A boy believed to be an elementary school student died after falling from a high-rise apartment in Sendai City on November 11th. Police said that around 3:20 p.m., the boy, estimated to be in his early teens and living in the same building, was found unconscious in the courtyard of a 15-story apartment complex and later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Princess Aiko, the only daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, paid her respects at the mausoleum of Emperor Showa and other imperial tombs in Hachioji, Tokyo, ahead of her official visit to Laos later this month.
A series of bear attacks were reported across Japan on November 9th, injuring five people in total, including a man in his 50s who was attacked at around 4 a.m. while preparing for his restaurant’s opening in Sannohe, Aomori Prefecture.
Welcome to Japan's biggest slum, where survival is the only currency that matters. For the 20,000 people here in Kamagasaki, home is often the street. It's a strangely quiet slum, built on a brutal economic logic: a bowl of ramen might only cost 500 yen, but a tiny 3-tatami-mat room can cost $350 a month. (Andrew Fraser)
The National Police Agency announced on November 6th that it has revised the National Public Safety Commission regulations to allow police officers to use rifles for bear control. The amendment will take effect on November 13th.
A 51-year-old man has been arrested for forcing a 12-year-old Thai girl to work illegally at a private massage parlor in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward, in what police believe may be part of a human trafficking operation.
Tajiri, a town of just about 8,300 residents, has surged from 10th to 3rd place in the Kansai Happiness Ranking thanks to its strong community ties and family-focused support funded by Kansai Airport taxes.
Emergency contraceptive pills, used to prevent unintended pregnancies, are set to become available over the counter in Japan as early as by the end of this fiscal year, marking a major shift after nearly a decade of debate.