law

SEX & NIGHTLIFE

Professor in Japan Arrested for Running Illegal Sex Massage Parlor

By day, 49-year-old Takitani Hiroshi conducted life-saving research on earthquakes. By night, he was running an unlicensed sex shop.

TRAVEL

Japanese Restaurant Chain Apologizes For “No Chinese” Sign, Closes Store

SASAYA Holdings, which operates multiple restaurants in Osaka and beyond, says it's taken swift action after the incident went viral.

WOMEN

Murdered Woman in Japan Reported Ex Nine Times for Stalking

Why did Kawasaki police fail to act on nine reports of stalking, doubts from the attacker's own family, and the suspect's suspicious…

INSIDER

Will Separate Spousal Surnames Finally Become Law?

A new bill would allow women in Japan to keep their maiden names. Does it stand a snowball's chance in hell of…

TRAVEL

Japanese Police Shut Down Tourist Sword “Tryouts”

Wanna slice something open with a samurai sword while in Japan? Well, you can't, because the Japanese police are party poopers.

CULTURE

Japan’s Proposed New Bicycling Fines Anger Riders

Japan will institute tough new bicycling fines next year. But some cyclists say the country should concentrate on infrastructure instead.

FOOD

Jirō Ramen Asks Customers to Stop “Jirō Harassment” of New Employees

The Kameido store says it's "repulsed" watching senior employees trick juniors into eating their 2,000+-calorie large bowls.

LAW & CRIME

Bold “Dark Part-Time” Thieves in Japan Are Now Stealing From Yakuza

A case in Saga Prefecture tells of a bold new example of "yami-baito" targeting Japan's infamous (and dwindling) crime families.