TOKYO (TR) – In checking mainstream headlines on Japan over the past 12 months, one finds numerous references to “Abenomics,” snafus involving the 2020 Olympic Games, the surge in tourists arriving from overseas and the “comfort women” issue.
Over the same period, The Tokyo Reporter maintained its ear at street level with its coverage of, amongst other things, porn stars, perverts and one missing penis. Below is a list of the top-10 stories, based on editorial opinion and traffic reports, that caught the attention of readers in 2015.
10. Splish splash
A 40-year-old man was arrested in April for discharging bodily fluids (i.e. ejaculating) on female commuters during rush hour. He told police he had done it on more than 100 occasions: “Tokyo cops arrest serial splasher of bodily fluids.”
9. The Dark Night falls
Law enforcement flexed its muscles in 2015, including with the bust of Tokyo’s “happening bar” Dark Night, where men and women were able to engage in sex. It was raided on obscenity charges: “Bust of popular ‘adultery spot’ to hinder Tokyo’s playboys.”
8. Side orders
A woman working for Sukiya landed the beef bowl chain in hot water after pictures of her masturbating in her restaurant uniform spread across the Internet: “Japan beef bowl chain apologizes for female employee’s masturbation tweets.”
7. Economy still sucks
In one part of Tokyo, blow-jobs are going for as little as 2,000 yen: “Japan’s deflation battle reflected in sagging blow-job market.”
6. Sneaking a peek at AKB48
A former manager of AKB48 was found to have shot 15 hours of voyeur footage targeting the members of the popular idol group: “Arrest of ex-AKB48 manager reveals illicit films of naked members.”
5. Shear lunacy
Tokyo police arrested a man for using garden shears to remove the penis of a lawyer he suspected was fooling around with his wife. He then flushed the organ down a toilet: “Retribution for adultery leaves Tokyo lawyer at loose end.”
4. Class act
An image of adult video (AV) star Maria Ozawa was inadvertently used in an English textbook for schools in Indonesia: “Porn star Maria Ozawa featured in Indonesia school text.”
3. Onsen action
A hot springs in Tochigi Prefecture temporarily shut its door after complaints emerged about the facility being used for the shooting of AV films and hosting of orgies: “AV action proved to be too hot for Tochigi onsen.”
2. Yamaguchi-gumi split
The Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan’s biggest organized crime group, experienced a mutiny over the summer. A total of 13 affiliate groups bolted to form a rival gang, which has since lead to speculation about the possibility of violence: “Yamaguchi-gumi poised to split.”
1. Purchasing power
Former AV actress Rola Misaki was paid nearly one billion yen by a mystery Chinese businessman to serve as his personal assistant. Both parties later denied it but that didn’t slow the intrigue of readers: “Former Japanese porn star passes Go with Chinese businessman.”
See you in 2016!