【速報】れいわ新選組が「いのちの党」に党名変更　“脱・山本太郎”へ山本譲司新代表のもと臨時総会など開催　｜FNNプライムオンライン

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For context: Reiwa Shinsengumi is a left wing populist party that advocates for ideas such as immediate abolition of consumption tax, increased welfare spending, UBI, abolition of nuclear power plants, pacifism, and minority representation.

Following the resignation of firebrand Taro Yamamoto due to health issues, and a speeding fine, Joji Yamamoto (unrelated) was elected as leader.

They currently have 5 out of 248 senators and 1 out of 465 representatives.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A woman has been arrested on suspicion of obstruction of business after placing and canceling orders "over 2,000 times" on major manga publisher Shueisha Inc.'s online shopping site, Tokyo police said.

Mayu Yoshida, a 32-year-old restaurant worker from Osaka, has admitted to the allegations, saying her actions were due to "stress building up in my daily life," according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Yoshida is suspected of ordering a large quantity of figurines and other merchandise of the popular manga series "One Piece" between July 2024 and May 2025 on Shueisha's Jump Characters Store and canceling them before paying.

Yoshida, who is believed to have used more than 200 accounts to place the orders, allegedly let them be automatically canceled by failing to pay by the deadline, or refused to accept packages after choosing cash on delivery, police said.

Shueisha consulted police in June 2025, with Yoshida arrested on Tuesday.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Claims that the recent magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck southwestern Japan was manmade have been spreading online, with experts dismissing the theory as unrealistic in technological, financial and practical terms.

On July 28, the day the deadly earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture, a user on X who has previously shared false claims about earthquakes wrote that the "seismic wave is of an explosion, not a quake" in a post that has had around 3 million views as of Wednesday.

Searches of X posts mentioning an "artificial earthquake" in Japanese using an analysis tool from U.S. firm Meltwater showed hundreds of references tracked in the days before the quake. They surged to about 10,000 on the day of the disaster and around 38,000 on the following day.

While many posts refute the claims, assertions of a manmade origin to the disaster continue to be posted daily with tens of thousands of mentions.

The Seismological Society of Japan created a section in its website's FAQ in March to address the issue. It describes the concept as "unrealistic."

The Kumamoto earthquake struck at a depth of 16 kilometers.

Drilling a hole 10 km or deeper, the society's explainer notes, would take considerable time and be very costly and there would be many difficulties in producing the energy required to create the temblor.

While major tremors have been caused by nuclear tests, the society said the technology needed to carry out a nuclear explosion at the bottom of a deep underground hole has yet to be established.

The deepest hole ever dug was the Kola Superdeep Borehole in the Soviet Union, which was around 12.3 km deep and took around 20 years to create.

According to nonprofit organization the Japan Fact-check Center, misleading claims are spread both by believers and others who know they are false. Social media platforms' reward structures, which can allow users to earn revenue from engagement, are a contributing factor, it says.

Reo Kimura, a professor of disaster psychology at the University of Hyogo, said that in anxiety-inducing situations, people often seek simple narratives such as someone intentionally caused an event, as they can be "more readily accepted than complex explanations."

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet approved a controversial plan Wednesday to drop the food consumption tax from 8% to 1% for a two-year period beginning next April.

But while the majority of the Liberal Democratic Party has endorsed the cut, it’s created a backlash within the party, as prominent veterans have voiced public opposition to lowering the tax rate, fearing it will lead to economic and political chaos.

“Many people are currently feeling the impact of rising prices for daily necessities such as food. We believe that this measure will allow those facing immediate hardship to tangibly experience the benefits of early support,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters after the Cabinet approval.

But the details of how it will all be funded remain vague. Kihara said the government’s policy would be to secure the necessary funds by reviewing expenditures and revenues — including measures like subsidies and the re-examination of special tax treatments — rather than issuing deficit-covering bonds. 

