Society

Ex-Wife of ‘Don Juan of Kishu’ Found Not Guilty in Murder Trial

Wakayama, Dec 12 (News On Japan) - The Wakayama District Court delivered a not-guilty verdict on December 12th in the trial of the former wife of a Wakayama-based wealthy man, popularly known as the ‘Don Juan of Kishu,’ who had been accused of murder and other charges.

According to the indictment, Sudo Saki was accused of killing her husband, Nozaki Kosuke, who was 77 at the time, by administering a lethal dose of stimulant drugs at his residence in Tanabe City in May 2018.

Prosecutors had sought a life sentence, asserting Sudo was responsible for ordering and receiving the drugs. However, during the December 12th court ruling, the Wakayama District Court pointed out that the stimulant drugs allegedly ordered by Sudo might have been rock candy instead.

The court further stated that Nozaki could have independently obtained stimulant drugs from another source. It concluded that the possibility of Nozaki accidentally overdosing on stimulants could not be ruled out and subsequently handed down a not-guilty verdict.

Source: ANN

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

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

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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