Japanese students in China down 11% a year after knife attack
TOMOKO WAKASUGI
SUZHOU, China -- Enrollment at Japanese schools in China has declined more than 10% since a knife attack here a year ago, underscoring persistent safety concerns among Japanese expatriates.
On June 24, 2024, a man stabbed a Japanese woman and her preschool-aged son at a bus stop near a Japanese school in Suzhou. Chinese school bus attendant Hu Youping tried to intervene but was herself fatally stabbed, dying at age 54.
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Asahi Shimbun
20 hours ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Second senior Chinese diplomat detained for questioning, sources say
BEIJING--A deputy to a prominent Chinese diplomat being questioned by authorities was also detained, three people with knowledge of the matter said, a further sign of uncertainty in the top echelons of China's diplomacy. Sun Haiyan, a senior diplomat and former ambassador to Singapore, was detained in early August around the time Liu Jianchao, widely seen as a potential foreign minister candidate, was taken in for questioning, two of the people said. Sun, the first woman to serve as a deputy head of the Communist Party's International Department, was detained by Chinese authorities in connection with the questioning of Liu, the sources said. None of the sources knew the basis of the questioning of either diplomat. The sources requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. The detention of Liu, who leads the International Department, marked the highest-level disappearance of a diplomat since China ousted its former foreign minister and President Xi Jinping's protege, Qin Gang, in 2023, following an unexplained public absence. His detention followed a work trip to Singapore, South Africa and Algeria. His house was searched in early August. The disappearance of Sun alongside the highly visible Liu, adds to questions about China's foreign policy establishment at a time of rising tensions with Washington around trade and geopolitical influence. China's State Council Information Office, which handles media queries for the government, and the International Department did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Reuters could not verify if both Sun and Liu were still being detained. Neither could be reached for comment. Both their profiles remain on the International Department's website. Sun's last public appearance was on August 1, when she attended a reception hosted by Nepal's embassy in Beijing. Sun, 53, was stationed in Singapore between May 2022 and July 2023. When she left her post, she hosted a 500-person reception at a luxury Singapore hotel, according to Chinese news reports. She joined the International Department in 1997, where she served in a wide range of roles, including spokesperson and head of the bureau responsible for ties with Southeast Asian countries. She also served as a district Party Committee official in the city of Zibo, Shandong province, in 2008. Originally from Hebei province, Sun holds a doctorate in law from Peking University, having also studied at Japan's Kyushu University.
The Diplomat
a day ago
- The Diplomat
Gambling and Philippine Politics
The country is currently grappling with the social effects of gambling, in particularly the surge of online gambling among the youth. A specter is haunting Philippine politics today: the specter of gambling, which is being linked to youth addiction, unethical use of public funds, money laundering, kidnapping, and murder. Aside from the intense flooding across the country and the ongoing impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, the problems associated with gambling have dominated the news in the past two months. For example, the Senate is considering a ban on online gambling, the influential Catholic Church has renewed its call against all forms of gambling, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. spoke about the issue of missing cockfighting enthusiasts in his July 28 state of the nation address. Gambling has long been closely connected to the country's politics. Numerous politicians have been accused of being protectors of jueteng, an illegal numbers game similar to small-town lottery. In fact, former President Joseph Estrada was impeached in 2000 because of an allegation that he was receiving jueteng money. Meanwhile, Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs, proliferated a decade ago, catering mainly to Chinese gamblers. These POGO hubs eventually became notorious for their link with organized crime suspected of being behind money laundering and human trafficking operations. Local politicians and some officials of the previous Rodrigo Duterte administration were implicated in several dubious POGO companies. Last year, the Marcos government cited national security and public order when it announced a ban on all POGOs in the country. Another popular but controversial gambling operation is online cockfighting. In 2021, around 34 cockfighting enthusiasts accused of game fixing disappeared. Two months ago, a whistleblower came forward and named several individuals, including police officers, as masterminding the abduction and killing of the disappeared cockfighters. Marcos has vowed to deliver justice and investigate the link of some suspects in the Duterte administration's bloody anti-drug campaign. The issue of missing cockfighters