Man searched for woman through her livestream in Tokyo before killing her

  TOKYO: The man who allegedly killed a woman livestreaming on the streets of Tokyo reportedly said he came to Tokyo to search for her whereabouts while she was streaming. The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the details of the murder. The man, 42, is from Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture and allegedly killed the 22-year-old woman on...

Japan foreign minister calls Russia entry ban ‘unacceptable’

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said on Tuesday (March 4) that Russia's entry ban on him and eight other Japanese citizens was "unacceptable". The comments came a day after Russia's foreign ministry banned Iwaya, the ambassador of Japan to Ukraine and seven other Japanese from entering the country in retaliation to Tokyo's sanctions. Iwaya told reporters...

Japan set to raise tourist tax to counter overtourism

TOKYO: Japan’s government and ruling parties are considering raising the International Tourist Tax, which is currently 1,000 yen (US$6.67) per person and levied on people leaving Japan as a “departure tax”. The government intends to expand the purposes for which the tax revenue is used, such as measures against overtourism, which has become a problem in...

Japan’s Fuji Media tries to defuse ex-Smap member Nakai’s sex scandal, but it all backfires

TOKYO (The Straits Times/ANN): A career-ending sex scandal involving one of Japan’s most bankable stars has snowballed into a corporate governance nightmare and a textbook cautionary tale of how crises should never be managed. The spiralling controversy involves Masahiro Nakai, the 52-year-old media personality who was the leader of defunct male idol group Smap, and mainstream...

Japan PM’s wife enjoys cruise around Putrajaya Lake

PUTRAJAYA: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's wife, Yoshiko Ishiba, on Friday (Jan 10) spent time enjoying a boat ride on Cruise Tasik Putrajaya for a view of the majestic buildings of Putrajaya from a different angle. She was welcomed on arrival at about 9.35am by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan...

Kim Seri denies fleeing to Japan, says ready to cooperate with authorities

SHAH ALAM: Social media influencer Kim Seri has denied fleeing to Japan over allegations of a fraudulent travel package she managed. Kim Seri, whose real name is Seri Azlina, said she is ready to cooperate with the authorities following police reports and almost half a million ringgit in losses linked to the Kim Seri tour package...

Select Asian students to study medicine in Japan for free, new programme to start as soon as 2026

TOKYO: Japan’s Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry plans to cover tuition and living expenses for select international students from Asia studying at medical schools in Japan. This is the first time that the ministry is attempting such an initiative, which it is undertaking with the aim of contributing to the international community and expanding the use...

Young Japanese woman acquitted of murdering her 77-year-old husband, a self-proclaimed ‘Don Juan’

TOKYO: A Japanese court ruled Thursday (Dec 12) that the young widow of an elderly real estate mogul was not guilty of murdering the self-described "Don Juan" just months into their marriage, local media reported. Jiji Press and other local outlets said Saki Sudo, now 28, was acquitted by a district court in western Japan, which...

‘Good listener’ Japanese man travels for 5 years, stays in 500 strangers’ homes for free

TOKYO: A Japanese man has become an online sensation after couch-surfing in 500 homes of strangers, offering emotional support as a “good listener” to his hosts in exchange for free accommodation. The 33-year-old, named Shuraf Ishida, conceived this idea five years ago after quitting his job. He set out on a journey across the country with...