JAPUNDIT WEEKLY for April 12, 2025
The latest off-beat news from Japan
THIS WEEK
👮 Hyogo cops pressure 12-year-old into false sex confession
🏪 7-Eleven worker’s suicide officially tied to overwork
🏠 21,000 solitary deaths went unnoticed across Japan
😐 Japan ranks dead last in life satisfaction survey
🚽 Expo’s kids’ toilet plan sparks backlash over privacy
📮 Osaka postman busted for mailing used condoms
💰 Gold heist foiled in Tokyo, manhunt underway
🔫 Gun-toting American caught at Kansai Airport
🎒 Pickpocket hits tourist at Tokyo’s top temple
📱 Half of Tokyo tweens now own smartphones
Cops Pressure 12-Year-Old Girl Into Confessing to Sex Acts She Didn’t Commit
In a disturbing case that’s reigniting criticism of Japan’s police tactics, Hyogo Prefectural Police have come under fire for coercing a 12-year-old girl into confessing to fictitious sexual behavior at school.
The girl was summoned for questioning after a classmate's mother lodged a complaint. Without her parents or a lawyer present, police allegedly told the girl, “It’s better to admit it now. We’ll contact your parents later,” and pressured her into signing a written statement. Investigators later admitted there was no evidence to support the claims.
The school found no signs of misconduct, and experts now say the incident never happened.
Legal experts and advocacy groups are calling the case a gross miscarriage of justice and warning that the psychological impact on the child could be long-lasting. It’s also fueling renewed calls to reform Japan’s notoriously aggressive interrogation culture—long criticized for valuing confessions over evidence.
7-Eleven Worker’s Suicide Tied to Overwork
In another tragic example of Japan’s punishing labor culture, the death of a 27-year-old convenience store employee has officially been recognized as work-related suicide.
The man worked long hours with little rest at a 7-Eleven in Okayama Prefecture, juggling early morning and late-night shifts with few days off. According to labor authorities, he suffered from severe fatigue and stress in the months leading up to his death in 2022. His family filed for worker’s compensation, and this month, officials confirmed that overwork contributed directly to his suicide.
The case sheds light on the intense pressure faced by employees in Japan’s convenience store industry, which is heavily reliant on long hours and minimal staffing—often at the expense of worker health.
Despite growing awareness of "karōshi" (death from overwork), experts say not enough is being done to protect frontline employees in low-margin, high-demand sectors like retail and food service.
Dying Alone: 21,000 Solitary Deaths in Japan Went Unnoticed for Days
Japan’s health ministry has released a sobering statistic: in fiscal 2022, more than 21,000 people died alone at home and remained undiscovered for days—a stark reflection of the country’s deepening social isolation crisis.
The data was collected from local governments across Japan and includes cases where bodies were found at least several days after death, often due to the absence of family, friends, or social contact. Most of the victims were elderly men living alone.
The phenomenon, known as “kodokushi” (lonely death), has become alarmingly common in a society with a rapidly aging population and declining birthrate. Despite public awareness campaigns and welfare outreach programs, the numbers suggest those efforts haven’t been enough.
How does Japan compare?
Globally, measuring "solitary death" is difficult due to varying definitions and reporting methods. However:
UK: A 2021 study found that around 9,000 people a year die alone and are not discovered for days or weeks.
South Korea: Reported more than 3,000 solitary deaths in 2021, with numbers rising annually.
United States: The CDC doesn’t track "solitary death" directly, but estimates suggest tens of thousands die alone each year—particularly among older adults, veterans, and unhoused populations.
In Japan, the number is notable not just for its size but because the phenomenon is widely acknowledged yet still unresolved, despite years of national concern.
Japan Comes in Last in Global Life Satisfaction Survey
Despite its global image as a peaceful, orderly society with great food and reliable trains, Japan has landed dead last in a recent 30-country survey on quality of life satisfaction.
The survey, conducted by U.S.-based think tank Pew Research Center, found that only 27% of Japanese respondents said they were satisfied with their standard of living—the lowest of any country surveyed. By contrast, the global average was 70%, and countries like Sweden, Singapore, and Poland all scored above 80%.
Analysts say the numbers reflect a mix of economic stagnation, long work hours, rigid social expectations, and declining optimism about the future. Younger Japanese in particular cited job insecurity, social isolation, and anxiety over caregiving for aging relatives as major concerns.
It’s a sobering reality check for outsiders who view Japan as a serene, near-utopian society. Yes, it’s clean, safe, and efficient—but many residents quietly admit that daily life often feels joyless, lonely, or simply exhausting.
So no, Japan is not Disneyland. It’s just a country—like any other—struggling with change, inequality, and the weight of its own expectations.
