Society

Four Bar Staff Arrested for Ripping Off Disabled Man

TOKYO, May 28 (News On Japan) - Tokyo police have arrested four more suspects in connection with an extortion scheme that used a matchmaking app designed for people with disabilities to lure victims to a bar and demand excessive payments.

The suspects include Shunta Suzuki, a self-described nightlife business operator, and three other men and women. According to investigators, in February, the group used the app to contact a man with a physical disability and invited him to the bar "Queen" in Shibuya, where they allegedly demanded 250,000 yen in cash for food and drinks and later confined him in a sauna facility in Tokyo.

Police say the suspects took the man's smartphone to monitor his actions and, by the following morning, forced him to sign multiple contracts with consumer finance companies. The group is believed to have obtained a total of 2.42 million yen through this scheme.

The victim, who wears leg braces and has difficulty walking, told police he was unable to flee. Suzuki reportedly admitted to the charges, stating that he "gave instructions based on a manual."

Source: TBS

Where to Buy Cheap Stockpile Rice?

The newly announced price of 1,800 yen per 5 kilograms for low-cost rice has sparked strong interest across the Kansai region, with public agencies and retailers moving quickly to secure supplies amid growing consumer demand for affordable staple foods.

AI-Themed Poem Takes First Place in Salaryman Senryu

Every year, the “Salaryman Senryu” competition captures the mood of the times through humorous verse, and this year’s top ten results were announced on May 29th.

Osaka University to Accept Researchers from U.S. After Harvard Ban

Osaka University has announced it will accept up to 100 medical researchers from the United States in response to a policy by the Trump administration that suspended the acceptance of international students at Harvard University.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Delivers Opening Remarks in Japanese in Landmark Summit

Prime Minister Ishiba met with Montenegrin Prime Minister Spajic in Tokyo on May 28th during the latter’s official visit to Japan, marking what both leaders described as a historic occasion.

Japan Enacts First Law to Promote AI

Japan’s first law dedicated specifically to artificial intelligence has been passed by the Upper House of the Diet, with the so-called AI Promotion Law formally enacted in May.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Debate Over Euthanasia in Japan Reignited by ALS Murder Case

"Please let me die with dignity." This was a social media post believed to have been written by a woman suffering from ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, before she was killed in 2019 at her own request. The case, in which two doctors were arrested and tried, ignited a national debate on euthanasia in Japan—specifically, the ethical and legal implications of assisting the terminally ill to end their lives.

Japanese Nationals Held in Cambodia Over Suspected Phone Scam Ring

More than 20 Japanese nationals have been detained by authorities in northwestern Cambodia on suspicion of being involved in a special fraud operation based in a local building.

Four Bar Staff Arrested for Ripping Off Disabled Man

Tokyo police have arrested four more suspects in connection with an extortion scheme that used a matchmaking app designed for people with disabilities to lure victims to a bar and demand excessive payments.

Two-Year Neighbor Feud Escalates in Ehime

In the town of Tobe in Ehime Prefecture, a woman was caught on camera shouting loudly, "What’s your problem? Come out! Come out now!" while throwing an object into her neighbor's yard. A man living next door has filed a complaint, saying the harassment has been ongoing for two years.

Sacred Tree Linked to Ryoma Sakamoto Collapses at Kyoto Shrine

An 850-year-old sacred tree with ties to Ryoma Sakamoto has collapsed at Takenobu Inari Shrine in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, damaging parts of the shrine's main and auxiliary buildings. No injuries were reported.

Wandering Youth in Kego Area Face Loneliness

At night, Kego Park in central Fukuoka becomes a gathering place for youth with nowhere else to go—teenagers and young adults who have lost their footing at home or in school. The area has come to be known as "the Kego scene."

Unauthorized Drone Filming at Tokyo Skytree by Foreign Videographer

An unauthorized drone flight that came dangerously close to Tokyo Skytree has drawn sharp public criticism and is now under review by authorities for potential violations of Japan's aviation laws.

A Generational Shift in Mobile Messaging Culture

Emojis have evolved into a shared shorthand for emotion and intent, shaping not only how people text, but how they relate to one another online. Now, as NTT Docomo prepares to retire its original emoji set after 26 years, it marks the end of a uniquely Japanese chapter in the global story of digital expression.

< 2 3 4 5 >