has ignited a wider debate on the ill effects of gambling, especially the surge of online gambling among young people. Senator Joel Villanueva described online gambling as 'a growing menace that threatens the very fabric of our society.' He cited a 2023 survey that showed that 66 percent of young Filipinos are involved in online gambling. He bemoaned that 'the lure of instant wealth has already led many down a path of addiction, debt, and despair.' Some senators are proposing stricter regulations, while others want an outright ban on online gambling apps. There is also a plan to prohibit government officials from engaging in online gambling activities. The Department of Finance is studying the viability of imposing higher taxes to prevent users from being addicted to gambling. Authorities have also announced the delinking of digital or e-wallets from gambling apps to make it more difficult for minors and ordinary internet users to transfer their money into gambling transactions. President Marcos acknowledged the problem and assured stakeholders that they would be consulted about the various recommendations on how to deal with online gambling. But he is concerned that banning online gambling will only drive it underground. 'The problem is not online gambling,' he said. 'The problem(s) are the social effects on our children and those who are addicted to gambling,' he added. But Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, rejects the idea that there's something to be gained from what he calls having a 'casino in everyone's pocket.' He accuses the government of abetting gambling addiction. 'When the government acts as promoter, regulator, and beneficiary of gambling revenues, it becomes complicit in the very harm it claims to guard against,' he wrote on his Facebook page. It is unlikely that online gambling will be totally banned by a government desperate for revenues. This means gambling money will continue to affect governance in the same way jueteng and POGOs influenced politics in the past. The moral arguments against gambling are compelling, and people really need to channel their energies and resources into more productive endeavors. The challenge for the government is to rally people behind effective and long-term nation-building initiatives by creating jobs, supporting industries, offering livelihood opportunities, and democratizing political participation.
Tokyo Weekender
a day ago
- Tokyo Weekender
Hiker Attacked by Brown Bear on Hokkaido Mountain
In this week's news roundup we have the latest on the search for a hiker who was reportedly attacked by a brown bear on Mount Rausu in Eastern Hokkaido. A subway system malfunction leaves a huge number of visitors temporarily stranded at the Osaka Expo site. McDonald's Japan apologizes after the Pokemon Happy Meal campaign ends prematurely due to scalpers. Former J-pop idol Kenshin Kamimura is found guilty of indecent assault. Two Japanese boxers die from brain injuries sustained on the same night. And a lawsuit is filed against Shohei Ohtani and his agent over a $240 million Hawaii real estate project. List of Contents: Search Resumes for Hiker Attacked by a Brown Bear in Hokkaido Tickets Sales for Osaka Expo Surpass 18 Million Break-Even Point McDonald's Japan Apologizes as Pokemon Happy Meal Ends After One Day Due to Scalpers Former J-Pop Idol Found Guilty of Indecent Assault Japan's Boxing World in Crisis After Two Fighters Die From Brain Injuries Sustained on the Same Night Lawsuit Filed Against Ohtani and Agent Over $240m Hawaii Real Estate Project Related Posts Search Resumes for Hiker Attacked by a Brown Bear in Hokkaido On Friday morning, police officers and local hunters resumed the search for a man in his 20s who was reportedly attacked by a brown bear while hiking Mount Rausu in Shari town on the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido. At approximately 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, a hiker called the emergency services to report that a male friend had been attacked and dragged away by the bear about 20 minutes before the call. The person who made the call was rescued, but the whereabouts of his friend remains unknown. He told the police that his friend, who was walking 200 meters ahead, called out his name. As he approached, the man saw the bear wrestling with his friend before dragging him into the woods. Climbing routes to the 1,661-meter mountain were closed after the report of the attack. According to NHK , around 70 people took refuge at observation decks and other locations on the mountain before being rescued by police helicopters. However, there have been reports that other hikers were near the summit. Tickets Sales for Osaka Expo Surpass 18 Million Break-Even Point On Monday, the Japan Association for the 2025 Osaka Expo announced that ticket sales for the event have exceeded 18 million, which was set as the guideline break-even point for operating expenses. The association is aiming to sell 23 million tickets by the time the event finishes on October 13. Organizers, though, will be hoping there will be no repeat of the chaos that ensued on Wednesday night after a subway system malfunction left a huge number of visitors temporarily stranded at the site. At approximately 9:30 p.m., a power failure hit the Osaka Metro's Chuo Line, which is the only direct train link from the city center to the site on the artificial island of