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October 24, 2025
 

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MARIJUANA

Thailand will seek to get a new cannabis bill explicitly outlawing the recreational use of cannabis approved by the end of October.
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
Feb 22, 2024
Thailand aims for clampdown on recreational cannabis by year-end
The move would put thousands of marijuana shops and farms out of business.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 22, 2023
Japan bans sale of 38 goods with synthetic cannabis compounds
The ban applies to items containing any of five substances, including hexahydrocannabiphorol and tetrahydrocannabiphorol acetate.
JAPAN
Dec 13, 2023
Marijuana sees image shift as Japan revises control law
The revised cannabis control law, enacted in early December, will allow the use of medicines containing substances derived from cannabis.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 4, 2023
Nihon University chair vows to continue reforms despite calls to quit
The vice president and president have decided to resign to take responsibility for a drug scandal involving the American football team.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 1, 2023
Nihon University football player admits to drug charges
The trial was concluded the same day, with the prosecution seeking an 18-month imprisonment and the defense asking for a suspended sentence.
JAPAN
Nov 29, 2023
Nihon University to disband American football club over drug scandal
The decision brings an end to the 83-year history of one of the nation’s most prominent college football teams.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 27, 2023
Nihon University vice president sues chairperson over power harassment
Yasuhiro Sawada has claimed Mariko Hayashi used her superiority to paint him as being solely responsible for the mishandling of a drug scandal.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 23, 2023
Nihon University recommends resignations over cannabis scandal
In August, a member of the football club was arrested for alleged possession of cannabis and an illegal stimulant.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 21, 2023
Japan to ban marijuana-derived substance found in gummy candies
An expert panel at the health ministry decided to officially add the HHCH synthetic compound to a drug list, with the ban taking effect from Dec. 2.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 14, 2023
Bill to legalize cannabis-derived drugs clears Japan’s Lower House
The bill was sent to the Upper House the same day. If approved there, changes stipulated in the bill will likely go into effect by the end of next year.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 31, 2023
Nihon University staff downplayed drug use problem, report says
The report shows how the university’s system of governance led to the delay in taking action against the American football team’s culture of drug use.
Yasuhiro Sawada, vice president of Nihon University, speaks during an interview in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Oct 26, 2023
University official 'sad' about calls to quit over drug scandal
Two members of the football club have been arrested in the scandal so far — one in August and the other in October.
JAPAN
Oct 22, 2023
Drug scandal at Nihon University American football club seen spreading
The university suspended the football club's activities indefinitely in August following the arrest of one person the same month over cannabis.
JAPAN
Oct 19, 2023
Nihon University vice president urged to quit over drug scandal
Members of Nihon University's executive team have urged the vice president of the school to quit over the handling of a drug scandal at its football club.
A 46-year-old priest was arrested Thursday for possessing marijuana at his home in Sammu, Chiba Prefecture, according to an NHK report.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 19, 2023
Chiba priest arrested for marijuana possession: NHK
Police arrested the priest at Rengeji Temple for possessing dried marijuana at his home.
Leaves of marijuana plants from which hemp fibers are extracted at Japan's largest legal marijuana farm in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, on July 5, 2016
PODCAST / deep dive
Sep 21, 2023
Does a university cannabis scandal point to a larger trend?
A drugs scandal at Japan’s biggest university draws attention to a troubling statistic: Cannabis use among young people is on the rise.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 2, 2023
Nihon University suspends football team over cannabis allegations
Tokyo police searched the team's dormitory on Aug. 22, after more players were suspected of possessing cannabis, investigative sources said.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Aug 23, 2023
Nihon University scandal puts focus on 'collective responsibility'
Critics of the approach of punishing an entire team for wrongdoing by some say it can unfairly affect athletes that weren't involved.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Aug 8, 2023
Nihon University chairwoman apologizes for student drug scandal
Mariko Hayashi denied reports that she was kept in the dark about facts surrounding the case, which involves the university's American football team.
Even as some countries have moved to legalize or decriminalize marijuana, Japan has maintained a zero tolerance policy on the drug, prohibiting its possession or sale.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal / EXPLAINER
Aug 7, 2023
Navigating Japan's maze of cannabis-related laws
Japan has maintained a zero tolerance policy on cannabis, but the legality of other products on the market, including ones sold as CBD, is murkier.
For three key Cabinet posts, Takaichi turns to an eclectic trio
Shinjiro Koizumi — son of a former prime minister and rival to the current one — was appointed defense chief after falling short in his bid for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency earlier this month.
Rare female yakuza walks path to redemption in Japan
Retired yakuza Mako Nishimura sorts fallen leaves during a clean-up activity at the Gifu Gokoku shrine in Gifu Prefecture on Sept. 28.
Driving in Japan isn’t hard. Getting the license is.
The byzantine process for converting a foreign driver’s license into a Japanese one entails mountains of paperwork and significant stamina — unless you're a lucky license holder from a country or region where these requirements are waived.
New ‘immigration minister’ post signals Takaichi Cabinet’s priorities
Kimi Onoda, economic security minister and minister for harmonious coexistence with foreign nationals, arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Japan's first female PM promised more women in her Cabinet. She picked two.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi poses with members of the newly formed Cabinet on Tuesday night.
The newly formed LDP-JIP coalition may not be as solid as it seems
Ruling Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura sign a policy agreement between the two parties at the Diet in Tokyo on Monday.
AI-optimized cybercrime increasingly targeting Japan
A recent cyberattack on brewer Asahi Group Holdings resulted in the company suspending shipments.
K-pop idol Chanyeol does J-pop his own way on ‘Hibi’
South Korean singer Chanyeol made his Japanese-language solo debut with the EP “Hibi,” which features six tracks inspired by his love of Japanese music.
In pictures: The day Japan’s glass ceiling finally cracked
Takaichi, surrounded by LDP influencers
London exhibition perhaps sumo's most successful trip abroad
With the recent sumo jaunt to London being essentially a goodwill exercise, <i>rikishi</i> were far more outgoing and relaxed than normal.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

The byzantine process for converting a foreign driver’s license into a Japanese one entails mountains of paperwork and significant stamina — unless you're a lucky license holder from a country or region where these requirements are waived.
Driving in Japan isn’t hard. Getting the license is.
By Thu-Huong Ha and Mike Fu

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons
Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons

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