All eyes on Hatoyama–his fashion, at least
While Prime Minister Hatoyama’s approval ratings continue to sink, it seems attention paid to his sense of style is at an all-time high, as most recently pointed out by this…
Upcoming event: End Modern-day Slavery
Heads up to all our Japan-based readers! For its latest event, Polaris Project will host author Jake Adelstein and other representatives for an evening on Thursday, May 27 to speak…
Anticlimactic weekly roundup
Excuse us for the lull, but it was the sunniest Golden Week in 25 years, and while Jake was out doing the rounds in New England and soaking up more…
Fuzoku Friday: Desire proves profitable option in real estate sector
Weekly magazine Shukan Post reported in their April 30 issue on an interesting trend in the currently slow world of real estate investment, digging into the popularity of so-called “Loveho…
Upcoming Event: An education on the way of the journalist
For those in the area, the University of New Hampshire will be hosting Jake Adelstein this Thursday, April 28, from 7-9pm. Tokyo Vice: An Education on The Way of the…
Not a good week for the big guys
In unusual yakuza-related news, April 23 saw the sentencing of an ex-Yamaguchi-gumi higher up for a crime that’s worth a chuckle. According to Sankei News, You Inaba, 43, was sentenced…
Fuzoku Friday: Girls with unhappy parents more likely to do compensated dating: Aichi police survey
The Asahi Shinbun posted an article about a survey done by the Aichi Prefectural Police regarding enjo kosai, or the practice of school girls exchanging companionship and sexual favors for…
Things you never wanted to know about the yakuza, but the Japanese just had to ask
Ever have a nagging question about the yakuza you hoped to have answered but didn’t know where to ask? Know that you’re not alone–even Japanese people themselves find the group…
Japan author sues police over ban on 'yakuza' publications
Now that April Fool’s Day is finished (at least here in Japan), we can actually post some real news! Related to the article last week about convenience stores in Fukuoka…
Fukuoka convenience stores to remove yakuza mags
Fukuoka prefectural police requested March 25 that convenience stores in the prefecture no longer stock yakuza fan magazines. Four chains have already begun removing the products from their racks, while…