Yumeshima. Around 30,000 people were said to have been at the venue at the time. The line returned to full operation early the next morning. By that point, 36 people had been transferred to nearby hospitals after complaining of headaches and other symptoms. With many people unable to go home, pavilions were opened as shelters. McDonald's Japan Apologizes as Pokemon Happy Meal Ends After One Day Due to Scalpers Starting on Saturday, August 9, McDonald's Japan launched a special collaboration with one of the world's most popular game franchises. The plan was that for three days, the fast-food chain's Happy Meal — known here as Happy Set — would come with two exclusive Pokemon cards: an original illustration of Pikachu eating a burger, plus one randomly selected card. Customers were limited to purchases of no more than five sets per person and McDonald's Japan shared information with the online marketplace app Mercari to help prevent the reselling of the cards. Unsurprisingly, it didn't work. The campaign lasted just one day as several outlets ran out of the cards. Some customers reportedly used multiple accounts to bypass the five‑meal limit. Footage spread online of chaotic scenes at stores that had to cope with extremely long lines and bulk buying. One video on X allegedly shows a customer attempting to purchase 40 Happy Meals, leading to a confrontation with other people in the line. The hysteria also led to food waste as customers dumped their set meals once they got the cards. Image via @onenonly_tokyo Instagram Former J-Pop Idol Found Guilty of Indecent Assault Kenshin Kamimura, a former member of the J-pop group One N' Only, was found guilty of indecent assault in a Hong Kong court on Wednesday. Presiding Judge Peter Yu handed down the conviction, stating that Kamimura touched the victim — a female interpreter — in a caressing manner that implicitly carried a sexual undertone. The singer allegedly fondled the woman's thigh several times and showed her a message on his smartphone, inviting her to the bathroom, even though she told him she had a boyfriend. The incident took place after a fan meet at a banquet in the Hong Kong district of Mong Kok on March 1. One N' Only were on a tour of Asia at the time. The interpreter filed a complaint with the provincial police the following day. Kamimura, whose contract was terminated by his agency, Stardust Promotions, pleaded not guilty at a court hearing in April. On Wednesday, Yu issued him with a fine of 15,000 Hong Kong dollars (just over ¥280,00). He won't serve a prison term. Hiromasa Urakawa (left) alongside fellow boxer Shigetoshi Kotari (right) Japan's Boxing World in Crisis After Two Fighters Die From Brain Injuries Sustained on the Same Night Japanese boxer Hiromasa Urakawa passed away on Saturday due to injuries to his brain following a bout with Yoji Saito at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on August 2. He was 28. The news of Urakawa's death came just over 24 hours after the announcement that fellow boxer Shigetoshi Kotari had died. Also aged 28, he fought for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) belt against Yamato Hata on the same card. Kotari, who earned a draw with champion Hata, collapsed soon after the 12-round encounter finished. On Tuesday, the Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA) and the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) announced that there will be stricter rules on weight loss moving forward. Urine tests to measure dehydration will also be introduced and ambulances will be required to be on site for all bouts. 'Officials have decided to take all possible measures to ensure that the deaths of these two boxers are not in vain,' said Tsuyoshi Yasukochi , secretary general of the JBC. An investigation into Kotari and Urakawa's deaths will take place later this month. Lawsuit Filed Against Ohtani and Agent Over $240m Hawaii Real Estate Project It's been another eventful week for baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani. He smashed his 42nd and 43rd homers of the season on Monday and Tuesday, but also saw his name plastered over the front pages of newspapers after it was revealed that a Hawaii real estate investor and broker had issued a lawsuit against him and his agent. They claim the pair got them fired from a $240 million luxury housing development on the Hapuna Coast that Ohtani was brought in to endorse. According to The Associated Press (AP) , the lawsuit was filed in the Hawaii Circuit Court last Friday by Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and Tomoko Matsumoto. They claim that Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, used their 'celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle' their role in the project. According to the suit, this was done 'for no reason other than their own financial self-interest.' Hayes and Matsumoto were subsequently dropped from the deal by their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital. Kingsbarn called the allegations 'completely frivolous and without merit.' Discover Tokyo, Every Week Get the city's best stories, under-the-radar spots and exclusive invites delivered straight to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy . Related Posts US To Amend Executive Order for Japan Tariffs Japan Swelters as Severe Tropical Storm Krosa Approaches Sanseito MP Saya Hits Back at 'Homewrecker Marriage' Accusations
