GSDF helicopter went missing

  A helicopter carrying ten soldiers, including the commander of the 8th Division of the Ground Self-Defense Force, disappeared on April 6th near Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture. As of April 18th, six of them have been found, and all confirmed dead. The search continues for the remaining four. On April 16th, a piece of …

Kimchi wars continue…

Recently, there has been a substantial issue with the supply and pricing of kimchi in South Korea due to an incident of severe rainfall resulting in a bridge running through the center of Seoul being completely submerged. This has caused a dramatic decrease in yield for cabbage, which is an essential ingredient for kimchi, as …

1 in 3 marriages end in divorce

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare projects that the number of divorces in Japan will reach 184,386 in 2021. Although the overall number has been declining since 2000, there has been an increase in the percentage of middle-aged divorces with 21.5% having been married for 20 years or more in 2020. The primary …

Highly toxic dioxins buried in 15 prefectures

  In Japan, there is an environmental issue concerning the burial of herbicides containing highly toxic dioxins in 46 locations across 15 prefectures. These herbicides contained the active ingredient 2.4.5-T, which was used for afforestation projects until 1971 when reports of health hazards were reported overseas. As a result, the Japanese government discontinued its use …

Fraud is evolving

  A criminal organization in Japan has been exploiting senior citizens by utilizing prominent job-seeking websites. The group has been advertising part-time occupations, like ‘carrying objects’ and ‘collecting items’, claiming to provide high wages. It is believed that these sites, including Indeed, Engage and Jimoty, have been misused for this purpose. Applicants who answer the …