Koji Nakagaki is accused of stealing a water meter from a vacant unit at a public housing complicated in Sakai’s Nishi Ward in April.

Police mentioned they’ve additionally gathered proof linking Nakagaki to the theft of 49 water meters from condominium buildings throughout Sakai throughout April, with the stolen gadgets valued at a complete of roughly 147,000 yen. The extra allegations have been referred to prosecutors.

Investigators consider Nakagaki focused the meters as a result of they include copper, the value of which has risen sharply in recent times, growing the resale worth of steel elements. During questioning, Nakagaki reportedly admitted to the thefts, telling investigators, “I stole them because I had no money.”

The case displays a rising nationwide drawback linked to rising copper costs and robust international demand for the steel. Copper is a key materials utilized in electrical autos, renewable power programs, energy grid upgrades, and AI-related infrastructure, pushing costs to traditionally excessive ranges and growing the attractiveness of steel theft.

Water meters have turn into a specific goal as a result of they’re comparatively straightforward to take away and include worthwhile copper and brass elements. Authorities say thieves usually concentrate on vacant houses, public housing items, and unoccupied residences the place the thefts could go unnoticed for prolonged durations.

Similar incidents have been reported throughout Japan in recent times. Copper cable thefts from solar energy services and electrical infrastructure have elevated, whereas temples and shrines have additionally fallen sufferer to thieves focusing on copper roofing and ornamental metalwork. In some instances, giant portions {of electrical} wiring have been stolen from industrial and power services.

Municipal governments in a number of prefectures have reported repeated thefts of water meters, prompting considerations about disruptions to public utilities and the rising prices of changing stolen gear.

Police are persevering with to analyze the extent of Nakagaki’s actions and whether or not he could have been concerned in promoting the stolen meters via scrap steel channels. Authorities are additionally inspecting whether or not the case is linked to broader developments in copper-related thefts which have emerged throughout the nation as steel costs proceed to climb.

Source: YOMIURI

The case facilities on the killing of Eiko Tomiyama, 69, who was discovered stabbed greater than 20 instances at her dwelling in Kaminokawa, Tochigi Prefecture, final month.

Police have already arrested 4 16-year-old boys believed to have carried out the assault, together with Kaito Takemae, 28, and his spouse Miyu, 25, who’re suspected of directing the group. An 18-year-old highschool scholar alleged to have acted as a recruiter has additionally been arrested.

Investigators on Thursday re-arrested a 16-year-old highschool scholar from Sagamihara, who was the primary suspect taken into custody within the case, on suspicion of tried robbery-murder.

According to police, {the teenager} allegedly conspired with the three different juvenile suspects and the Takemae couple earlier than breaking into Tomiyama’s dwelling. While looking the residence, the group reportedly encountered Tomiyama’s two sons—a person in his 40s and one other in his 30s—and attacked them with a crowbar in an try to kill them.

Police imagine the victims arrived on the home after Tomiyama’s husband, who was at dwelling throughout the incident, contacted the youthful son, who had been working in close by fields. The youthful son then went to the residence collectively together with his older brother, the place they unexpectedly got here face-to-face with the intruders.

The older son suffered critical accidents, together with a fractured proper arm, whereas the youthful son sustained extreme head accidents, together with a cerebral contusion and traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

During questioning, the suspect reportedly admitted the allegations, telling investigators, “There is no mistake that I hit them with a crowbar.”

The teenager was initially detained shortly after the crime when police stopped and questioned him close to the scene. Officers grew to become suspicious after he was seen strolling whereas overlaying his face together with his arms. During questioning, he reportedly made statements indicating he had been concerned in a theft, resulting in his arrest.

Police plan to re-arrest the opposite three juvenile suspects and the Takemae couple on related expenses.

Authorities are additionally looking for Kazuhiko Masuda, 48, who’s believed to have orchestrated the crime and fled abroad. A nationwide wished discover has been issued, and Japanese investigators are working with overseas legislation enforcement businesses to trace his whereabouts.

