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March 31, 2025
 

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Officials of the National Public Safety Commission inspect the Kabukicho area of Shinjuku, Tokyo, in June 2024, as crimes committed by unscrupulous host clubs have surfaced.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal / FOCUS
Mar 24, 2025
Crimes by 'tokuryu' anonymous groups pose serious issue in Japan
Police have made capturing the ringleaders a top priority but are struggling in their investigations, largely due to the criminals' use of highly encrypted communication apps.
The Metropolitan Police Department in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. Tokyo police have arrested a number of suspects this month in connection with home improvement scams.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 17, 2025
Police issue warning over home improvement scams
Such scams use similar tactics to those employed by fraudsters who impersonate relatives or public agency officials over the phone to defraud victims of their money.
Salvadoran police officers escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua recently deported by the U.S. government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center prison, as part of an agreement with the Salvadoran government, at the El Salvador International Airport in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador, in this image released on Sunday.
WORLD / Politics
Mar 17, 2025
U.S. flies alleged gang members to El Salvador despite court block
Legal experts called the move the most radical test of America's system of checks and balances since the Civil War.
The illuminated advertising board of a host club in Tokyo's Kabukicho entertainment district. The bill approved by the government on Friday aims to ban hosts from emotionally manipulating customers into making excessive purchases — a common tactic in the industry.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 7, 2025
Japan looks to crack down on host club exploitation with tighter regulations
Police received 2,776 consultations nationwide related to host clubs last year, with many involving women coerced into sex work to cover unpaid bills.
Migrants picked up at sea attempting to cross the English Channel from France disembark from Border Force vessel 'Typhoon' after it arrived at the Marina in Dover, southeast England, on Feb. 9.
WORLD
Feb 14, 2025
Britain wants to smash the gangs — but what gangs?
Experts say a bill against smuggling gangs and anti-smuggling laws across Europe will not stem migration and often target the wrong people.
Asylum seekers line up before crossing to the U.S. for appointments at El Chaparral crossing port in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on Monday.
WORLD / Crime & Legal / FOCUS
Jan 18, 2025
Gangs cash in on desperation of U.S.-bound migrants
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office next week, gangs are using threats and extortion to exploit migrants trying to arrive in time.
Ten people are suspected of forcibly entering a club in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward on Dec. 17 last year and assaulting a male security guard.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 6, 2024
Alleged operator of anonymous X account arrested over club assault
Z-Ri, a pun on the name of the kung-fu actor Jet Li, is an influential account that posts about the inner workings of Japan's underworld.
National Police Agency Commissioner General Yasuhiro Tsuyuki
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 6, 2024
Police protected yami baito applicants in 125 cases
Since mid-October, the National Police Agency has been calling on applicants for such jobs to seek police advice and protection.
Keiko Muto, a suspect arrested on burglary resulting in injury charges after allegedly acting as the financial coordinator, is being transferred in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 4, 2024
Saitama police arrest suspected yami baito financial coordinator
A 26-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly acting as the financial coordinator in a violent burglary that occurred in October.
Tokyo police have arrested six Chinese nationals on suspicion of unlawful confinement and attempted extortion involving a 23-year-old exchange student who had become involved in a financial dispute over a yami baito, or a “dark” part-time job.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 29, 2024
Tokyo police arrest six Chinese nationals over yami baito scheme
The six people are being held on suspicion of unlawful confinement and attempted extortion involving a 23-year-old exchange student.
Tomohiro Koyama (center), who was arrested for his suspected involvement in a fraud case, arrives at Narita Airport on Tuesday afternoon from Manila.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 20, 2024
Senior JP Dragon member linked to Luffy crime group arrested
Tomohiro Koyama was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department on board an aircraft while being deported from the Philippines.
The group executive is denying violating the employment security law, while the other four have admitted to it, according to sources.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 19, 2024
Japan police arrest executive of group referring women to sex trade
According to the sources, the group, called "Akusesu," had about 160 members who used aliases among themselves.
