Society

Battle Over Ashes of Aum Leader: Daughter’s Plea to Mourn

TOKYO, Jul 03 (News On Japan) - The second daughter of Shoko Asahara, the former leader of Aum Shinrikyo, appeared in court to request the handover of his ashes, expressing her desire to mourn his death as a daughter.

Shoko Asahara, born Chizuo Matsumoto, was executed at the age of 63. His daughter has filed a lawsuit demanding the government hand over his remains.

The Tokyo District Court ruled in favor of the daughter, ordering the handover, but the government appealed the decision.

During the appeals hearing at the Tokyo High Court, the daughter emotionally stated, "As his daughter, I want to take his remains and mourn his death. I do not want anyone to use my father anymore."

Conversely, the government argued that if the ashes were handed over to the cult, it could pose a significant threat to public safety and social order.

Source: ANN

Southern Kyushu Enters Rainy Season Earlier Than Okinawa for First Time in 49 Years

Southern Kyushu has entered the rainy season, marking the first time in 49 years that it has done so earlier than Okinawa. It is also the earliest rainy season start for any region in Japan since the Meteorological Agency began keeping records. Authorities are warning of heavy rainfall not only in Kyushu but across other parts of the country as well.

Saitama Road Collapse Recovery to Take 5-7 Years

A road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture is expected to take five to seven years to fully restore, local officials said on Friday, following the recovery of a truck cab that had remained lodged in the sewer system since the January accident.

Eighty Years On, Okinawa Remembers the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill

Eighty years have passed since the end of World War II, yet the memories of its fiercest battles continue to echo in the heart of Okinawa. The district of Omoromachi in central Naha, now a lively urban hub filled with people, was once the site of one of the bloodiest clashes of the Battle of Okinawa—the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill.

Aoi Festival Kicks Off in Kyoto

The Aoi Festival, one of Kyoto’s three major traditional festivals, began on May 15th with a vibrant procession of around 500 people dressed in elegant Heian-period garments making their way through the streets of the ancient capital.

Japan Marks 150 Years of Meters

Japan’s prototypes of the kilogram and meter, which once served as national standards for weight and length, were presented to the press this week ahead of the 150th anniversary of the Meter Convention, the international treaty that standardized global measurement systems, to be marked on May 20th.

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Driver Rams Into Kyoto House, Hits Utility Pole and Flees

A car crashed into a residential fence in Kyoto City after first hitting a utility pole and veering erratically for several hundred meters, according to local police. The incident occurred in a quiet residential area, where a witness who heard a strange noise captured the scene on video as the vehicle approached and came to a halt after plowing into the home’s boundary fence.

Three Arrested for Using Dating App to Scam Visually Impaired Man

A woman in her 20s and two other individuals were arrested on Thursday on suspicion of defrauding a visually impaired man by luring him through a dating app and charging him excessive fees at a bar.

Teenage Girls Caught Drinking Directly from Shared Pitcher at Sukiya

Two 16-year-old girls have been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of obstructing business operations after drinking tea directly from a shared pitcher at a Sukiya beef bowl restaurant in Osaka.

Lake Biwa Residents Battle Bird Droppings

The number of cormorants living near Lake Biwa has surged in recent years, and their impact is increasingly spilling into nearby residential neighborhoods. Once limited to the shoreline and riverbanks, the birds are now flocking to urban areas, causing serious problems with their droppings, foul odor, and incessant cries. Residents say the situation is becoming intolerable.

Loose Socks Make a Comeback in the Reiwa Era

Loose socks, once a symbol of 1990s gyaru fashion, are making a stylish comeback among Japan's Gen Z, driven by a broader 'Heisei retro' trend that celebrates nostalgic aesthetics. In Harajuku, young people are pairing the evolved, shorter versions of the socks with miniskirts and shorts.

Teenage Girl Found Dead After Abduction, 36-Year-Old Man Arrested

A 36-year-old unemployed man has been arrested on suspicion of abducting a teenage girl who was later found dead in Yamagata Prefecture. The suspect, Hiroki Kishinami from Fukushima City, has previously been arrested three times for offenses including the abduction of minors and assisting in suicides.

Black Market Jobs Lure Workers to Steal Japanese Card Data

A growing number of credit card fraud cases in Japan has been linked to a shadowy underground labor network, where Chinese nationals are suspected of stealing Japanese consumers' card data.

Vietnamese Man Arrested for Stealing Bonsai

A 30-year-old Vietnamese man has been arrested for allegedly stealing 22 high-end bonsai trees worth a total of 670,000 yen from a garden center in Akishima, Tokyo.

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