Japan's Population Declines for 13th Consecutive Year

Japan has been struggling to cope with a combination of anaemic economic growth and a shrinking population for over 30 years. 2025 marks the tipping point when the rising costs outstrip the country's capacity to pay for them. (Financial Times)

Japanese women are often admired internationally for their beauty and kindness, particularly during the dating phase, when many present themselves as sweet, supportive, and attentive partners. Foreign men are often captivated by this image, but many are unprepared for the transformation that can occur after marriage and especially after children. (Japanese Comedian Meshida)

A 22-year-old man known for repeatedly posting nuisance videos on TikTok, was arrested by Osaka police on suspicion of confining a female gas station employee in a car on May 19th in Hirano Ward after he and an accomplice allegedly lured her into the vehicle under false pretenses as part of another stunt.

A growing number of so-called men’s concept cafes in Osaka are drawing scrutiny for blurring the line between themed entertainment and unlicensed adult services. In one case, a cafe was found offering a single drink for 1.65 million yen, underscoring the escalating concerns around financial exploitation and regulatory loopholes.

A man walked straight out of the building, eyes fixed ahead. He was identified as 54-year-old Taniguchi, the manager of a private massage parlor, and is among nine people arrested on suspicion of illegally soliciting customers for prostitution on the streets of Gotanda, Tokyo.

"I was stabbed in the chest with cooking chopsticks." That’s how A, a man in his 40s living in Shikoku, describes the abuse he endured from his ex-wife about 15 years ago. "Things like that happened all the time. It felt like hell," he recalls.

A gang leader arrested in connection with the theft of 172 Rolex watches valued at approximately 280 million yen has been released without indictment, Osaka prosecutors announced.

A growing number of foreign nationals are converting their overseas driver's licenses into Japanese licenses through a process known as gaimen kirikae—a system that has come under scrutiny due to apparent loopholes and increasingly lax enforcement.