A seasonal rain entrance stays stalled close to Okinawa and the Amami Islands, the place moist air flowing in from a tropical melancholy close to Taiwan is anticipated to set off intense thunderstorms by way of June sixth. Residents within the area are being urged to stay alert for heavy rain, lightning, and localized flooding.

Rain clouds related to the tropical melancholy are forecast to succeed in Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures by the night of June sixth. Elsewhere, a lot of the nation is anticipated to see sunny intervals, though northern Japan and the Hokuriku area are prone to expertise rain primarily throughout the morning. The Kanto area might additionally see remoted showers later within the day.

Temperatures are anticipated to stay heat and humid from Kyushu by way of the Kanto area, with many areas reaching summer-like situations. Forecast highs embrace 25 levels Celsius in Tokyo, 27 levels in Nagoya, 28 levels in Osaka, and 29 levels in Fukuoka and Naha. In distinction, Sapporo is anticipated to chill sharply to 16 levels, considerably decrease than temperatures recorded on June fifth.

Looking forward to June seventh, the tropical melancholy is forecast to steadily transition into an extratropical low-pressure system whereas transferring alongside Japan’s southern shoreline. Rain is anticipated to unfold throughout Pacific-facing areas from Kyushu to Kanto, following a path much like that taken by Typhoon Jangmi (Typhoon No. 6).

Meteorologists warn that areas already saturated by latest rainfall might face an elevated danger of landslides and different rain-related disasters. Authorities are urging residents, significantly in areas affected by Typhoon Jangmi, to carefully monitor climate updates and take precautions as one other interval of heavy rain approaches.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, whole money earnings per employee, together with base salaries and additional time pay, elevated 3.5% from a yr earlier to 312,425 yen in April. It was the third straight month by which wage progress exceeded 3%, a tempo not seen for roughly 34 years.

Regular pay, which excludes bonuses and different particular funds, climbed 3.4% from a yr earlier. The enhance marked the fourth consecutive month of progress above 3%, the longest such streak in 33 and a half years.

After adjusting for inflation, actual wages elevated 1.9% from a yr earlier in April, extending their optimistic run to 4 months. It was the primary time since 2021 that actual wages had remained in optimistic territory for 4 consecutive months.

The ministry mentioned the outcomes of this yr’s annual spring wage negotiations are starting to be mirrored in staff’ base salaries, serving to drive wage progress. Officials famous that inflation may rise once more on account of components together with developments in Iran and broader Middle East tensions, and mentioned they’d proceed to carefully monitor worth developments.

The client worth index used to calculate actual wages rose 1.5% in April, a pointy slowdown from the 4.1% enhance recorded in April 2025. The moderation was attributed partly to the abolition of Japan’s provisional gasoline tax charge and the resumption of gasoline subsidies launched in response to worsening circumstances within the Middle East, which helped ease upward stress on costs.

The newest figures counsel that wage will increase secured throughout this yr’s spring labor talks are starting to offset inflationary pressures, offering some aid to households after a number of years by which rising costs persistently eroded buying energy.

Source: TBS

The new collection, referred to as “Sunny Price,” will go on sale on July 1st and consists of merchandise equivalent to ham, sausages, and pizza.

To scale back prices, Itoham has simplified the packaging design. While its fundamental merchandise usually use between 5 and eight ink colours on their packaging, the brand new line will use simply three colours, slicing the variety of inks by roughly half.

The firm stated the transfer comes as hovering uncooked materials costs and better logistics prices proceed to place strain on producers. In addition, tensions within the Middle East have contributed to rising prices for packaging inks, additional rising manufacturing bills.

Retail costs have additionally been lowered in contrast with Itoham’s flagship merchandise. Sausages and ham within the Sunny Price vary will promote for 330 yen together with tax, whereas pizzas might be priced at 300 yen, representing reductions of roughly 20% to 40%.

