First-ever arrest of Japanese national for making child porn abroad
Police made their first-ever arrest of a Japanese national for producing child pornography while overseas apprehending a 64-year-old man for taking nude photos of a 15-year-old girl while in the Philippines.…
Child porn group unmasked in southern Japan
Police have uncovered a group of seven child pornographers who are believed to have taken pornographic shots of young elementary school girls, and are currently in the final stages of…
Kyoto Prefecture to become the first to ban child pornography, while Japan's Ruling Party does nothing.
You read that right! Kyoto Prefecture announced plans to roll out a policy that will officially outlaw the possession and acquisition of child pornography, with plans to enact the regulations some time this…
Prosecutors demand jurors pull the trigger in shooting trial
Monday saw the opening of a trial against ex-yakuza boss, Takashi Kajiwara, who was accused of attempted murder in the March 2009 shooting of an acquaintance. The defence asserted during the hearing that…
Sumiyoshi-kai member caught in horse race scam
As a departure from baseball and sumo, a Sumiyoshi-kai higher up was arrested for fraud after he was discovered charging money for false tips about horse races. According to police,…
Middle school girl suspected of prostituting classmates
A JR West Hiroshima staff was arrested February 16 for paying ¥70,000 to a middle school girl for sexual favours in a karaoke box last July. The 48-year-old man told police that…
English Conversation (Eikaiwa) a con game? Engrish lessons from Yakuza 3
The critically acclaimed game, Yakuza 3 (龍が如く３) had a lot cut out of the American version. One of the more interesting scenarios scrubbed was the lead character, ex-yakuza boss, Kiryu’s…
Fukuoka English teacher on trial for molesting 15 students
An American man has gone to trial after being accused of molesting 15 girls at the English conversation school he managed in Fukuoka. Alan Neil Lamph, 70, was arrested under…
JSRC Facebook page now up!
The Japan Subculture Research Center now finally has its own Facebook page. Give it a like to stay updated on what’s happening and to meet other JSRC readers! Japan Subculture…
The last Japanese man remaining in Kazakhstan: A Kafkian tale of the plight of a Japanese POW in the Soviet Union
Richard Orange, noted foreign correspondent and Ikuru Kuwajima, a photojournalist in Central Asia and long-time contributor to Japan Subculture Research Center, worked to put together this this fascinating piece about…