The Osaka District Court sentenced a 25-year-old man to four years and six months in prison for swindling ¥1.45 billion in a real estate scam.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 6, 2025
Osaka real estate scammer given 54-month prison sentence
Judge Akira Kuranari ruled that the defendant, Ryohei Kume, took part in "a malicious crime with sophisticated tricks" by posing as a landowner.
Tokyo police have arrested seven people suspected of being involved in at least 500 fraud cases in Tokyo and three prefectures between February 2023 and this month.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 6, 2025
Tokyo police arrest fraud group head and six others
The seven men are believed to be linked to at least 500 fraud cases in Tokyo and three prefectures since February 2023.
Police have arrested Masayuki Hosono, the operator of a private-room massage parlor in Bunkyo Ward, after he allegedly forced a 12-year-old Thai girl to perform sexual services for customers.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 6, 2025
Massage parlor operator arrested for forcing 12-year-old Thai girl into sex work
Police are investigating the case as human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation of a child.
A rapid adoption of solar panels by homeowners in Japan has created new targets for aggressive sales tactics and outright scams.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 6, 2025
Consumer watchdog warns of solar panel inspection scams
The number of homes equipped with solar panels has skyrocketed in recent years, creating new targets for aggressive sales tactics.
A group of 1,191 people across Japan has filed a petition seeking the return of about ¥11.4 billion from an Osaka-based real estate investment firm.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 6, 2025
More than 1,100 people sue Osaka firm over real estate investment
Some who terminated their investment contracts with Toshi-Souken Invest have not been refunded, according to the group of petitioners.
Tokyo police plan to introduce a system that uses generative artificial intelligence to automatically transcribe consultation audio and generate summaries so they can more swiftly respond to stalking cases that may escalate into serious crimes.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 6, 2025
Tokyo police to use AI to strengthen anti-stalking measures
The police will introduce a system that uses generative AI to automatically transcribe consultation audio and generate summaries to help improve operational efficiency.
Lawyers who filed a lawsuit over the July Upper House election hold up a sign saying “state of unconstitutionality” Tuesday in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, following a ruling by the Hiroshima High Court’s Matsue branch.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 5, 2025
Another court finds July Upper House poll held in unconstitutional state
The Matsue branch of the Hiroshima High Court ruled that the July election was held in a “state of unconstitutionality” due to vote-value disparities of up to 3.13 times.

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Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years