Society

Fire in Tokyo Leaves Four Dead, Including Three Children

TOKYO, May 23 (Kyodo) - Four people, likely to be three children and one woman, were found dead after a fire broke out on Thursday at a house in Tokyo, according to Japan's fire authorities and investigative sources.

The four, all believed to have been residents of the house in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward, appear to have been slashed, according to the sources. A man, around his 40s, was taken to a hospital after inhaling smoke and the police are expected to question him.

Firefighters received a call around 1:30 p.m. about the blaze, which burnt part of the first floor of the house. The four bodies were found on a futon mattress in a room on the first floor.

Japan's Academics Demand Independence

Scholars affiliated with the Science Council of Japan formed a symbolic human chain in front of the National Diet building on May 8th, calling for revisions to the government’s proposed reform bill targeting the council’s structure, as deliberations enter their final phase in the Diet.

Inside Japan’s Failing Sewers

Across Japan, road collapses have been occurring with increasing frequency, often blamed on aging infrastructure. In one recent incident in Ashioshi, Saitama Prefecture, a truck was swallowed by a gaping sinkhole.

Two Men Arrested for Breaking Into Tokyo School

Two men who were arrested for forcibly entering an elementary school in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, and assaulting staff members have been identified as friends of a student's mother. One of the suspects denies the charges, claiming he was only brushing people off after being restrained.

Cherry Blossoms Reach Final Stage, Six Days Earlier Than Average

Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in Wakkanai and Kushiro, marking the near completion of Japan's cherry blossom front for 2025.

Lack of Sleep After Golden Week May Signal Sleep Disorder, Experts Warn

As many in Japan returned to work or school on May 7th following the Golden Week holiday, a growing number are reporting post-holiday fatigue and sleep deprivation—conditions that experts warn may point to deeper sleep-related issues.

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