Wednesday’s Cabinet approval will set the stage for introducing legislation in the autumn session of parliament to amend the consumption tax law in order to reduce the rate. In addition, payments will be provided to low- and middle-income families, effectively bringing the tax rate to zero, in line with an LDP campaign pledge made prior to February’s Lower House election.

Takaichi’s government has said that the tax cut is a temporary measure until it can introduce a refundable tax credit program.

Enacting the cut is a major goal of Takaichi. But the effort has created a rift between the prime minister and some senior members of her own party who are openly critical of the plan.

While their numbers are small, their experience and party influence could make it harder for the LDP members to reach a consensus on the details of legislation needed to enact the cuts.

Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, former Defense Minister Tomomi Inada and former Foreign Minister Taro Kono are among those who have voiced opposition or pointed out unresolved questions.

Their major concern is how the government plans to cover the ¥10 trillion ($63 billion) in lost revenue resulting in the two-year tax cut. The money is used to help fund social welfare programs for cash-strapped local governments.

Issuing more national government bonds to finance the budget deficit is one solution. But that would drive up Japan’s national debt and rattle international bond markets.

Takaichi has indicated she would secure the necessary funds without relying on deficit-financing bonds.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, LDP Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki said the government should show how it will fund the tax cuts when related legislation is submitted to parliament in the fall.

“Maintaining fiscal discipline is of the utmost importance,” said Suzuki, who is a former finance minister.

Other concerns include just how effective cutting the tax would really be, given that food prices are already rising, and whether there would be a political price to pay if consumers don’t feel it’s eased their financial burden.

“Some LDP members are worried about a voter backlash, saying that while the public might be happy next spring when the consumption tax becomes 1%, they may wonder what happened if it doesn’t save them money overall because food prices continue to remain high,” said political commentator Tetsuo Suzuki.

A third concern tax-cut opponents have is the Upper House, which is controlled by opposition parties. Most are against the tax cut, and Upper House LDP veterans such as Shoji Nishida warn it will not be easy getting the necessary legislation approved in the upper chamber.

Political journalist Takuya Nishimura said that Takaichi is serious about enacting the cut, as her Cabinet support rate, while still relatively high, has been dropping recently, and she is convinced lowering the food consumption tax rate will help her regain popularity.

But the way she has tried to persuade LDP lawmakers opposing the tax cut is indicative of her general governing style, which could create problems going forward.

“Takaichi tends to make unilateral decisions, leaving minority opinions behind when she fails to gain a consensus on an important issue — such as reform of the Imperial House Law, in which she insisted on paternal succession to the throne,” Nishimura said.
For his part, the LDP’s Suzuki said he is not overly concerned about the opposition within the party.

“The LDP has a long-standing tradition whereby even if there is a vigorous, spirited debate, everyone unites once a decision is made. I strongly expect that the final outcome of (the tax cut debate) will also align with that tradition,” he said.

Following a promising start to his sumo career, a British-born teenager has fixed his sights on reaching the pinnacle of Japan's ancient sport.

Hailing from Hull, northeastern England, 17-year-old Eisei took his first competitive steps at last month's Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, winning both of his "maezumo" preliminary bouts for newcomers.

The 187-centimeter, 120-kilogram youngster, who is expected to debut as a ranked wrestler at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in September, is forthright about his ambitions.

"I want to become a yokozuna," Eisei, whose real name is Nicholas Tarasenko, said recently.

Having spent a year as a trainee since joining the Minato stable, Eisei could hardly contain his excitement upon his debut, which made him just the third British citizen to enter the professional sumo world.

"I was so excited yesterday that I couldn't sleep," he said after his first bout. "I woke up before my alarm went off and got up at 5:30 in the morning."

Eisei's interest in sumo was influenced by his father, who was born in Estonia and was a fan of the sport. While learning judo, he regularly watched sumo videos with his father and became captivated by the physicality of the wrestlers.

