Latest news with #Shida
Kyodo News
4 days ago
- Kyodo News
Japan sees record number of stalking investigations in 2024
KYODO NEWS - 4 minutes ago - 14:10 | All, Japan Japanese police investigated more than 1,300 cases of stalking in 2024, the highest since a law criminalizing the act was enacted in 2000, according to police data released Thursday. The figure is 260 cases higher than the previous year and comes as the National Police Agency has instructed forces working out of prefectural headquarters to liaise more closely with local stations to better respond to such complaints. Police put added emphasis on stalking after the May discovery of the body of Asahi Okazaki, 20, who had gone to police to report abuse from her former partner, who has since been arrested in connection with her death. The figures from the agency also showed that a record 2,415 restraining orders were issued in 2024, up 452. Police received 19,567 stalking consultations, 276 fewer than the previous year but still around the 20,000 annual mark seen recently. Of the 1,341 cases investigated for violations of the anti-stalking act, 1,108 involved activities such as following individuals or attempting to arrange an in-person meeting with the target. The remaining 233 were restraining order violations. Under Japan's anti-stalking law, individuals repeatedly committing such acts can be imprisoned for up to a year or fined up to 1 million yen ($7,000). Those ignoring police warnings or restraining orders face up to two years in prison or fines of up to 2 million yen. Separately, 1,743 stalking-related crimes were investigated in 2024 under laws such as the Penal Code. They included 378 home intrusions, 187 instances of intimidation and 122 assaults. The data also showed there were 63 rape investigations and 11 for attempted murder. To better reflect the reality of stalking issues, police revised their statistical methods in 2024 to include all relevant cases regardless of when consultation occurred. Data until 2023 included only restraining orders and investigations from cases consulted in the same year. Related coverage: Man faces police questioning after ex-girlfriend's body found in home Olympic badminton medalist Shida complains of fan stalking in China
The Independent
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Who is Chiharu Shida? The ‘badminton goddess' calling out fans for stalking
Chiharu Shida, one of Japan's most promising badminton talents, has built a reputation for her sharp reflexes, graceful footwork, and unwavering focus on the court. But in the recent weeks, the 27-year-old captured global attention for reasons that extend beyond her athletic prowess – publicly addressing the invasive fan culture that shadows many women athletes. In an Instagram post, Shida called on fans in China to stop following her and invading her personal space, describing the repeated stalking as distressing and frightening. The athlete, who won a bronze medal in women's doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics with her long-time partner Nami Matsuyama, made the appeal in a Chinese-language Instagram post while competing at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo. 'Thank you to everyone for your continued support, but I would like to request something from all my fans,' she wrote. 'We have been stalked every time we compete in China, it has already been going on for a year and a half. Recently, we've been feeling very uncomfortable and very scared.' While Shida did not clarify who she meant by 'we', she and Matsuyama, currently ranked world number three, have a prominent fanbase across East Asia, particularly in China, where Shida is often referred to in media as the 'most beautiful badminton player' or 'badminton goddess'. She acknowledged that most supporters were respectful but warned that if the harassment continued, she would be forced to 'think of a way to handle it'. Shida also urged fans to focus on her matches, not her private life. 'Please immediately stop the stalking and similar behaviour,' she wrote. 'Finally, please focus on us in the stadium, not on our private lives. Thanks again.' The shuttler's celebrity in China surged after the Paris Olympics, where her bright demeanour and court presence captured local media attention. Her Instagram following has since soared past one million. Despite the off-court anxiety, Shida remains a spirited figure in the badminton world. In August last year, she shared lighthearted photos with Chinese rival Tan Ning on social media, showing the two mimicking animated characters Judy and Nick from Zootopia, as well as My Melody and Kuromi from the Japanese Sanrio universe. 'Although we yelled at each other on court, we are close to each other outside the court,' wrote Shida. 'She is a very interesting and cute kid.' Tan, who along with her partner Liu Shengshu defeated Shida and Matsuyama in the Olympic semifinals, reposted the images with the caption, 'you [are] cute more than me'. Despite their loss, the Japanese duo bounced back to win bronze, beating Malaysia's Pearly Tan and Muralitharan Thinaah in straight sets. On the podium, Shida was seen smiling and winking at Tan – a moment that further charmed Chinese fans, many of whom took to social media to jokingly plead for Tan not to steal their 'goddess', reported South China Morning Post. A native of Japan born in 1997, Shida first gained attention after winning a bronze at the 2014 Asian Junior Badminton Championship. Her first senior international title came at the 2016 Vietnam International, followed by a victory at the 2018 Taiwan Open. With Matsuyama, her trusted partner, Shida climbed to a career-high world ranking of number two in 2022. The duo experienced a 15-month title drought after their last win at the China Masters in November 2023. However, that dry spell ended with a dramatic victory at the prestigious All England Open in March 2025. The pair defeated compatriots Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto in a tense 83-minute final to reclaim the title they last won in 2022. 'Every year, we talk about wanting to win this tournament,' said Shida, according to Kyodo News. 'We were disappointed to finish as runners-up last year, but I'm really happy we won this time.' The pair's path back to the top wasn't easy. Matsuyama had taken a brief break at the start of the season, during which Shida played with veteran Misaki Matsutomo in a temporary pairing. The reunion paid off with a powerful comeback on the circuit. 'We were exhausted physically and emotionally and we were not in condition,' Shida said, reflecting on the period after the Olympics. 'Over the year end we really worked on strength and condition during training, and I believe that has worked for us.' Away from the court, Shida has also shown interest in exploring the world of media. When sidelined by injury during the Malaysia Open in January 2023, she tried her hand at post-match interviews, surprising teammate Akane Yamaguchi by appearing as a rookie TV reporter. 'I was more nervous behind the camera than in front of it,' she admitted, after enjoying a stint wearing the official Badminton World Federation jacket.
