Society News On Japan
Updated: 1 hour 11 min ago
November 9, 2026 - 10:54
Princess Aiko, the only daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, attended an event in Tokyo aimed at raising awareness and encouraging support for crime victims and their families, becoming the first member of the Imperial Family to participate in the gathering. (News On Japan)
November 9, 2026 - 10:06
A 31-year-old Chinese national has been arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of operating an illegal mobile phone base station that forced more than 10,000 smartphones onto a 2G network in less than two hours, allowing phishing messages to be sent to unsuspecting users in busy shopping districts including Ginza, Shinjuku and Shibuya. (News On Japan)
November 8, 2026 - 17:58
Police across Japan are struggling to contain a rapidly spreading social media trend known as "Shorinji Racing," in which children and teenagers shout "Shorinji" outside police stations and police boxes before running away, with Osaka police recording approximately 280 related incidents and taking around 50 minors aged between 7 and 16 into protective custody or questioning them. (News On Japan)
November 8, 2026 - 17:43
A traditional deer antler-cutting ceremony dating back some 350 years was held at Nara Park, where handlers chased and captured male deer before carefully removing their antlers to prevent injuries to visitors during the autumn mating season. (News On Japan)
November 6, 2026 - 13:04
A 35-year-old unemployed man has been indicted in Toyama Prefecture on November 6 for allegedly breaking into a junior high school and stealing insoles from students' indoor shoes, with police seizing 451 insoles from his home and investigating suspected thefts at more than 30 schools across the prefecture. (News On Japan)
November 6, 2026 - 12:59
A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after allegedly attacking seven women in a series of unprovoked incidents near Jimbocho intersection in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on October 17, with the assaults occurring at four locations over approximately 15 minutes. (News On Japan)
November 5, 2026 - 21:52
A married couple from Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, has been arrested on suspicion of secretly filming women changing clothes and bathing at public bathing facilities, with police saying the pair carried out around 100 illicit recordings and earned approximately 5 million yen by selling the footage online. (News On Japan)
November 5, 2026 - 21:30
A former host club worker in Tokyo's Kabukicho entertainment district and a recruiter have been arrested on suspicion of exploiting a woman's romantic feelings to persuade her to work at sex establishments, with police alleging that the former host promised they could travel together if she helped him earn enough money. (News On Japan)
November 5, 2026 - 10:14
A 42-year-old mother accused of killing her two children at their apartment in Ibaraki Prefecture in July 2023 was sentenced to eight years in prison by the Mito District Court on November 5th, after judges ruled that her ability to stop herself from committing the crime had been severely impaired by her mental condition, resulting in a sentence 10 years shorter than prosecutors had requested. (News On Japan)
November 4, 2026 - 14:26
A 37-year-old police sergeant from the Saitama Prefectural Police Department was left unconscious and in critical condition after grabbing a handgun from another officer and shooting himself in the head at a waste treatment facility in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, on November 4. (News On Japan)
November 4, 2026 - 14:17
A memorial service was held at a cemetery in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward on the morning of November 4 to honor police and security dogs that served in criminal investigations, disaster rescue operations, and other police duties, with 11 dogs newly laid to rest since late September 2025. (News On Japan)
November 3, 2026 - 21:15
A king and queen dressed in elaborate traditional Ryukyu costumes appeared at Shuri Castle in Okinawa on November 2 as the annual Shuri Castle Restoration Festival celebrated the former kingdom's cultural heritage and built anticipation for the November 23 public opening of the reconstructed main hall. (News On Japan)
November 3, 2026 - 17:56
An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of obstructing police operations in Osaka after allegedly using a social media account called Shorinji Racing to post messages suggesting plans for reckless driving, prompting officers to increase patrols and security measures. (News On Japan)
November 3, 2026 - 17:31
Two cars collided at an intersection near the popular Otaru Canal tourist attraction in Hokkaido on November 3rd, leaving one person with minor injuries after one of the vehicles overturned. (News On Japan)
November 3, 2026 - 17:27
Mountains of discarded tires and other waste have accumulated in residential neighborhoods in Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture, for more than a decade, prompting authorities to issue cleanup orders after detecting fluoride concentrations up to three times the permitted level, with the prefectural government setting aside 964 million yen for their removal. (News On Japan)
November 3, 2026 - 17:07
Emperor Naruhito presented the Order of Culture to seven recipients at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on November 3rd, Japan's Culture Day, honoring their outstanding achievements and contributions to the country's cultural development. (News On Japan)
November 2, 2026 - 21:06
A medium-sized truck carrying an excavator overturned and crashed into a used car dealership showroom in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on November 2, apparently after the construction equipment struck a pedestrian overpass and caused the vehicle to lose its balance, police said, adding that no injuries were reported. (News On Japan)
November 2, 2026 - 08:52
Spanish authorities have confirmed that a Japanese national was among the 69 people killed in a collision between two high-speed trains in central Spain on October 28, while Japanese officials are continuing efforts to establish the identities of victims following the disaster, which also left about 200 people injured. (News On Japan)
November 1, 2026 - 22:51
A 79-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, on October 31 after allegedly driving approximately 2.2 kilometers with a 56-year-old man clinging to the hood of her car following a dispute in a condominium parking lot. (News On Japan)
November 1, 2026 - 21:52
Five pedestrians were injured, two seriously, when a car struck a stationary bus before plowing into a crowded sidewalk near Naruko Gorge, a popular autumn foliage destination in Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture, on November 1, with police arresting the 73-year-old driver at the scene on suspicion of negligent driving causing injury. (News On Japan)
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