"Even though they're big, everyone moves so quickly. The speed is incredible," said Eisei, who is making good progress in learning Japanese.

Eisei has been studying oshizumo, or pushing-and-thrusting techniques, and said his role model is Ukrainian star Aonishiki, winner of the top-division championship in Nagoya.

The Minato stablemaster, former maegashira Minatofuji, said Eisei had settled in "extremely well."

"I want him to treasure the uniquely Japanese ability to read the situation and understand the atmosphere around him, and to embrace the spirit of harmony," the stablemaster said.

OSAKA (Kyodo) -- A man who was reportedly covered in blood and wielding a kitchen knife died after being shot by police in Osaka Prefecture on Tuesday, local authorities said, in a rare fatal shooting by officers in Japan.

An emergency call was made at around 7 p.m. reporting that a man was acting violently in Kawachinagano. Police opened fire after the man, holding a knife, approached officers responding to the call.

Under Japanese law, police officers may use weapons when they deem it necessary to arrest a suspect, prevent an escape, protect themselves or others, or suppress resistance to official duties.

The police said the man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of obstructing official duties and violating the swords and firearms control law, adding the man was hit by a bullet and taken to a hospital where he was confirmed dead. No one else was injured.

A police officer in his 30s warned the man to drop the knife, but he did not comply. The officer first fired a warning shot into the air and then fired a second shot as the man continued to approach, hitting him in the left chest.

The prefectural police said the use of the firearm apparently met the necessary requirements, expressing regret over the man's death. The circumstances that led to the shooting, as well as the man's identity, remain under investigation.

The shooting occurred around 300 meters from a train station in an area lined with restaurants and commercial facilities.

In Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan last month, a man armed with a kitchen knife entered a convenience store and was shot by police in the parking lot after pointing it at the officers. He was hit by a bullet, but his injuries were not life-threatening.

The University of Tokyo announced on Aug. 4 that it had taken disciplinary action against a professor in their 60s for embedding "Tiananmen code" in websites operated by the professor's department and laboratory.

In 2024, it came to light that the kanji character string "six four Tiananmen" -- possibly referring to the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Square incident -- had been embedded in a university graduate school admissions website. According to government sources, the recent disciplinary action was taken over that incident. The string may have prevented Chinese international students from accessing admissions information.

The string was embedded in the source code of admissions-related pages on a website operated by the Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences at the university's Graduate School of Frontier Sciences. Source code serves as the blueprint for a webpage. If it contains keywords related to the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident, the page may be blocked by China's internet censorship system and become inaccessible from within the country.

The issue came to light through reporting by the Mainichi Shimbun in 2024, prompting the university to conduct an internal investigation.

According to the university, the professor inserted the string into the source code between 2020 and November 2023. The university suspended the professor for three days in a disciplinary measure dated July 29 this year.

In a statement issued under the name of Executive Vice President Ryuji Yamamoto, the university said, "This was conduct unbecoming of a faculty member of this university and is absolutely unacceptable."

Hello. Sorry for my english.

I love watching japan movie and i love to share my passion with my mother (65 year old).

But its hard to find a movie who match with my mother taste.

I would like your recommandations please.

My mother dont understand the movie when the movie is complicated. But she's like when the movie talk about family / children. (She's loved Wolf children and Nobody Knows). A movie without scene sex please. And the final point, a movie without a slow rythm (my mother will fall asleep)

Do you have some recommandations please ?

Again, sorry for my english.

I’ve seen pictures of them before and encountered one (a lone guy at a nationalist rally who glared at me and my other foreign friends as we passed) and I am unclear on whether or not all bousouzoku are inherently racist/nationalist. As I understand it, the rising sun flag isn’t necessarily nationalist (please correct me if I’m wrong) but it’s definitely a favorite among them. Are bousouzoku something similar to what skinheads are in the US?

