Former Singapore diplomat fined for taking nude photos of male customers in Tokyo bathhouse

SINGAPORE: A former diplomat who secretly filmed a boy at a public bath in Tokyo, among other acts of voyeurism, was fined 300,000 yen (S$2,600) on June 13, reported the Japanese media. Sim Siong Chye, 55, was a counsellor – a diplomatic rank for experienced foreign service officers – at the Singapore Embassy in Japan when...

Not the first time: K-pop albums by Seventeen thrown away in bulk in Tokyo

The streets of Shibuya, Tokyo, were littered with boxes upon boxes of discarded albums by K-pop boy band Seventeen recently. On April 30, a day after the release of their anthology album 17 Is Right Here, Shibuya News posted a TikTok video wondering: "What kind of situation is this?" The video shows albums strewn about, opened and...

Travel Tokyo : Sunshine Aquarium @ Tokyo

Nestled atop the World Import Mart Building near Ikebukuro Station, the Sunshine Aquarium beckons as an enchanting oasis of water in the bustling heart of Tokyo. As you step into this unique attraction, the “open-air oasis” theme and resort-like ambiance welcome you, promising a memorable and immersive experience unlike any other. During our recent trip...

Toyota Motor: to restart vehicle plants in Japan from Monday

TOKYO : Toyota Motor said it would restart its Japanese vehicle plants on Monday but, given the impact of the New Year's Day earthquake, would decide separately about operations from Jan. 15. As aftershocks are continuing from the magnitude 7.6 quake that ravaged Japan's western coast and many of its suppliers and their affiliates are in...

BTS members head for South Korean military service, fans vow to wait

The remaining four members of K-pop supergroup BTS will begin their 18-month military service in South Korea this week, joining three others already serving, with fans pledging to wait until 2025 for them to perform as a group again. A group of fans braved rainy weather on Monday (Dec 11) to bid a temporary farewell to...

Aaron-Wooi Yik down Indonesians to move into quarter-finals in Japan Open

PETALING JAYA: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik gave one of their best performances this year to march into the quarter-finals of the Japan Open and emerged as the only survivors for Malaysia. The national men’s doubles pair swept aside Indonesia’s world No. 14 Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana 21-12, 21-10 in the second round at the Yoyogi Gymnasium in...

Peng Soon-Yee See claim their first world top 10 scalp in Japan

PETALING JAYA: Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See gave themselves a much needed boost after stunning world No. 7 Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue of France in the first round of the Japan Open. The independent mixed doubles pair have been struggling to find their best form this year but rose to the occasion to claim a superb 21-18,...

Pearly-Thinaah relieved to pass early test against tenacious Chinese pair

PETALING JAYA: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (pic) survived a scare before booking their spot in the second round of the Japan Open. The national women’s doubles pair were pushed hard by China’s world No. 23 Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning in their opening match before narrowly prevailing 21-11, 9-21, 21-19 in 59 minutes at the Yoyogi Gymnasium in Tokyo...

Keep calm and cut the air con – Japan’s energy saving is model for Europe

As Europe braces for energy shortages from Russian gas cuts, Japan's own energy crisis a decade ago offers survival lessons to households and businesses - such as dimming the lights and taking the stairs. EU energy ministers on Tuesday (July 29) approved a proposal for member countries to cut gas use voluntarily by 15 per cent from August...

Japan warns of rising security threats in annual defence report

Japan warned on Friday (July 22) of escalating national security threats, including repercussions from Russia's war with Ukraine, Chinese intimidation of Taiwan, and vulnerable technology supply chains, in its annual defence white paper. The report sets out the government's security concerns as it prepares the defence ministry budget request due next month, aiming to build public support...