News On Japan

Tokyo Police Launch Specialized Unit for Lone Offenders

TOKYO, Apr 02 (News On Japan) - A special unit dedicated to investigating "lone offenders"—individuals who commit acts of terrorism without belonging to any specific organization—has been established for the first time in Japan within the Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

The new unit, formed on March 31st within the bureau’s Third Public Security Division, will focus on lone actors who operate independently of any group. The department aims to strengthen coordination with other divisions and police stations, consolidate information about suspicious individuals, and use it to enhance preemptive countermeasures.

The unit also plans to monitor purchases of materials that could be used to make explosives and request that real estate agents report any troubling incidents involving tenants. In addition, it will promote information sharing with police departments in other prefectures.

Authorities have identified three recent high-profile incidents as cases involving lone offenders: the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Abe in 2022, the 2023 attack on former Prime Minister Kishida, and the 2024 attacks targeting the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters and the Prime Minister’s Office.

Source: TBS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Scholars affiliated with the Science Council of Japan formed a symbolic human chain in front of the National Diet building on May 8th, calling for revisions to the government’s proposed reform bill targeting the council’s structure, as deliberations enter their final phase in the Diet.

Across Japan, road collapses have been occurring with increasing frequency, often blamed on aging infrastructure. In one recent incident in Ashioshi, Saitama Prefecture, a truck was swallowed by a gaping sinkhole.

Two men who were arrested for forcibly entering an elementary school in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, and assaulting staff members have been identified as friends of a student's mother. One of the suspects denies the charges, claiming he was only brushing people off after being restrained.

Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in Wakkanai and Kushiro, marking the near completion of Japan's cherry blossom front for 2025.

As many in Japan returned to work or school on May 7th following the Golden Week holiday, a growing number are reporting post-holiday fatigue and sleep deprivation—conditions that experts warn may point to deeper sleep-related issues.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

An 86-year-old man was arrested for attempting to burglarize an apartment shortly after his release from prison, admitting he had spent 200,000 yen on horse racing the same day he was freed.

With China's economy mired in a prolonged downturn and pressure from U.S. tariffs persisting since the Trump era, a growing number of Chinese citizens are seeking to leave their country. Among the favored destinations, Japan—and in particular, Osaka—is seeing a surge in Chinese immigrants. What lies behind this trend?

As many in Japan returned to work or school on May 7th following the Golden Week holiday, a growing number are reporting post-holiday fatigue and sleep deprivation—conditions that experts warn may point to deeper sleep-related issues.

A 61-year-old woman was arrested and sent to prosecutors on May 4th in Togo, Aichi Prefecture, for allegedly throwing a bird carcass into her neighbor’s yard, in what police say was part of a long-running neighborhood dispute. Security footage captured the entire incident.

A car plunged into the sea from a wharf in Hakodate Port, Hokkaido on May 4th, and an elderly man rescued from the vehicle was later confirmed dead.

A drunken man caused a disturbance at a popular ramen chain in Kanagawa Prefecture on May 2nd, kicking toward the kitchen area and shouting demands over a large serving he claimed he was denied.

A fire broke out before dawn at a ryokan in the Kinosaki Onsen hot spring district in Hyogo Prefecture, engulfing the building and spreading to nearby stores. While all guests were safely evacuated, a male employee was taken to hospital.

A wooden church in Kasamatsu, Gifu Prefecture collapsed on Saturday evening, after years of delayed demolition plans due to financial constraints.