The Tokyo Reporter | Salacious news on crime and culture from Japan

Crackdown on Japan’s porn industry raises fears studios may go underground

Crackdown on Japan’s porn industry raises fears studios may go underground

Claims of abuse by actresses are resulting in arrests, sending shock waves through industry…

By Roland Shichijo on January 17, 2017Comments Off on Crackdown on Japan’s porn industry raises fears studios may go underground

Nigerian prosecuted in stabbing death of Filipino girlfriend in Saitama

Nigerian prosecuted in stabbing death of Filipino girlfriend in Saitama

Defendant stabbed woman to death after she killed her 2 children, office of prosecution says…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on January 17, 2017Comments Off on Nigerian prosecuted in stabbing death of Filipino girlfriend in Saitama

Tokyo cops nab Taiwanese national in smuggling of ¥62 million in stimulant drugs

Tokyo cops nab Taiwanese national in smuggling of ¥62 million in stimulant drugs

Contraband packed in metal containers brought through Narita International Airport…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on January 17, 2017Comments Off on Tokyo cops nab Taiwanese national in smuggling of ¥62 million in stimulant drugs

Yokohama daycare nurse accused of manslaughter faces fresh charges of sexual abuse

Yokohama daycare nurse accused of manslaughter faces fresh charges of sexual abuse

Suspect allegedly sexually abused and filmed 9 girls…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on January 17, 2017Comments Off on Yokohama daycare nurse accused of manslaughter faces fresh charges of sexual abuse

Ex-Yamaguchi-gumi lawyer says book key for understanding changes in yakuza world

Ex-Yamaguchi-gumi lawyer says book key for understanding changes in yakuza world

Autobiography of Kazuo Taoka tells of a time when gangs expanded power through violence…

By Yuki Tsukamoto on January 16, 2017Comments Off on Ex-Yamaguchi-gumi lawyer says book key for understanding changes in yakuza world

For some, Tokyo Station might be the ‘last stop’

For some, Tokyo Station might be the ‘last stop’

Tokyo police have arrested a Chiba man for leaving his wife’s remains in a coin-operated locker…

By Yuki Tsukamoto on January 16, 2017Comments Off on For some, Tokyo Station might be the ‘last stop’

Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi to take legal action after video shows police beating

Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi to take legal action after video shows police beating

Gang member to lodge formal complaint after suffering broken ribs…

By Kenji Nakano on January 9, 2017Comments Off on Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi to take legal action after video shows police beating

Rival yakuza groups heading in opposite directions as New Year arrives

Rival yakuza groups heading in opposite directions as New Year arrives

Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi showing signs of an internal struggle as the Yamaguchi-gumi looks ahead…

By Yuki Tsukamoto on December 31, 2016Comments Off on Rival yakuza groups heading in opposite directions as New Year arrives

U.S. Treasury blacklists yakuza group, members

U.S. Treasury blacklists yakuza group, members

Treasury dept. has frozen assets of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi and prohibited business activities…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on December 31, 2016Comments Off on U.S. Treasury blacklists yakuza group, members

Fukushima cops: Yakuza shooting leaves 1 injured

Fukushima cops: Yakuza shooting leaves 1 injured

Yamaguchi-gumi member received a gun-shot wound to his right thigh…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on December 30, 2016Comments Off on Fukushima cops: Yakuza shooting leaves 1 injured

Tokyo cops trap yakuza in attempted fraud of elderly woman

Tokyo cops trap yakuza in attempted fraud of elderly woman

Suspect was apprehended when he posed as a courier and arrived at victim's residence…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on December 30, 2016Comments Off on Tokyo cops trap yakuza in attempted fraud of elderly woman

Osaka cops: Sex parlor employee used tear gas in theft of ¥120,000

Osaka cops: Sex parlor employee used tear gas in theft of ¥120,000

Suspect sprayed colleague in face before stealing cash and fleeing…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on January 13, 2017Comments Off on Osaka cops: Sex parlor employee used tear gas in theft of ¥120,000

Chiba civic employee resigns after side work as prostitute surfaces

Chiba civic employee resigns after side work as prostitute surfaces

Woman earned ¥2 million over 40 days‎ at soapland bathhouse in Tokyo…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on December 30, 2016Comments Off on Chiba civic employee resigns after side work as prostitute surfaces

