Fans demand Johnny's talent agency investigate sexual abuse claims
TOKYO, May 13 (Kyodo) -
Fans of idols belonging to Johnny & Associates Inc., one of Japan's most powerful talent agencies, said Thursday they have submitted a petition with around 16,000 signatures demanding that the firm investigate allegations of sexual abuse by its late founder Johnny Kitagawa.
The supporters, who spoke at a press conference in Tokyo, launched in April a group called Penlight to protest the agency's handling of such allegations after Kauan Okamoto, a 26-year-old Japanese-Brazilian singer and songwriter, claimed Kitagawa sexually abused him on multiple occasions as a young teen.
Kitagawa was the subject of numerous allegations of sexual misconduct, with the Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun publishing in 1999 a series detailing accusations of child abuse and sexual exploitation by several boys he had taken under his wing. ...continue reading
Couple arrested for leaving partially burned newborn baby found on Shizuoka coastline
Japan Today - Jun 03
Police in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, have arrested a 24-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man on suspicion of abandoning a newborn baby girl whose partially burned body was found along the coastline last month.
Man arrested for abusing girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter
Japan Today - May 31
Police in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, have arrested a 36-year-old self-employed man on suspicion of abusing his girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter.
Japanese court rules non-recognition of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional
NHK - May 31
A district court in central Japan has ruled that the government's failure to recognize same-sex marriage violates the country's constitution.
Cosplayers clean up Dotonbori
NOJ - May 29
About 200 people, including "cosplayers" dressed up as characters from manga and anime, cleaned up the Dotonbori area on Saturday, Kyodo reports.
Man fatally shot in Tokyo coffee shop; one of 2 suspects turns himself in
Japan Today - May 28
A man in his 50s was fatally shot in a coffee shop in Machida, Tokyo, on Friday night, in what police believe was a gang-related shooting. The shooter fled with an accomplice but later turned himself in at a police station.
4-year-old boy dies after falling from 12th-floor apartment in Yamaguchi Pref
Japan Today - May 28
A four-year-old boy fell to his death from the 12th floor of an apartment building in Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on Friday afternoon.
Muslim migrant damages Shinto shrine
opindia.com - May 27
A video has been going viral on social media wherein a man in yellow attire can be seen vandalising a worship place.
Suspect arrested after four killed in Japan gun and knife attack
arabnews.com - May 26
Police arrested a 31-year-old man Friday over a knife and gun attack in the city of Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, that left four people dead including two policemen.
How can foreigners make Japanese people happy?
Japanese Comedian Meshida - May 24
The Japanese pretend to be humble but they are a people who love to be praised. When a Japanese person says, "No, it is not true," it means more praise please.
Ennosuke's parents may have died of psychotropic poisoning, Tokyo police say
NHK - May 20
Tokyo police say the parents of popular kabuki actor Ichikawa Ennosuke may have died of psychotropic poisoning.
Nepalese students killed in auto crash may have been trying to fix bus's engine
NHK - May 18
Japanese police officials say two Nepalese men killed in a traffic accident in northeastern Japan on Tuesday may have been trying to help their bus driver fix the vehicle's engine.
Kobe man arrested after threatening driving school with 1,500 origami cranes
soranews24.com - May 18
On 11 May Hyogo Prefectural Police in Kobe City arrested a 22-year-old man for sending 15 threatening letters and one case containing roughly 1,500 origami cranes to his former driving school.
How a former yakuza criminal went from a jail cell in Japan to fighting the war in Ukraine
abc.net.au - May 17
From Japanese gangster to Ukrainian freedom fighter, Harusan is on a redemption arc. The 50-year-old moved to the eastern European country a year ago to fight against the Russian invaders.
Japan's 'dark gig' economy linked to series of brazen daylight robberies
South China Morning Post - May 17
A botched robbery of a Rolex watch store in Tokyo's glitzy Ginza district reportedly has all the hallmarks of what are known as yami baito or “dark part-time jobs” in Japan.
Bear attack on angler suspected after human head found at lake in Hokkaido
Japan Today - May 16
Police are searching for an angler who went missing at a lake in Hokkaido, suspecting he may have been attacked by a bear after a human head was found in the area Monday, they said.
Man arrested over murder of woman at Tokyo brothel
Japan Today - May 15
Police in Tokyo have arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of killing a woman in her 30s at a brothel where she worked.