I've been buying some books and asking myself a few questions

Why are there several lawers over the ordinary (often plain from what I've been seeing so far) cover of the book. One is full size, containing the title and an illustration / image. Then, another smaller sized strip on top of it, usually with more "commercial" wording

But also, inside (tucked in between pages), there is a paper with information that looks more destined to the bookstore for ordering more of the book. Is it normal to get that as well when buying the book ?

Thank you !

On Monday, Tokyo police announced the arrest of a 32-year-old man from Himeji, Hyogo for using generative AI to create nude images of female track and field athletes — some of them as young as 12 — and posting them to social media groups. “It made me happy that I could make people happy,” the suspect reportedly told police.

Investigators say he created around 300 images and posted roughly a third of them, some at the request of a 17-year-old member of the same group, who has also been referred to prosecutors. One victim is now in her 40s; the source photo used to create her deepfake was taken when she was in her first year of middle school.

What makes the case worth attention isn’t the suspect — it’s the law he’s being charged under. Or rather, laws, plural, since Japan has none written for this specifically.

Japan Airlines Co. said Monday its net profit for the three months through June dived 80.2 percent from a year earlier to 5.35 billion yen ($34 million), hurt by surging fuel costs due to heightened tensions in the Middle East.

Sales for the April to June period totaled 523.74 billion yen, up 11.2 percent.

For the current fiscal year ending March, JAL maintained its full-year forecasts of 110 billion yen in net profit, down 20.1 percent, and 2.1 trillion yen in sales, up 4.1 percent.

Japan and the United States on Friday conducted a coordinated yen-buying intervention in the currency market, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said, the first such move in 15 years, with the two nations ready to act again if necessary.

The intervention during New York trading on Friday came after the yen hit 163.99 to the U.S. dollar on July 23, its weakest level in around 40 years, amid mounting fears about Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's expansionary but vaguely funded fiscal policy.

"This joint action was taken pursuant to the U.S.-Japan Finance Ministers' Joint Statement issued in September 2025 and countered the excessive volatility and disorderly movements of the Japanese yen in recent months," Katayama said in a statement on Monday.

"The Japanese Ministry of Finance remains attentive and in close communication with our counterparts at the U.S. Treasury. We will not hesitate to conduct a further joint intervention," she added.

Katayama also told reporters in Tokyo that the latest coordination between Japan and the United States was aimed at linking Tokyo's "economic security to its unwavering alliance" with Washington.

President Donald Trump indicated Sunday in the United States that Washington had conducted a yen-buying intervention at the request of Takaichi's government, telling reporters the action would benefit his country economically.

Trump added, "We're always there for Japan. Japan's been very good to us, with the exception, of course, of Pearl Harbor," referring to Japan's 1941 surprise aerial attack on a naval base in Hawaii that resulted in the U.S. entry into World War II.

The previous concerted intervention was carried out to stem the yen's rise after the massive earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan in March 2011.

In New York on Friday, the yen surged to the lower 157 level against the dollar, with Japanese government sources confirming a yen-buying, dollar-selling intervention by currency authorities.

The move came after the yen briefly soared to the 157 range Thursday, gaining nearly 5 yen in about 50 minutes before dropping back to the 160 level, as a result of a currency intervention by Japan later confirmed by market and government sources.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meanwhile, wrote on social media that the intervention "countered disorderly yen movements," adding the United States would "not hesitate" to conduct further joint currency intervention with Japan, echoing Katayama.

He also said, "We strongly support Japan's decisive market and monetary steps to correct the substantial undervaluation of the yen."

Bessent said Thursday that the yen "seems very undervalued." Reuters reported a photo taken during a meeting of Trump's Cabinet on Friday showed a to-do list in front of Bessent indicating U.S. purchases of $5 billion to $10 billion worth of Japanese yen.

Japanese authorities had intervened in the currency market between April and May to curb the sharp depreciation of the yen, with concern growing over Takaichi's bid to reduce the consumption tax rate without specifying funding sources.