Society

Man Confesses: Gifu Stabbing Was Self-Harm, Not a Crime

GIFU, Jan 26 (News On Japan) - Gifu Police have announced that what was initially reported as a stabbing incident in Gifu City was, in fact, an act of self-harm by the victim.

The incident occurred on the morning of January 24th, when a passerby reported seeing a man on the street in Gifu City who appeared to have been stabbed and claimed, "Someone did this to me."

The man suffered a deep wound to his abdomen, and police initially investigated the case as a possible random attack.

However, on the night of January 25th, police revealed that the man confessed, saying, "I actually stabbed myself." Authorities concluded that the incident was an act of self-harm and determined there was no criminal involvement.

Source: FNN

Legionella Bacteria Found at Osaka Expo’s Quiet Forest and Water Plaza

Legionella bacteria have been detected in multiple locations at the Osaka-Kansai Expo site, prompting health and safety measures. According to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, seawater collected on June 3rd from the Water Plaza, where water shows are held, was found to contain Legionella bacteria at 20 times the guideline limit.

Japan's Annual Births Fall Below 700,000 for the First Time

The number of babies born in Japan in 2024 fell below 700,000 for the first time since recordkeeping began in 1899, highlighting the nation’s accelerating demographic crisis. According to population statistics released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on June 4th, the number of births dropped to 686,061—down more than 40,000 from the previous year.

Convenience Stores Nationwide to Sell Government Rice in 1–2 kg Packs

Three major convenience store chains will soon begin selling government stockpiled rice in small packages of 1 to 2 kilograms. FamilyMart will start selling rice harvested in 2021—classified as old stock—at 20 locations in Tokyo and Osaka starting June 6th. The rice will be priced at 360 yen per kilogram, excluding tax, with plans for a nationwide rollout.

Cash Storage to Be Banned in Safe Deposit Boxes

Mitsubishi UFJ Bank and other institutions are moving to revise rules on the use of safe deposit boxes following a string of thefts, with the Japanese Bankers Association now working toward a ban on storing cash in these boxes.

Shigeo Nagashima, Symbol of Japan’s Golden Age of Baseball, Dies at 89

Shigeo Nagashima, one of Japan’s most iconic postwar figures and known as "Mr. Pro Baseball," has died at the age of 89, it was learned on June 3rd. A native of Chiba Prefecture, Nagashima helped define an era of professional baseball and became a national hero.

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Record Number of Stalker Arrests in 2024

The number of people arrested for violating Japan’s anti-stalking law reached a record high of 1,341 in 2024, while consultations regarding the misuse of tracking devices such as Apple’s AirTag also hit an all-time high, prompting the National Police Agency (NPA) to consider new regulations.

Man Ordered to Vacate Home After Years of Harassment in Osaka Suburb

A man who repeatedly harassed his neighbors in a residential area of Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture, has been ordered to leave his home following a ruling by the Osaka High Court on June 4th.

Four Arrested for Selling Elephant Ivory as Mammoth Tusk

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Around 100 Dead Cats Found at Animal Rescuer’s Home

A woman involved in cat rescue activities in Kumamoto City was found to have kept the remains of around 100 cats at her residence, raising concerns over a breakdown in multi-animal care.

Japanese Nationals Killed in China in Suspected Business Conflict

Two Japanese men were killed in Dalian, northeastern China, last month, according to an announcement by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Woman Arrested for Sheltering Man After Car Fell Onto Expressway in Hamamatsu

A 34-year-old woman has been arrested in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, on suspicion of harboring a man who fled the scene after a car crash that left two children behind. The incident occurred on June 1st when a car veered off a municipal road and fell onto the Tōmei Expressway in the city’s Chūō Ward.

Maids Join Antigroping Campaign at JR Akihabara Station

As the number of groping incidents tends to rise in the summer months, maid café workers and local students gathered in front of JR Akihabara Station in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward to raise awareness and call for the elimination of such crimes.

Father May Have Killed Wife and Children in Murder-Suicide

A woman in her 20s and her two young daughters were found dead in their apartment in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on the morning of June 2nd, while the body of the father was discovered on a nearby road. Police suspect the man killed his family before taking his own life in a case of murder-suicide.

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