In case you missed them, here are the most shared stories from The Japan Times for July 2014.

The top 10 most shared new stories

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Welfare ruling stuns foreigners The landmark decision by the Supreme Court that permanent foreign residents of Japan are not entitled to welfare benefits will discourage more municipalities than ever from doling out such aid amid ballooning public assistance expenditures.

Sasebo teen held for allegedly strangling, decapitating friend

The teenager was arrested on suspicion of killing a high school friend who was visiting her apartment in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, police said.