Jun Kiyohara and three other Japanese men have been transferred from the Philippines to Japan and arrested Monday for allegedly being involved in a fraud case.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 19, 2024
Japanese police arrest four alleged fraudsters based in Cambodia
The men are believed to be members of a group based in Phnom Penh that engaged in scams classified as special fraud in Japan.
Osaka police arrested Yuji Imai, 37, along with Hiroshi Shima, 21, who had already been arrested and indicted on two other similar cases.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 15, 2024
Suspected ringleader of burglaries linked to 'dark' jobs arrested in Osaka
Osaka police believe Yuji Imai, 37, ordered the break-ins and sent out instructions to recruit more grunt workers.
Soldiers patrol as people flee armed gang violence in Yajalon, Chiapas state, Mexico, on June 9.
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Nov 12, 2024
Crime costs Latin America and Caribbean almost what region spends on education
Beyond the human toll, the cost of crime amounts to almost 80% of the region's public budgets for education.
Mazuki Takarada, who was arrested last month in connection with the murder of a 75-year-old man in Yokohama, is believed to be part of a series of robberies that have taken place in and around Tokyo since the summer.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 10, 2024
Japanese police seize over 100 smartphones stolen in serial robberies
The police are making gradual progress with more than 50 arrests, but the ringleaders remain at large due to the group's system of anonymity.
Rikuto Nagata was handed an indefinite prison term for his involvement in a total of six robberies in four prefectures in recent years.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 7, 2024
Man sentenced to indefinite term for serial robberies in Japan
Rikuto Nagata was indicted on charges including robbery resulting in death
Yuya Nagura is taken to the Tokorozawa Police Station in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Saturday after being arrested on suspicion of recruiting people to rob a house in the city.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 4, 2024
Alleged recruiter of Saitama burglary ring arrested
Investigative sources said that Yuya Nagura used social media to post adverts with phrases like "easy job" and "goods transport" to recruit individuals.
The Metropolitan Police Department headquarters in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 30, 2024
Men break into Tokyo residence in attempted robbery before fleeing
Since the end of August, there have been more than 20 cases of robbery, and breaking and entering in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
A police officer stands guard on Oct. 16 near a home in Yokohama where an elderly man was found dead in a robbery-murder case.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 24, 2024
'Dark lists' shed light on how Japan's robbers narrow down targets
Since August, at least seven residents have been robbed across Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures with a similar modus operandi.
Japan's biggest beef bowl chain Sukiya to shut nearly 2,000 stores after rat and bug contamination
Zensho Holdings, operator of fast-food chain Sukiya, said it will close all of its stores in Japan, except for a small number in shopping centers, between Monday and Friday following recent contamination incidents.
School-age suicides in Japan hit all-time high
A volunteer handles an incoming call at the Tokyo Befrienders call center, a suicide hotline center in Japan's capital.
Japan considers all possible options as Trump threatens new auto tariffs
Subaru cars awaiting export at a port in Yokohama on Thursday.
In Tokyo, Pentagon chief provides assurances that Japan-U.S. alliance remains robust
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani (left) and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth review an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo ahead of their talks Sunday.
Japan, South Korea and China vow to strengthen trade ties amid looming U.S. tariffs
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto (left), South Korean Trade Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun (center) and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao during a trilateral meeting in Seoul on Sunday
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
Tokyo tech failures lean into misfortune, mistakes and missteps
Tsuyoshi Domoto in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on March 28. As an entrepreneur, Domoto experienced plenty of setbacks but maintains a positive attitude and continues to pursue his dreams.
Who among the opposition would join the ruling coalition?
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba enters his office in Tokyo on Friday.
Traveling the Three-Star Road, the tourist route made from thin air
Scenes like this snow-covered bridge leading to the village of Shirakawa-go are what make the Three-Star Road worth traveling — its name notwithstanding.
Recent spate of wildfires in Japan and South Korea linked to climate change
Smoke and flames rise from a wildfire in Andong, South Korea, on Tuesday.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone. 
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan
By Johan Brooks

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