Osaka Expo’s Open-Toilet Plan Has Parents Saying, “No Thanks”
Organizers of the upcoming 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo have found themselves in hot water over plans to install unpartitioned toilet facilities for children—a decision that has drawn criticism from parents, educators, and pretty much anyone with a sense of privacy.
According to reports, the proposal calls for shared hand-washing stations and toilets with no gender separation and no dividers. Officials say the design is meant to promote "inclusivity" and make things easier for caregivers. But critics argue it’s tone-deaf, unnecessary, and potentially traumatic—especially for kids old enough to care about modesty.
Opponents are also asking why Japan, a country with some of the most advanced toilets on Earth, can’t figure out how to install a few basic stalls with doors.
The expo committee says it’s still "gathering feedback," which usually means someone’s quietly preparing to walk this back before it becomes a global meme.
Signed, Sealed… Seriously?! Postman Busted for Sending Used Condoms
In a case that has left just about everyone asking “What the hell?”, an Osaka postal worker has been arrested for allegedly mailing used condoms to multiple female colleagues.
The 48-year-old suspect, who worked at a local post office, reportedly sent the items anonymously using the Japan Post system—yes, the very company that employed him. Police say at least four women received the disturbing packages, and DNA analysis eventually linked the materials back to the suspect himself.
He has reportedly confessed to the crimes, though his motives remain unclear. Unsurprisingly, Japan Post has placed him on administrative leave and issued a public apology.
While voyeurism and stalking cases often dominate headlines in Japan, this one pushes the creep factor into an entirely new postal code.
Gold Heist Gone Wrong in Ueno Sparks Manhunt
Tokyo police are on the hunt for two masked men who attempted to rob a gold shop in Ueno—one of the city’s busiest commercial districts. The would-be thieves reportedly entered the store wielding tear gas spray, but their plan fell apart when the staff resisted and they fled empty-handed.
Surveillance footage captured the suspects fleeing the scene on foot, and authorities believe the attempted heist was well-planned but poorly executed. No injuries were reported, but the store was left shaken.
Big-money robberies like this one are becoming more frequent in Japan. In recent years, Tokyo has seen a spate of smash-and-grab raids on high-end jewelry stores in Ginza, often involving teams of masked men who flee in stolen vehicles. One 2023 case involved thieves stealing ¥300 million worth of luxury watches in under three minutes.
The Ueno case may not have hit the jackpot, but it highlights a growing trend of high-risk, high-reward crimes in a country once known for its remarkably low rates of violent theft.
Gun-Toting American Busted at Japanese Airport — Again
In what would once have been unthinkable in Japan, a second American man has been caught attempting to bring a firearm into the country—this time with a handgun, bullets, and a knife in his luggage at Kansai International Airport.
The 58-year-old tourist was arrested after customs officials discovered the weapons during routine screening. He reportedly told authorities he “forgot” the items were in his bag—an excuse eerily similar to one made by another American traveler caught at a Japanese airport just two weeks earlier.
Japan has some of the strictest gun control laws in the world, and gun-related incidents—especially involving foreigners—are rare. But now, two gun-related arrests in as many weeks have sparked concerns about whether Japan’s famously thorough border screening process is starting to show cracks.
Authorities are investigating whether there’s a systemic issue at customs or simply a string of incredibly poor packing decisions. Either way, the message is clear: “I forgot it was there” isn’t going to cut it at a Japanese airport.
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Mongolian Pickpocket Caught at Japan’s Most Famous Temple
Police have arrested a Mongolian woman for allegedly pickpocketing a foreign tourist at Sensō-ji Temple, Tokyo’s most famous and heavily trafficked spiritual site.
The suspect was caught red-handed after a plainclothes officer observed her lifting a wallet from a fellow tourist’s backpack. She reportedly admitted to the crime, telling police she targeted the area because it was crowded with foreign visitors and “easy to blend in.”
Sensō-ji, located in Asakusa, draws millions of tourists each year and is often packed shoulder-to-shoulder—making it a pickpocket’s dream and a traveler's worst-case scenario.
While Japan has a reputation for low crime, tourist-on-tourist theft is quietly on the rise in busy districts. Authorities are warning travelers to keep their valuables secured and their backpacks zipped tight, even in places that feel safe.
More Than Half of Tokyo Tweens Now Own Smartphones
For the first time ever, smartphone ownership among 4th to 6th graders in the Tokyo area has surpassed 50%, according to a recent survey by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
The data shows that 51.1% of students in these grades now have their own smartphones, marking a sharp increase from previous years. The percentage jumps to nearly 90% among middle school students.
The surge in smartphone use among younger kids is raising eyebrows—and concerns. While some parents welcome the added safety and connectivity, others worry about screen addiction, cyberbullying, and early exposure to social media and online content.
Japan has long embraced tech-savviness, but the question remains: how young is too young for a pocket-sized dopamine dispenser?