According to the indictment and different sources, Fukui Shunsuke (31) was charged with strangling the lady, who lived within the metropolis, in a resort room in Osaka’s Minami space in September 2024, then taking her pockets and different belongings.

After the incident, Fukui was seen fleeing on a bicycle in close by safety digicam footage and later advised investigators that he hitchhiked from Suita to Yokohama to flee, whereas denying that he had meant to kill the lady.

Prosecutors argued that the defendant turned concerned in a monetary dispute with the lady after partaking in prostitution and didn’t take any life-saving measures following the assault, describing his disregard for human life as excessive, and sought a 22-year jail time period.

In its ruling on February sixth, the Osaka District Court said that Fukui had solicited prostitution regardless of being unable to pay resort charges or compensation and, even after the killing, tried to money within the stolen pockets, concluding that there have been no mitigating circumstances to contemplate and handing down the requested 22-year jail sentence.

Source: YOMIURI

Kawaguchi has a inhabitants of roughly 608,000, of whom 53,790 are international residents, accounting for about 9% of the entire and making it the second-highest proportion amongst municipalities nationwide. A notable latest pattern within the metropolis has been a decline in Japanese residents alongside an increase in international residents.

Around Nishi-Kawaguchi Station, an space sometimes called a Chinatown, indicators prohibiting bicycle parking are posted in Chinese, English, and Vietnamese, reflecting the district’s rising range.

In the Kawaguchi mayoral election held on February 1st, two of the six candidates who ran on platforms opposing the acceptance of extra international residents collectively secured roughly 20% of the vote.

In the present Lower House race for Saitama’s 2nd district, 4 candidates from the Liberal Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), the Democratic Party for the People, and Sanseito are competing. A comparability of get together pledges exhibits all are calling for stricter international resident insurance policies and stronger laws.

Running from Sanseito, which gained momentum within the 2025 Upper House election, is first-time candidate Sugano Shizuka, 37, who opposes what she describes as extreme acceptance of international residents. Sugano, a former elementary faculty instructor, resigned mid-term from the Kawaguchi metropolis meeting to hunt a seat in nationwide politics. Sugano mentioned: “I oppose the mass and excessive acceptance of immigrants. If we don’t put the brakes on this, Japan will continue to lose its balance.” She added that accepting too many international residents with out ample assist programs has led to friction with native communities, noting she acquired quite a few consultations about such points throughout her time as a metropolis council member. Sugano additionally argued that misinformation circulating on-line has broken Kawaguchi’s picture and referred to as for tighter regulation of false info.

From Nippon Ishin, incumbent Takahashi Hideaki, 62, is looking for a 3rd time period. Takahashi mentioned: “The issue of foreign residents has entered a new stage.” Although Ishin kinds a coalition with the LDP, Takahashi misplaced to the LDP candidate within the earlier Lower House election and returned to the Diet by way of proportional illustration. He mentioned that whereas Japan’s speedy inhabitants decline could require some reliance on international labor, “we cannot simply let people in indiscriminately.” Takahashi additionally criticized what he described because the LDP’s cautious stance, arguing that financial teams favor bringing in additional international employees and that Ishin would pursue reforms in areas the place the LDP has been reluctant to behave.

The LDP has fielded veteran lawmaker Shindo Yoshitaka, 68, who has been elected 9 occasions. Shindo, who heads the get together’s international resident coverage headquarters, mentioned the problem shouldn’t be left solely to native governments and that the nationwide authorities should take accountability. Shindo mentioned: “Illegal activities must be dealt with strictly. At the same time, we must update our foreign resident system to match today’s society. We have made such proposals to Prime Minister Takaichi as the LDP.” Preparations are additionally underway in Kawaguchi to determine a one-stop heart the place nationwide and native authorities will work collectively to handle international resident points. Shindo mentioned residents have expressed sturdy expectations for the middle, citing considerations over disturbances in every day life and emotions of unease, and mentioned the middle would function the first level of response.

From the Democratic Party for the People, Hosoya Hayato, 36, the youngest candidate within the race, can also be working. Drawing on expertise on the Foreign Ministry and a buying and selling firm, Hosoya is campaigning on diplomacy and safety coverage. Hosoya mentioned: “Kawaguchi is a hot-button issue, so we must respect local norms and ensure foreign residents follow the rules.” On coexistence with international residents, he confused the necessity to deepen understanding of Japan’s guidelines. Hosoya mentioned: “I draw a clear line from xenophobic thinking. This is not about simply driving foreign residents out. They must follow the rules, and to do so they need to understand them. Perhaps our efforts to help them understand those rules have not been sufficient.”

Speaking at an emergency press convention in Tokyo, Sato described the transfer as a “formation change” aimed toward tackling key challenges and strengthening the corporate’s means to generate earnings. Kon stated he would place robust emphasis on cash, income, and monetary metrics, stressing that his precedence can be to lift earnings and guarantee enterprise operations proceed with out interruption.

Source: Kyodo

Kirin Holdings’ relationship with Four Roses traces again to Japan’s postwar growth into world beverage markets, reflecting each the nation’s urge for food for American whiskey and its personal brewers’ ambitions to construct worldwide portfolios. Kirin, based in 1885 as Japan Brewery Co. in Yokohama and later renamed Kirin Brewery, grew to become one in every of Japan’s dominant beer makers in the course of the twentieth century, constructing a popularity for high quality lagers and regularly increasing into mushy drinks, prescribed drugs, and abroad alcohol manufacturers as home consumption matured.

