Japan Grand Slam Champ Arrested in Romance Scam

Jul 23, 2026 | News On Japan

KAGOSHIMA - Former professional tennis player Rika Hiraki, who won the mixed doubles title at the 1997 French Open, has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in a romance scam.

Hiraki, 54, is suspected of conspiring with others four years ago to defraud a woman in Kagoshima Prefecture of 300,000 yen, according to Sukumo Police Station.

The woman was contacted through social media by a man posing as a doctor working at a hospital in Paris. He allegedly told her, "I have named you as the recipient of compensation money for my late wife," and instructed her to transfer 300,000 yen into a designated bank account.

Police said the account was registered in Hiraki's name.

Investigators also found other transactions in the account believed to be connected to fraud. Hiraki has denied the allegation, according to police.

Source: TBS

Okinawa Braces for Typhoon No. 24

Typhoon No. 24 remained nearly stationary south of Japan on September 2 but is forecast to move north toward Okinawa, bringing the risk of sudden heavy rain and stronger winds from the afternoon while waves are expected to rise steadily as the storm lingers nearby. As of 6 a.m. on September 2, the typhoon was located south of Japan and was expected to approach Okinawa while passing to the east of the main island.

Japan to Conduct First Nationwide Survey of Animal Cafes

Japan's Environment Ministry will conduct its first survey of animal cafes, where customers can interact with animals including exotic species, as concerns grow over infection risks, injuries and the welfare burden placed on animals.

Haneda Tightens Baggage Deadline

Haneda Airport introduced two major changes on September 2, opening a new boarding facility at Terminal 1 while moving the checked-baggage deadline for all domestic flights to 30 minutes before departure.

USJ Eyes First-Ever Park Expansion

Universal Studios Japan is considering its first expansion since opening in 2001, with plans to use about 60,000 square meters of former Nippon Steel factory land adjacent to the park and potentially increase its total area by roughly 10%.

Japan Cuts Speed Limit on Residential Roads to 30 km/h

Japan will lower the statutory speed limit on certain residential roads from 60 kilometers per hour to 30 km/h from September 1, with police in Hyogo Prefecture urging drivers to familiarize themselves with the new rules and drive more carefully in neighborhood areas.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sports NEWS

Aonishiki Returns to Ozeki as Autumn Grand Sumo Rankings Announced

The Japan Sumo Association announced the rankings for the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on August 31, with last tournament's champion Aonishiki returning to ozeki after two tournaments and taking the second position on the east side of the rankings.

Japan U-18 Baseball Team Begins Training for Asian Championship

Japan's high school baseball national team began preparations for the U-18 Asian Baseball Championship with a training session in Yokohama on August 28, as the squad looks to capture the continental title at the tournament opening in Taiwan on September 7.

Basketball celebration in Berlin: Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 preview

From September 4 to 13, the German capital will become the epicenter of women’s basketball.

Children Try Cricket Ahead of Asian Games

Families and children tried their hand at cricket at an event in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, on August 29, designed to build interest in the sport ahead of its competition at the Asian Games.

Scoop on National Goldfish Scooping Championship

Around 1,500 competitors from across Japan gathered in Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture, for the National Goldfish Scooping Championship, testing their skills in three-minute contests to determine the country's best goldfish scoopers.

Japan Team Holds Ceremony One Month Before Asian Games

Japan's delegation for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held a team formation ceremony at a hotel in Tokyo on August 19, exactly one month before the competition opens, with wrestler Akari Fujinami pledging that the athletes would "fight through to the very end" on home soil.

Asian Games Plans Evacuation Measures

Organizers of the Asian Games and Asian Para Games are preparing evacuation plans for athletes and officials staying in temporary container houses and a cruise ship at Nagoya Port, with around 20,000 participants and related personnel expected to visit Aichi Prefecture during the 23-day competition period beginning September 19.

Japan's Top High School Gamers Battle for National Esports Crown

STAGE:0, one of Japan's largest esports tournaments for high school students, has opened in Osaka, bringing together more than 2,000 teams from across the country to compete for the title of national champion.

< 2 3 4 5 >