Itoham stated additionally it is contemplating simplifying the packaging of different merchandise sooner or later because it seeks extra methods to maintain costs reasonably priced for shoppers.

Source: TBS

At a council assembly held by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on June fifth, the federal government outlined its proposed roadmap for changing growing old nuclear reactors. The plan estimates that between two and 5 reactors will must be rebuilt by the 2040s, with an extra 11 to 14 replacements required by the 2050s.

With a lot of Japan’s present nuclear amenities rising older, the federal government says the initiative is meant to assist guarantee a secure power provide whereas offering long-term coverage certainty that may encourage funding within the sector.

The proposal represents the primary time because the Fukushima Daiichi accident in March 2011 that the federal government has set particular numerical targets for nuclear reactor substitute.

However, challenges stay. Confidence within the nuclear trade has been shaken by a sequence of points, together with the latest revelation that Chubu Electric Power manipulated knowledge throughout security screening procedures associated to the restart of its Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant.

As the federal government strikes ahead with its nuclear power technique, restoring public belief and demonstrating the trade’s dedication to security and transparency are anticipated to be key components in attaining the proposed targets.

Source: TBS

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ Family Income and Expenditure Survey launched on June sixth, households with two or extra individuals spent a median of 328,969 yen in April, down 0.5% in actual phrases from a 12 months earlier after adjusting for inflation.

The decline prolonged a unfavourable streak that started late final 12 months, as many households continued to curb spending in response to larger residing prices.

Food spending fell 0.6% from a 12 months earlier. Within that class, spending on cereals, together with rice merchandise, dropped 4.8%, whereas spending on greens and seaweed declined 2.7%, partly reflecting decreased purchases as costs for gadgets akin to potatoes and onions remained elevated.

Utility prices additionally contributed to the decline in total spending. Electricity expenditures fell 11.0% from a 12 months earlier as warmer-than-usual climate decreased the necessity for heating.

In distinction, some classes posted robust good points. Automobile purchases surged 109.8% after the abolition in March of an vehicle tax that had been linked to automobile environmental efficiency.

The survey additionally instructed that deteriorating circumstances within the Middle East are starting to affect shopper conduct. Purchases of petroleum-based merchandise elevated, with spending on plastic baggage and meals wrap rising 42.7% and bathroom paper growing 6.1%.

Housing-related expenditures additionally climbed, with spending on tools repairs and upkeep rising 17.9% as purchases of system kitchens, rest room vanities, and different residence enchancment merchandise elevated.

The ministry mentioned it will proceed to carefully monitor the influence of worsening Middle East tensions on family funds, as issues develop that larger power and uncooked materials prices may place extra pressure on customers within the months forward.

Source: TBS

The controversy stems from stories revealed by Weekly Bunshun alleging that people linked to Takaichi’s marketing campaign circulated movies focusing on political opponents on social media. The subject has attracted consideration not merely as a political scandal however due to considerations that such actions might distort voter habits and undermine the equity of democratic elections.

Takaichi’s camp denied the allegations final month. The prime minister acknowledged that neither she nor her secretaries had any prior relationship with the person accused of manufacturing the movies and mentioned she trusted her employees members.

The subject resurfaced after the journal reported the existence of audio recordings allegedly capturing on-line conversations between considered one of Takaichi’s publicly funded secretaries and a person mentioned to have produced the movies. The report triggered a recent spherical of questioning within the Diet’s Budget Committee.

During questioning on June 4th, opposition lawmakers requested whether or not the voice heard within the recordings belonged to the secretary in query. Takaichi responded that she had been unable to confirm the report instantly as a result of it was obtainable solely to paid subscribers and she or he had first seen the questions within the early hours of the morning.

After reviewing the recordings on the night time of June 4th, Takaichi instructed lawmakers on June fifth that she nonetheless couldn’t decide whether or not the voice belonged to her secretary.

