Society

Former Host Pleads Guilty to Receiving 25 Million Yen from "Riri-chan"

NAGOYA, Apr 24 (News On Japan) - A former host admitted to knowingly receiving approximately 25 million yen that had been deceitfully obtained by convicted scammer "Riri-chan," in a trial held on April 23.

The case has been a subject of keen interest, highlighting the manipulative use of emotional deception to commit financial fraud. The proceedings took place at the Nagoya District Court, where the defendant, Yuji Tanaka, formerly a host in Tokyo's Kabukicho district, appeared unsettled, frequently adjusting his hair and looking around nervously.

Tanaka is charged with accepting 24.8 million yen for food and drink expenses at his host club, knowing the money was acquired through deceit by Mai Watanabe, who professed romantic feelings to deceive her male patrons. During the trial, Tanaka acknowledged the charges brought against him.

Additionally, he faces other similar charges, and with the current case, the total amount received fraudulently adds up to 38.5 million yen. Watanabe, who has been a significant financial supporter of the former host Tanaka, was sentenced on April 22 to nine years in prison for her involvement in fraud and aiding in fraud.

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

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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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