Many Japanese news media outlets are reporting that Ai Kago (age 23), formerly of Morning Musume attempted to commit suicide on September 11th. She was found in her apartment in Roppongi in Tokyo by a member of her talent agency. The agency member then immediately called 119 (the equivalent in Japan to 911) for an […]
Former Morning Musume Ai Kago Suicide Attempt Read More »
The Fukuoka Prefectural Police have released a large warning message on their homepage about a recent rise in crimes committed with hand grenades. Although we think of Japan as a place without guns, there are a few gun related crimes every once in a while. This is the first I’ve heard of hand grenade crimes
Hand Grenade Crime on the Rise in Japan? Read More »
In the what happens where you live happens where we live category, a 23 year old female teacher at a prefectural high school in Saitama was caught in the act of having sex with an 11th grade male student. The teacher was at the school as a temporary substitute. The teacher had been communicating with
Female Teacher Caught Sleeping With High School Student in Japan Read More »
I am writing about this story for two reasons. The first is that yes, there are drugs in Japan and they are not hard to obtain. (This is contrary to how shiny, happy, mainstream media usually portrays Japan in English.) Secondly, I’ve found that when anyone is arrested for drug possession in Japan, there is
JR Driver Arrested with Marijuana Bought from Non-Japanese Read More »
Employees of the Kobe love hotel “Swing” were arrested in a recent police sting for lending Wii and PlayStation 3 to customers. Yes, they let guests of the hotel use their Wiis for entertainment without permission of copyright holders of games such as Mario Cart and BioHazard 5. With all that may or may not
Kobe Love Hotel Employees Arrested for Lending Wii Read More »
Since this story has already been covered in the English language media, I’ll just provide the basic story, but this is yet another tragedy that seems like it could have been avoided. Although no external signs that the death resulted from the detainment, the man had been handcuffed and gagged with a towel. I am
Man from Ghana Dies After Being Restrained by Immigration Officers Read More »
Although this is just being reported now, the suicide happened in June of 2007! Although the family of the Indian student who committed suicide asked the Otemon Gakuin University to investigate, the school let this case sit on a shelf for 3 years. The university made no report until the bereaved family hired a lawyer
Bullied Indian Student at Otemon Gakuin University Commits Suicide Read More »
If you did not happen to be in Japan in 2005 when the horrific train crash occurred in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, it is worth looking some of the background stories. Many people remember Toyota’s troubles with the Prius and other cars, and some of the denials and lack of action that happened. On this blog
Denial and Back Story on the 2005 JR West Amagasaki Train Crash Read More »
This is breaking news out of Fukuoka. A 69 year old American English conversation teacher has been arrested on charges of child molestation. There are reportedly as many as 40 possible victims in the case. The abuse happened over a period of over a decade. He is also accused of having taken photographs and videos
This is a very sad story out of Osaka that illustrates the tragedy that can result from a breakdown in communication. Makoto Hamada, a 42 year old cook, killed his 42 year old wife, 15 year old son, and 12 year old daughter while distraught over 5,000,000 yen in debt. He strangled the three in
Japanese Man Kills Family Over Secret Debt Unknowing of Wife’s Secret Savings Read More »
In March 2006, a teacher in Yamanashi Prefecture was murdered by a student who had graduated from the school 24 years prior. Fifty-nine year old Yuji Iwama was found dead of multiple stab wounds. The perpetrator’s name was not released because he was determined to be mentally ill. The man who suffered from persecution complex
Teacher’s Murder At Hands of Former Student Called Work-Related Death Read More »
A 48 year old police captain from Chiba Prefecture was arrested in Ibaraki for stealing an “bishojo” anime figurine at a recycle (second hand) shop. The figure was worth about 6,500 yen (about $71 now). Upon his arrest, he commented “Ma ga sashite, yatte shimatta.” Which has the sound of “the devil made me do
Chiba Police Captain Arrested for Stealing Sexy Anime Figure Read More »