Four Roses, in the meantime, has roots within the United States relationship to the late nineteenth century, when founder Paul Jones Jr. established the bourbon model in Kentucky. The label gained reputation within the early 1900s and survived Prohibition by shifting manufacturing to medicinal whiskey, however its trajectory diverged between the U.S. and export markets within the many years that adopted. While Four Roses grew to become much less outstanding domestically for a interval, it maintained robust recognition abroad, significantly in Japan, the place bourbon developed a loyal following amongst drinkers and bartenders.

Kirin entered the image within the Nineteen Eighties as Japanese beverage corporations sought to diversify past beer and hedge in opposition to demographic shifts and slowing development at dwelling. In 1988, Kirin acquired the Four Roses model and its associated U.S. operations, viewing American bourbon as a premium class with long-term potential in Japan and different Asian markets. The acquisition marked a broader technique by Kirin to construct a world spirits portfolio, complementing its beer dominance with worldwide whiskey and wine property.

Under Kirin’s possession, Four Roses underwent a revival, with renewed emphasis on high quality, growing older methods, and model positioning. The distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, expanded manufacturing capability and launched premium expressions that appealed to each American and worldwide customers. In Japan, Four Roses grew to become a staple in bars and eating places, benefiting from the nation’s long-standing fascination with bourbon and highballs, whereas additionally gaining traction within the U.S. craft whiskey increase that emerged within the 2000s and 2010s.

Over time, nonetheless, Kirin’s company priorities started to shift. Like many main brewers, the corporate confronted a shrinking home alcohol market as Japan’s inhabitants aged and youthful customers drank much less. In response, Kirin invested closely in non-alcohol segments, together with prescribed drugs, useful meals, and well being science merchandise, aiming to reposition itself as a broader well being and wellness firm slightly than a conventional brewer. The Four Roses model remained worthwhile and revered, nevertheless it was more and more considered as a non-core asset inside Kirin’s evolving portfolio.

Source: テレ東BIZ

In Tokyo, a dry climate advisory has been issued for 17 consecutive days because the unusually rainless situations—described as a once-in-30-years stage of low rainfall—proceed to unfold their influence throughout a number of areas.

Footage taken from the air on the fifth confirmed Takihata Dam in Kawachinagano, Osaka, with its storage charge at round 20%, exposing naked rock surfaces and widespread cracking. Nearby waters appeared reddish and muddy.

According to the dam’s administration workplace, the discoloration is attributable to iron micro organism that thrive in scorching spring or groundwater environments, with the results turning into extra seen as a result of drought. While there are at the moment no water restrictions affecting every day life within the space, the scenario underscores the pressure on reservoirs.

In Aichi Prefecture, nevertheless, agriculture and every day life are already being affected. At Uren Dam, the storage charge stood at simply 5.5% as of the 4th, highlighting the severity of the scarcity. Farmers in Toyokawa stated onions have struggled to take root as a result of lack of water, making them simple to tug from the soil and elevating considerations they could not develop correctly.

Onoda Yasuhiro, head of Momopapa’s Vegetable Farm, stated: “Even when we water the crops, we’re being told to conserve, so it’s very difficult. We’d like to see rain at least once a week.”

In Gamagori City, the place water-saving measures have been strengthened, a public bathtub facility has been briefly closed since late January. Bathwater has been drained and filtration tools switched off. Hosokawa Mizuki, supervisor of Yutorina Gamagori, stated: “For many customers, taking a bath is part of daily life, so we’ve heard a lot of comments like, ‘This is troubling’ and ‘What should we do?’”

A welfare heart for the aged within the metropolis can be set to droop use of its bathing amenities beginning subsequent week, with no clear timeline for resolving the water scarcity because the influence spreads.

Meanwhile, the Kanto area noticed springlike heat, with temperatures in central Tokyo rising to a daytime excessive of 13.8 levels. In Yokohama, lengthy traces shaped on the Red Brick Warehouse, the place guests carrying strawberry-themed berets gathered for an occasion celebrating peak strawberry season. On the primary day, the primary 300 guests acquired free strawberries, whereas others loved strawberry-laden parfaits and crepes. With temperatures reaching 12 levels, the strawberry pageant drew massive crowds.

In Matsuda Town in western Kanagawa, early-blooming Kawazu cherry blossoms have begun to paint native parks, prompting organizers to maneuver the annual cherry blossom pageant ahead by per week as a result of heat climate.

However, the hotter situations have additionally created issues. At Fukuroda Falls in Ibaraki, ice formations that had been about 80% frozen simply two to a few days earlier started melting as a result of latest heat.

Although many areas are experiencing early springlike situations, the climate is predicted to shift sharply over the weekend as a robust chilly air mass strikes in, bringing a return to midwinter chilly throughout the nation. Heavy snowfall is forecast over a large space alongside the Sea of Japan coast, with a danger of quickly growing snow accumulation.

Snow can be doable in Tokyo over the weekend, with as much as 5 centimeters forecast for some southern Kanto plains. With voting and poll counting for the Lower House election set for the eighth, authorities are urging warning over icy roads and potential disruptions to transportation.

Source: FNN