Photography
Music
Film
National
Baseball

Roppongi on Halloween night

Roppongi on Halloween night

Thousands of revellers in costume jammed the streets of Roppongi on Saturday night…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on November 1, 2015

Tokyo film fest fetes 50 years of Gamera

Tokyo film fest fetes 50 years of Gamera

TIFF will screen 4 digitally restored films featuring the turtle-like creature…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on October 27, 2015

The Asakusa Takahashi-gumi at the Sanja Matsuri

The Asakusa Takahashi-gumi at the Sanja Matsuri

The festival attracts approximately 1.5 million revellers each year…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on May 17, 2015

Toranomon Hills from Ginza

Toranomon Hills from Ginza

A view of Toranomon Hills from Ginza…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on May 15, 2015

Japan’s Cabinet Secretary Suga says end of SMAP era ‘a tremendous shame’

Japan’s Cabinet Secretary Suga says end of SMAP era ‘a tremendous shame’

Hopes members will go on to ‘give fans hopes and dreams’…

By Roland Shichijo on December 28, 2016

The New Mastersounds carry the funk torch to Fuji Rock

The New Mastersounds carry the funk torch to Fuji Rock

The British quartet from Leeds will bring its style of soul and funk to the Field of Heaven stage on Friday…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on July 18, 2016

Jump With Joey returns to Japan for Fuji Rock with Beck ‘opening’

Jump With Joey returns to Japan for Fuji Rock with Beck ‘opening’

L.A. band to play 3 sets, be featured in G&G Miller Orchestra…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on July 16, 2016

Hikaru Utada ‘regretted’ making debut at 15

Hikaru Utada ‘regretted’ making debut at 15

Pop star said she regretted the sudden loss of freedom…

By Roland Shichijo on June 20, 2016

Hayao Miyazaki blasts animators on NHK over AI-generated ‘zombie’ clip

Hayao Miyazaki blasts animators on NHK over AI-generated ‘zombie’ clip

'I feel like the last day of Earth is close,' the Studio Ghibli legend said in referring to machine-drawn images…

By Roland Shichijo on November 15, 2016

Shizuoka cops nab man for illegal upload of anime hit ‘Kimi No Na Wa’

Shizuoka cops nab man for illegal upload of anime hit ‘Kimi No Na Wa’

Film studio hopes to deter ‘online copyright infringement’…

By Roland Shichijo on November 5, 2016

Film producer Hidemi Satani busted for fraud

Film producer Hidemi Satani busted for fraud

Suspect falsely claimed to an investor that a film was to make 'between ¥2 billion and ¥3 billion'…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on November 2, 2016

Kyoto cops nab ex-Toei Studios Kyoto exec in ¥80 million embezzlement

Kyoto cops nab ex-Toei Studios Kyoto exec in ¥80 million embezzlement

Suspect fraudulently inflated budget to receive kickback from sub-contractor…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on October 5, 2016

Fukuoka cops: Boy killed after unsecured soccer goal topples over

Fukuoka cops: Boy killed after unsecured soccer goal topples over

Two of 4 anchoring stakes missing; ropes also broken…

By Roland Shichijo on January 15, 2017

Chiba cops: MSDF member caught secretly filming up woman’s coat

Chiba cops: MSDF member caught secretly filming up woman’s coat

Suspect told police he wanted 'to see inside her skirt'…

By Roland Shichijo on January 15, 2017

Tokyo cops: Woman shoves man, knocks him unconscious

Tokyo cops: Woman shoves man, knocks him unconscious

Victim in serious condition; suspect denies charges…

By Roland Shichijo on January 15, 2017

Kagawa man wanted in stabbing death on the run in Tokyo

Kagawa man wanted in stabbing death on the run in Tokyo

Suspect spotted in security camera footage in the capital…

By Roland Shichijo on January 15, 2017

Tokyo court gives gangster suspended sentence over baseball gambling

Tokyo court gives gangster suspended sentence over baseball gambling

Case is part of a scandal that implicated pitchers for the Yomiuri Giants…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on December 26, 2016

