Society

Cannabis Cases Hit Record High in Japan

TOKYO, Apr 02 (News On Japan) - The number of people apprehended nationwide for cannabis-related offenses, including possession and use, reached a record 6,832 over the past year, with more than 70 percent of those involved aged 20 or younger, highlighting the growing spread of the drug among younger generations, according to data compiled by the National Police Agency.

The figure marked an increase of 754 cases compared with the previous year, setting a new record high.

By age group, those in their 20s accounted for 3,633 cases, while 1,373 involved individuals under the age of 20, both representing the highest levels seen in the past decade.

Among younger offenders, 243 were university students, 315 were high school students, and 28 were junior high school students.

People aged 20 and under made up more than 70 percent of all cases, underscoring the seriousness of cannabis use spreading among youth.

Between April and June of last year, five individuals, including male high school students, were arrested in Miyazaki Prefecture on suspicion of possessing cannabis.

A survey conducted by the National Police Agency last year targeting those apprehended for suspected violations of the Narcotics Control Act found that more than 40 percent of individuals aged 20 and under learned about dealers through the internet, with over 90 percent of those cases involving social media.

On social media platforms, transactions using coded language referring to cannabis have become widespread.

Regarding awareness of the drug’s harmful effects, 53.6 percent of respondents said there was "none" or "little," a stark contrast to 3.5 percent for stimulant drugs, revealing a widespread misunderstanding of cannabis risks.

Meanwhile, seizures of cannabis concentrates such as liquid forms totaled approximately 315 kilograms over the past year, more than four times the previous year and the highest on record.

The National Police Agency has raised concerns that the spread of social media is making it easier than ever to obtain cannabis and other drugs.

Source: TBS

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.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Garbage Burnoff Spreads to 3 Buildings in Okayama

A fire that broke out in Kagamino, Okayama Prefecture, shortly after noon on May 20th destroyed three buildings, including a home, after flames from open burning spread to dead leaves and then to nearby structures.

Gang Members Arrested After Opening Office Near Nursery

Six people, including a senior member of a group affiliated with the Sumiyoshi-kai crime syndicate's Kohei-ikka faction, have been arrested on suspicion of opening a gang office in a prohibited area near a nursery school in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward.

Six Police Officers Injured After Man Sprays Liquid at Station

A man who visited a police station in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, in the early hours of May 21st allegedly sprayed a transparent liquid inside the building, causing six police officers to complain of eye and throat pain and be taken to hospital with minor injuries.