Society

Fortune-Teller Follower Found Guilty of Forging Suicide Note

OSAKA, Apr 15 (News On Japan) - A woman accused of conspiring with a fortune teller to forge a suicide note belonging to a male follower was handed a suspended prison sentence on April 15th, in a case linked to the alleged coercion of two men into taking their own lives.

The case centers on Yoshie Hamada, 64, a fortune teller accused of inciting two male followers to commit suicide in the sea off Wakayama Prefecture six years ago, while fellow follower Sawako Terasaki, 48, was charged with assisting Hamada, including forging a suicide note for one of the men.

Terasaki admitted to the charges during the trial, and prosecutors had sought a two-year prison sentence, arguing that she had fully understood the purpose behind the crimes.

In its ruling on April 15th, the Osaka District Court stated that Terasaki’s act of creating and submitting forged documents was malicious, while also acknowledging that she had been instructed to cut off contact with the outside world and found it difficult to defy Hamada’s directives, ultimately sentencing her to two years in prison, suspended for four years.

Hamada’s trial is still ongoing, with her defense arguing that she should be found not guilty on the grounds of insanity.

Source: YOMIURI

Bluefin Tuna Prices Tumble on Record Haul

Bluefin tuna, now being caught in unusually large numbers around areas such as Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, is becoming significantly more affordable, with some restaurant operators even saying it is cheaper than horse mackerel.

Is Japan Really Running Short of Naphtha?

The impact of Japan’s growing naphtha shortage is spreading across a widening range of industries, raising concerns about manufacturing, logistics, and even daily consumer life.

Japanese Cinema in Cannes Spotlight

The Cannes Film Festival opened this week with three Japanese films nominated for the festival’s top prize, the Palme d'Or, including 'Sheep in the Box' directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, 'Nagi Notes' directed by Koji Fukada, and 'Suddenly Feeling Unwell' directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi.

Japan Greenlights Coverage for iPS Parkinson’s Treatment

Japan has approved the application of public health insurance to a regenerative medicine product using iPS cells to treat Parkinson’s disease, marking the world’s first practical use of iPS cell-based regenerative medicine.

Chinese Buyers Drive Property Surge in Japan’s Luxury Districts

Foreign acquisition of Japanese land has become a growing topic of debate in recent years, and now the trend is reaching Ashiya, one of the Kansai region’s most prestigious residential areas, where soaring property prices are increasingly being linked to demand from wealthy Chinese buyers.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Yakuza Boss Found Not Guilty Again in Shooting of Rival Gang Member

The Osaka High Court upheld the acquittal on May 12th of Hiroshi Nakata, the 67-year-old head of the Yamaken-gumi faction, who had been charged with shooting and seriously injuring a member of a rival crime syndicate in Kobe in 2019.

Parents and Brother Arrested Over Confinement of Teenage Girl in Closet

Police have arrested a couple in their 40s and their son in his 20s for allegedly confining a teenage girl inside a locked closet at their Tokyo home under the guise of discipline.

Empress Masako Attends National Red Cross Convention as Honorary President

The National Red Cross Convention held on May 12 honored people involved in Red Cross activities across Japan. Empress Masako, serving as honorary president, attended the event alongside other female members of the Imperial Family, including Crown Princess Kiko, who serves as vice honorary president.

Suspects Use Bear Spray in Failed Backpack Robbery

Three men, including 22-year-old Sakuya Murakami from Takatsuki City in Osaka Prefecture, were arrested on suspicion of robbery resulting in injury after allegedly spraying a man in the face with what is believed to have been bear repellent and attempting to steal his backpack on a street in Nagaokakyo, Kyoto Prefecture, in April.