“I reviewed the recordings late last night. It is difficult to determine from that kind of audio whether it is actually my secretary,” Takaichi mentioned.

She added that the voice within the recording sounded noticeably totally different from the secretary’s regular talking model.

“The voice said to belong to my secretary sounded much higher and more articulate than when that person speaks with me, so I felt there was something unnatural about it,” she mentioned.

Takaichi additionally rejected ideas that the recordings proved her camp had commissioned smear movies.

“I find it deeply offensive to be accused of creating smear videos based solely on a weekly magazine article,” she mentioned.

Opposition lawmakers continued urgent the prime minister over whether or not she had instantly confirmed the matter with the secretary concerned.

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Taku Yamazoe requested whether or not Takaichi had verified with the secretary that the voice within the publicly launched recording was truly theirs.

Takaichi responded that she had spent a lot of the night time attempting to achieve the secretary and eventually spoke with them on the morning of June fifth.

According to the prime minister, when she requested the secretary to take heed to the recording, the secretary questioned why they need to need to change into a paying subscriber to entry the fabric and expressed anger over what they seen as a one-sided report.

Takaichi reiterated that neither she nor her employees have interaction in private assaults towards political rivals and dismissed requires a broader investigation, sustaining that the allegations lack credible proof.

Political commentators be aware that if the allegations are false, each the prime minister and her secretary might doubtlessly pursue authorized motion to defend their reputations. Some observers have argued that an impartial voice evaluation might assist make clear the matter and supply a extra convincing rationalization to voters.

The controversy has additionally reignited debate over the rising position of social media in Japanese politics. Analysts level out that Diet debates more and more serve not solely as exchanges between politicians but in addition as content material designed to be clipped into brief movies and distributed on-line. Politicians usually craft memorable remarks that may rapidly unfold throughout social media platforms and resonate with supporters.

The subject remembers a separate controversy throughout final yr’s Liberal Democratic Party presidential race, when people related to a marketing campaign had been discovered to have requested supporters submit favorable feedback on-line whereas criticizing rival candidates. The incident prompted public criticism and an apology from these concerned.

At the identical time, social media has change into a vital software for politicians in search of to speak instantly with voters. Takaichi has constructed a major on-line following by frequent posts, sharing behind-the-scenes moments from diplomatic conferences and extra private features of her each day life, serving to domesticate an approachable public picture.

Experts say the problem lies in balancing the advantages of direct communication with the dangers created by viral content material. Research cited by commentators means that short-form political movies are more and more produced by third events somewhat than official campaigns, with many creators motivated by promoting income generated by excessive viewership.

Studies point out that unfavourable or emotionally charged content material usually attracts extra consideration than constructive messages. As a outcome, movies emphasizing controversy, criticism, or outrage are likely to unfold extra quickly, creating incentives for creators to provide more and more provocative materials.

Analysts argue that this dynamic is partly rooted in human psychology, as persons are naturally extra delicate to perceived threats, dangers, and unfavourable info. While this intuition could have developed as a survival mechanism, it may possibly additionally contribute to the speedy unfold of misinformation and deceptive narratives on-line.

The newest spherical of questioning has additionally uncovered indicators of unease throughout the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. One former cupboard minister reportedly described Takaichi’s rationalization as “a bit of a stretch,” suggesting that skepticism over the federal government’s response shouldn’t be restricted to opposition events.

Opposition lawmakers at the moment are in search of to summon each the secretary and the alleged video creator as witnesses earlier than the Diet, signaling that the controversy is prone to stay a focus of political debate within the coming weeks.

As political debate continues to maneuver onto digital platforms, specialists are urging voters to method viral content material with warning. High viewership figures, they warn, shouldn’t be handled as proof of accuracy. Instead, voters are inspired to look at a number of sources and think about opposing viewpoints earlier than forming conclusions on politically charged points.

Source: YOMIURI