Japanese Archives

Japanese Navy Divers Successfully Neutralize WWII-Era Shells Off Okinawa Coast

NAHA, Okinawa — On Wednesday, Japanese naval divers successfully neutralized 24 artillery shells thought to be remnants of World War II in the waters near Naha, Okinawa’s bustling capital. The operation marked the third such exercise this month aimed at clearing hazardous leftovers from the intense battles that once ravaged this Pacific island. The controlled detonation, which targeted ordnance found in the local port, was conducted by a team of eleven from the Japan Maritime …

Japanese Consul-General Urges Chinese City Mayor for Transparency on Recent Attacks Involving Japanese Nationals

Shanghai, China — The Consul-General of Japan in Shanghai has made a formal request to the mayor of Suzhou for detailed information regarding a violent attack that resulted in injuries to two Japanese nationals. This plea underscores the growing concerns over the safety of Japanese residents in China amid a recent spate of violent incidents. During a meeting on Friday, Consul-General Okada Masaru expressed these worries to Wu Qingwen, deputy mayor of Suzhou, a major …

After 46 Years on Death Row, 88-Year-Old Former Boxer Cleared of 1966 Miso Factory Murders in Landmark Japanese Court Ruling

Shizuoka, Japan — In a landmark ruling on Thursday, the Shizuoka District Court declared 88-year-old Iwao Hakamada innocent of the 1966 quadruple homicide for which he was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in 1968. The former boxer, who spent nearly half a century on death row, became a symbol of Japan’s contested justice system and its retention of the death penalty. Hakamada was arrested for the murder of a miso factory manager and his …

At 88, World’s Longest-Serving Death Row Inmate Awaits Retrial Verdict in Historic Japanese Legal Battle

Shizuoka, Japan — Iwao Hakamada, an 88-year-old former boxer, has spent an unprecedented nearly six decades on death row, making him the longest-held death row inmate worldwide. Recently, a Japanese district court in Shizuoka began deliberating his fate once again in a retrial that could potentially overturn his 1968 conviction for the murder of a family of four and arson. In June 1966, Hakamada was accused of killing a miso company manager, the man’s wife, …

32-Year-Old Man Arrested in Fatal Stabbing of Japanese Chef in Vancouver’s Chinatown

Vancouver, Canada – Authorities have arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with the fatal stabbing of Japanese chef, Wataru Kakiuchi, in Vancouver’s Chinatown neighborhood last week. Kakiuchi, a Japanese citizen, was discovered near Main Street and Union Street in the early hours of June 5th. Despite efforts to transport him to the hospital, Kakiuchi tragically passed away. The suspect, Timothy Isborn, was apprehended in the Downtown Eastside on Monday afternoon and has since been charged …

Japanese Man Sentenced to Death for Deadly Anime Studio Arson Accepts Verdict and Appeals Conviction

TOKYO, Japan – The Japanese man who was convicted of setting fire to an anime studio, resulting in the deaths of 36 people, has accepted the court’s verdict, according to local media. Shinji Aoba, 45, was found guilty for the deadly arson attack on the studios of Kyoto Animation in 2019, the deadliest crime in Japan in decades. Aoba’s defense team had initially entered a plea of not guilty, claiming he suffered from a mental …

Japanese Man Sentenced to Death for Killing 36 People in Kyoto Animation Studio Fire

KYOTO, JAPAN – A Japanese man has been sentenced to death for the deaths of 36 people in a studio fire in 2019. Shinji Aoba was found guilty of setting fire to Kyoto Animation Studio No. 1, leading to the tragic deaths and injuries of numerous individuals due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The court dismissed his defense’s argument of mental unfitness, citing evidence of premeditation and hesitation before the arson. The devastating attack on Kyoto …

Japanese Court Sentences 21-Year-Old Man to Death for Murder and Arson Committed at Age 19

KOFU, Japan – A 21-year-old man named Endo Yuki has been sentenced to death by the Kofu District Court in Yamanashi Prefecture for committing murder and arson at the age of 19. This makes him the first person to receive the death penalty for a crime committed at 18 or 19 since Japan’s revised juvenile law took effect in 2022, lowering the age of adulthood. Endo was convicted of entering the home of a woman …

Japanese Officials Dispute Link Between Mass Fish Deaths and Fukushima Water Release

Hakodate, Japan – Japanese officials have refuted claims linking the deaths of tons of fish along the shoreline in Hokkaido to the release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Last week, approximately 1,200 tons of dead sardines and mackerels washed ashore in Hakodate city, leaving marine experts perplexed and prompting an influx of inquiries and volunteer requests to collect the remains. While no official statement has been made by Tokyo, a …

The Full Transcript of Air Traffic Control Conversations Before Tokyo Plane Crash Released by Japanese Authorities

TOKYO, Japan – A full transcript of the air traffic control conversations leading up to a fatal plane crash at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport has been released by authorities in Japan. The transcript sheds light on the discussions between the airport’s control tower and the two planes involved in the collision – a Japan Airlines (JAL) passenger jet and a smaller coastguard plane. The details in the transcript reveal the sequence of events and decisions made …