In Japan, a quiet but significant shift is underway in how workers identify themselves on the job. Across industries—from retail to public service and transportation—more individuals are adopting business names, or pseudonyms, instead of using their real names at work. This trend, once largely seen among celebrities or freelancers, is becoming a practical and protective tool … [Read more...] about Why More Japanese Workers Are Choosing Business Names Over Real Ones
Crime
Kyoto Guesthouse Under Fire for War Crimes Pledge Policy for Israeli Guests
Kyoto, Japan – A guesthouse in Kyoto, WIND VILLA, has drawn attention after requiring guests to sign a pledge stating they have not committed war crimes, prompting a complaint from Israel’s ambassador to Japan, Gilad Cohen. The policy, introduced approximately six months ago, has sparked debate following an incident in April 2025 involving an Israeli tourist. According to … [Read more...] about Kyoto Guesthouse Under Fire for War Crimes Pledge Policy for Israeli Guests
Knife Attack at Todaimae Station Injures Three, Suspends Tokyo Metro Service
Tokyo, May 7, 2025 — At approximately 6:50 p.m. on May 7, 2025, the Metropolitan Police Department received multiple emergency calls reporting a man wielding a knife at Todaimae Station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line in Bunkyō Ward, Tokyo. According to investigative sources, the suspect attacked passengers inside a train car, injuring two men. The victims, whose … [Read more...] about Knife Attack at Todaimae Station Injures Three, Suspends Tokyo Metro Service
Tokyo Woman Freed from Exploitative Sex Work After Arrest, Revealing Persistent Issues
Tokyo- A woman in her 20s, referred to as Yuri (a pseudonym), described her relief at being arrested by Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department, which allowed her to escape a cycle of coercive sex work known as “tachinbo” near Okubo Park in Kabukicho, Shinjuku. Yuri’s story sheds light on the exploitation faced by some women in this practice and the difficulties in breaking … [Read more...] about Tokyo Woman Freed from Exploitative Sex Work After Arrest, Revealing Persistent Issues
Japan to Enforce Fines for Cyclists’ Traffic Violations Starting April 2026
Tokyo, April 24, 2025 — Starting April 1, 2026, cyclists in Japan aged 16 and older will face fines of up to 12,000 yen ($85) for traffic violations under a new penalty system, the National Police Agency (NPA) announced. The NPA drafted revisions to the Road Traffic Law’s enforcement order on April 24, outlining penalties for 113 types of violations, with the plan set to be … [Read more...] about Japan to Enforce Fines for Cyclists’ Traffic Violations Starting April 2026