News On Japan
Society

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

Palm Tree Falls Near Cannes Film Festival Venue, Injures Japanese Film Worker

A palm tree collapsed near the venue of the Cannes International Film Festival in France on May 17th, seriously injuring a Japanese film industry professional in his 30s.

UK Tourists in Shorts Stranded on Snowy Hokkaido Peak Rescued by Helicopter

Two foreign tourists were rescued by helicopter on May 13th after becoming stranded due to the cold on Mt. Yotei in Kutchan, Hokkaido’s Shiribeshi region, where snow still remains at higher elevations.

Baby Boom at North Safari Sapporo Despite Eviction Plans

Spring has brought a wave of newborn animals to North Safari Sapporo, a privately run zoo in Minami Ward, Sapporo City, even as the facility remains under pressure to remove illegal structures and relocate its animals.

Southern Kyushu Enters Rainy Season Earlier Than Okinawa for First Time in 49 Years

Southern Kyushu has entered the rainy season, marking the first time in 49 years that it has done so earlier than Okinawa. It is also the earliest rainy season start for any region in Japan since the Meteorological Agency began keeping records. Authorities are warning of heavy rainfall not only in Kyushu but across other parts of the country as well.

Saitama Road Collapse Recovery to Take 5-7 Years

A road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture is expected to take five to seven years to fully restore, local officials said on Friday, following the recovery of a truck cab that had remained lodged in the sewer system since the January accident.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         
MORE Society NEWS

Two Men Arrested in Hit-and-Run Drank for Two Hours Before Incident at Chinese Restaurant

Four elementary school boys were injured in a hit-and-run incident in Misato, Saitama Prefecture, after two Chinese nationals—later arrested—had spent about two hours drinking at a Chinese restaurant prior to the crash.

Kudo-kai Gang Leader Arrested for Hosting Dice Night

A senior member of the Kudo-kai crime syndicate, designated as a particularly dangerous group, was arrested on Friday in Kitakyushu for allegedly operating an illegal dice gambling den known as 'Tabusai,' which reportedly generated over one million yen in a single night.

Vending Machine Catches Fire in Hokkaido

A soft drink vending machine caught fire late Saturday night in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido, with no clear cause found in the surrounding area.

Tour Boat with 25 Aboard Catches Fire off Kagawa

A sightseeing boat carrying 25 people caught fire off the coast of Ogijima Island in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture on the evening of May 16th. All passengers and crew were safely rescued by a nearby fishing boat, and no injuries were reported.

Saitama Road Collapse Recovery to Take 5-7 Years

A road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture is expected to take five to seven years to fully restore, local officials said on Friday, following the recovery of a truck cab that had remained lodged in the sewer system since the January accident.

Eighty Years On, Okinawa Remembers the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill

Eighty years have passed since the end of World War II, yet the memories of its fiercest battles continue to echo in the heart of Okinawa. The district of Omoromachi in central Naha, now a lively urban hub filled with people, was once the site of one of the bloodiest clashes of the Battle of Okinawa—the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill.

Driver Rams Into Kyoto House, Hits Utility Pole and Flees

A car crashed into a residential fence in Kyoto City after first hitting a utility pole and veering erratically for several hundred meters, according to local police. The incident occurred in a quiet residential area, where a witness who heard a strange noise captured the scene on video as the vehicle approached and came to a halt after plowing into the home’s boundary fence.

Three Arrested for Using Dating App to Scam Visually Impaired Man

A woman in her 20s and two other individuals were arrested on Thursday on suspicion of defrauding a visually impaired man by luring him through a dating app and charging him excessive fees at a bar.