Japan’s growing donut market has entered a new phase with the opening of popular American chain Randy’s Donuts’ first store in Daikanyama, Shibuya, marking its debut with handmade offerings and an iconic oversized donut monument as the 'donut Sengoku era' intensifies. (News On Japan)

A 36-year-old unemployed man has been arrested on suspicion of abducting a teenage girl who was later found dead in Yamagata Prefecture. The suspect, Hiroki Kishinami from Fukushima City, has previously been arrested three times for offenses including the abduction of minors and assisting in suicides. (News On Japan)

Loose socks, once a symbol of 1990s gyaru fashion, are making a stylish comeback among Japan's Gen Z, driven by a broader 'Heisei retro' trend that celebrates nostalgic aesthetics. In Harajuku, young people are pairing the evolved, shorter versions of the socks with miniskirts and shorts. (News On Japan)

A growing number of credit card fraud cases in Japan has been linked to a shadowy underground labor network, where Chinese nationals are suspected of stealing Japanese consumers' card data. (News On Japan)

A 30-year-old Vietnamese man has been arrested for allegedly stealing 22 high-end bonsai trees worth a total of 670,000 yen from a garden center in Akishima, Tokyo. (News On Japan)

Shizuoka Prefectural Police have launched a new initiative offering gasoline discount coupons to promote the use of their crime prevention app. This is the first such campaign in Japan to tie fuel discounts to public safety app downloads. (News On Japan)

A total of 12,269 people from across Japan performed together in a massive marching band at the "Ring" venue of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, setting a new Guinness World Record. (News On Japan)