January 2012

Cops arrest six for trafficking in Thai women at Gunma hot springs gulag

By Kazutaka Shimanaka • January 26, 2012

Nikkan Gendai (Jan. 25) reports that snack bar operator Kenichi Ando, Matsuba-kai gang member Jiro Sato and four others were arrested on a charge of violation of the Immigration Law and abetting prostitution.

Tokyo cops seize 100,000 uncensored porn DVDs in Kabukicho raid

By CJ • January 24, 2012

Tokyo police raid three shops involved in sale of uncensored adult video DVDs

Scientists predict 70 percent chance major quake to hit Tokyo in 4 years, AFP says

By Michael Blaskoski • January 24, 2012

esearchers at the University of Tokyo say the increase in tremors in and around the nation’s capital since the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami means there is a 70 percent chance the city will suffer a magnitude-seven earthquake within four years.

Hostess club manager, gang members arrested in prostitution of Thai females in Gunma

By CJ • January 23, 2012

Suspect imposed a debt for living and transportation costs

Kanae Kijima enters Saitama court for ‘black widow’ murder trial

By Amy Takahashi • January 23, 2012

The suspect is on trial in Saitama for the murder of three men she met through matchmaking sites

Hot springs stay turns into Cupid default swap

By Winnie Waniguchi • January 22, 2012

“My boyfriend and his close buddy Kazuo, and Kazuo’s girlfriend and I made plans to take a trip to a hot springs. But when I got out of the bath, Kazuo made a grab for me. This may seem unbelievable, but it seems the two guys conspired right from the get-go to swap partners.”

Ginza blues: Sister, can you spare a hostess?

By Kazutaka Shimanaka • January 22, 2012

Clubs slumped badly following last March’s earthquake and tsunami

TSE decides not to delist Olympus, slaps $130,000 fine, AFP says

By Michael Blaskoski • January 21, 2012

Olympus admitted to paying inflated fees in order to secretly cover losses

Yu Darvish, wife agree to divorce terms, Kyodo says

By Michael Blaskoski • January 20, 2012

Size of the alimony payments not disclosed

Theft from ‘It’s me’ phone fraud in Japan increases 34 percent in 2011, Jiji Press reports

By Michael Blaskoski • January 20, 2012

Japan’s National Police Agency said fraudsters fleeced as much as 10.6 billion yen ($138 mln) in 2011 from unsuspecting victims in a scam the Japanese call “ore ore” sagi (“It’s me” fraud).