually pulling away from Okinawa and the Amami Islands as lingering rain, strong winds and high waves were expected to ease. As of 9 p.m. on August 26, the typhoon was over waters north-northwest of Kume Island and moving northwest.

Mystery Deepens with 39 Kg Bread Trail Across Tottori

A series of mysterious illegal dumping incidents involving about 39 kilograms of sliced bread has been reported around Mount Daisen and other parts of Tottori Prefecture in August, with officials investigating whether the food may have been deliberately placed to attract wild animals.

Osaka Couple Donate 400 Million Yen for Giant Myaku-Myaku Statue at Expo Site

An 85-year-old couple have donated a combined 400 million yen to Osaka City with a request that the money be used to create a giant Myaku-Myaku statue about 20 meters tall at the former site of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, envisioning a landmark that could become a lasting symbol of the event and of renewed prosperity for Kansai and Japan.

Lawson to Cut Onigiri Prices by 10 Yen

Lawson plans to cut prices on its main line of onigiri rice balls by 10 yen from September 29 as falling rice prices begin to feed through to retail costs.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Bus Driver Crashes While Shooing Away Mosquito

A Toei bus crashed into a traffic signal in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward on the morning of August 26 after the driver lost control of the steering wheel while trying to shoo away a mosquito, leaving two male passengers injured.

Don't Touch Paramedics' Shoes! Kanazawa Warns

Kanazawa's fire department is asking residents not to straighten or rearrange shoes removed by paramedics during emergency calls, warning that the well-intentioned gesture can delay the transport of patients by around 30 seconds and potentially interfere with medical care.

Luxury Watch Theft Carried Out in 10 Seconds

Two men who stole four luxury watches worth a combined 200 million yen from a store at Tokyo's Nakano Broadway may have carefully planned the 10-second theft, with one suspect renting an electric kick scooter shortly before the crime and investigators examining whether the other man's escape on foot was intended as a decoy.

Young Driver Dies After Possible Bear Collision

A 23-year-old man died after his car overturned and was badly damaged in Nemuro, Hokkaido, early on August 24, with police investigating whether the vehicle may have collided with a brown bear or another wild animal after black fur was found attached to the wreckage.

High School Student Dies in Accident at Niigata Festival

An 18-year-old high school student died after being trapped between a large festival lantern and a shopping arcade pillar during a traditional lantern-pushing event in Agano, Niigata Prefecture, on the evening of August 24, raising renewed questions about safety measures at festivals involving large crowds and heavy structures.

Pleasure Boat Runs Aground Near Haneda Airport

Nine people were injured, including two seriously, after a pleasure boat carrying 10 people ran aground near the mouth of the Tama River close to Haneda Airport on the evening of August 24.

Osaka Couple Donate 400 Million Yen for Giant Myaku-Myaku Statue at Expo Site

Four Teens Arrested After Stolen Ketchup Thrown at Woman in Tokyo

Four teenage boys have been arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of stealing ketchup and other goods from a supermarket before splashing the ketchup on the face and body of a woman in her 70s, with one suspect telling police he had targeted around 10 people in similar attacks.

< 2 3 4 5 >