Tokyo cops: Yakuza-linked baseball betting ring took wagers via Line

Tokyo cops: Yakuza-linked baseball betting ring took wagers via Line

Ring amassed total of around ¥1 billion in wagers over past year…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on November 15, 2016

Tokyo Dome food tour: Buy me some edamame and mentaiko pretzels

Tokyo Dome food tour: Buy me some edamame and mentaiko pretzels

Follow along as the author tucks into sliced sausages accompanied by curry and a pretzel topped with mentaiko…

By Kenji Nakano on October 21, 2016

Tokyo cops nab yakuza in Yomiuri betting scandal

Tokyo cops nab yakuza in Yomiuri betting scandal

Suspects allegedly collected ¥1.4 million yen in bets placed on 25 games…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on October 4, 2016

Japan police: AV company netted ¥1.4 billion in upload of uncensored porn

Japan police: AV company netted ¥1.4 billion in upload of uncensored porn

Unobscured content uploaded to site Caribbeancom.com through company in Taiwan…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on January 12, 2017Comments Off on Japan police: AV company netted ¥1.4 billion in upload of uncensored porn

AV actress Saki Kozai continues porn career despite blowing whistle on industry

AV actress Saki Kozai continues porn career despite blowing whistle on industry

She says, 'It isn’t possible to turn back the hands of time'…

By Yuki Tsukamoto on January 8, 2017Comments Off on AV actress Saki Kozai continues porn career despite blowing whistle on industry

NPOs: More women claiming they were forced into porn industry

NPOs: More women claiming they were forced into porn industry

Ex-AV actress Aroma Kuromin: 'I was being brainwashed'…

By Roland Shichijo on December 20, 2016Comments Off on NPOs: More women claiming they were forced into porn industry

Ex-AV actress: ‘I seriously wished that I’d never been born’

Ex-AV actress: ‘I seriously wished that I’d never been born’

Asuka Hoshino says she was forced into performing in porn films, later attempted suicide…

By Yuki Tsukamoto on December 12, 2016Comments Off on Ex-AV actress: ‘I seriously wished that I’d never been born’

Osaka cops: 2 women plunge to death from 14th floor of building

Osaka cops: 2 women plunge to death from 14th floor of building

Resident told police: 'I went outside after hearing a sudden sound and found 2 bodies'…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on January 16, 2017Comments Off on Osaka cops: 2 women plunge to death from 14th floor of building

Osaka cops: Elderly woman stole money from account of roommate found dead

Employees of Osaka host club prosecuted over alleged alcohol-related death

Osaka cops: Man who ‘loves pachinko’ robbed convenience store — twice

Kyoto police nab yakuza boss in shooting at office of rival

Kyoto police nab yakuza boss in shooting at office of rival

Suspect previously arrested in assault in Osaka…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on December 10, 2016

Kyoto cops: Crane driver struck, dragged woman while playing Pokemon Go

Aichi cops: Stalker leaves needle-impaled doll near home of woman who rejected him

Aichi cops: Stalker leaves needle-impaled doll near home of woman who rejected him

Suspect also stuck photo of woman’s face on doll, police say…

By Roland Shichijo on January 8, 2017

Aichi cops: Golfer finds male corpse in Nagoya river

Fire at ‘Tokyo Design Week’ event kills boy, 5, injures 2 others

Fire at ‘Tokyo Design Week’ event kills boy, 5, injures 2 others

Several kids were playing in exhibit, police say…

By Roland Shichijo on November 7, 2016

Tokyo cops: Man beaten and robbed of ¥600,000 after woman lured him to hotel

Tokyo cops: Pedestrian struck, killed by distracted cyclist in Roppongi

Tokyo cops: Pedestrian struck, killed by distracted cyclist in Roppongi

Cyclist told police he hit brakes but ‘it was too late’…

By Roland Shichijo on December 31, 2016

NHK employee accused of embezzlement dies shortly after internal inquiry begins

NHK employee accused of embezzlement dies shortly after internal inquiry begins

NHK plans to seek compensation from bereaved family…

By Roland Shichijo on January 12, 2017

Tokyo cops nab 2 yakuza in murder of man near Kabukicho

Tokyo cops nab 2 yakuza in murder of man near Kabukicho

Victim was beaten to death in apartment in Okubo…

By Tokyo Reporter Staff on December 22, 2016