The Independent
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Japanese badminton star dubbed ‘most beautiful player' in China pleads with fans to ‘stop the stalking'
Japanese badminton player Chiharu Shida has issued a public plea to her Chinese fans, asking them to respect her privacy and stop stalking her. Their behaviour, she says, has left her 'very uncomfortable and very scared'. Dubbed the 'most beautiful player' in China, Shida, 27, is currently competing at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, a city in eastern China. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Shida complained that her harassment has persisted for over a year and a half. 'Thank you to everyone for your continued support, but I would like to request something from all my fans,' she wrote in Chinese. 'We have been stalked every time we compete in China, it has already been going on for a year and a half. Recently, we've been feeling very uncomfortable and very scared.' The athlete, who won a bronze medal in women's doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside partner Nami Matsuyama, did not specify who she meant by 'we'. The pair are currently ranked third in the world. 'I know it's not all fans that are like this, and I really like China and I'm thankful for all the support from fans. Starting now, please immediately stop the stalking and similar behaviour,' she added. 'If this type of situation continues, I will have to think of a way to handle it. Finally, please focus on us in the stadium, not on our private lives. Thanks again.' The Japanese player has developed a large following in China, where she is often referred to online as the 'Badminton Goddess', owing to her sporting success as well as her perceived personal charm. This is not the first time Ms Shida has raised concerns about harassment. In November 2023, she revealed she had been 'stalked and intimately touched' by fans during the China Masters tournament in Shenzhen, the South China Morning Post reported. At the time, she asked fans to 'keep their distance'. Her comments prompted a rare statement from the Chinese Olympic Committee condemning what it described as 'obsessive fan culture', warning that such behaviour was not only disruptive to competitions but also harmful to public order and sporting ethics. 'This kind of 'low-level fan' seems to act out of love for their idol,' the committee said. 'But they make irrational actions that endanger the normal order of the competition, public order and good customs, and endanger the spirit of sports and social morality.' The statement was issued in the wake of two separate incidents involving Chinese fans: one in which judges were verbally abused at a national diving competition after Olympian Quan Hongchan failed to win gold, and another involving Olympic table tennis star Fan Zhendong. Fan, a three-time Olympic champion, was stalked by a woman who reportedly entered his hotel room using a stolen key card. In December, he also had to appeal to fans for privacy after being swarmed in a hotel lobby. Earlier in September 2021, he had reprimanded fans after they swamped an airport to try and get a glimpse of him. The huddle of fans became so large that the Olympic silver medallist struggled to get to his connecting flight, leading to an angry outburst on microblogging site Weibo. 'Regarding today's chaotic situation at the Guangzhou airport, I think I must express my attitude,' he said. 'Aggressive crowds and physical contact not only bothered me but created inconveniences for the airport staff and other passengers.' China's internet regulators have intensified efforts to curb toxic fan behaviour in sports, removing over 1.6 million illegal posts and shutting down nearly 4,000 online accounts, the Cyberspace Administration of China announced last week, China Daily reported. The crackdown targets online harassment, doxxing and profiteering under the guise of fandom. In total, 76,000 accounts were penalised, with 3,767 permanently shut down. According to the agency, the main violations included three types of online behavior. First, "pack leaders" who led online abuse campaigns against rival athletes and coaches. Second, accounts that sensationalised athlete behaviour or spread rumours about fabricated romantic relationships to attract views. Third, impersonators who posed as athletes or coaches to run fake fan groups and profit off emotional manipulation. Amid growing concerns around athlete safety, British tennis star Emma Raducanu recently spoke about being left in tears during her second-round match at the Dubai Open, after spotting a stalker in the crowd. The man, who had previously approached her in public, has now been given a restraining order and banned from future WTA events. "couldn't see the ball through tears" and "could barely breathe'.
Japan Times
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Japanese badminton ace Shida blasts 'stalker' Chinese fans
Japanese badminton star Chiharu Shida has told Chinese fans to "stop stalking" her and said she was "very scared" by the unwanted attention. Shida, who won women's doubles bronze at the Paris Olympics last year, has a strong following in China partly because of her engagement with the local culture. The 27-year-old, currently competing at the Asia Championships in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo, has been dubbed "Badminton Goddess" by fans and media. She hit out at some supporters on Tuesday, accusing them in an Instagram post of taking their fandom too far. "Every time we compete in China we always experience the harm of stalkers," Shida wrote in Chinese. "It has already gone on for a year and a half, and recently I have felt very uncomfortable and very scared," she said. "From now on, please immediately stop stalking me ... but if the situation continues, I will think of a way to handle it." Shida added that "not all fans are like this" and thanked the majority for their support. She and doubles partner Nami Matsuyama are ranked third in the world and beat compatriots Mizuki Otake and Miyu Takahashi in Ningbo on Wednesday. China's government has tried to curb extreme fandom in recent years after sports stars and other celebrities experienced stalking and other abuse from particularly fervent followers. Beijing's cyber watchdog recently closed nearly 4,000 online accounts and scrubbed 1.6 million posts from the country's highly controlled Internet platforms to "create a good public opinion environment for athletes", state broadcaster CCTV reported this week.
South China Morning Post
09-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
‘Stop the stalking': Japanese badminton star asks fans in China to keep distance
Japanese badminton star Chiharu Shida has pleaded with fans in China to stop stalking her, saying that she feels 'very uncomfortable and very scared'. Advertisement Shida, who is playing in the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, on Tuesday said on social media that every time she has competed in mainland China in the past 18 months, she has encountered stalkers. The 27-year-old, who won a bronze medal in the women's doubles at the Paris Olympics last year, is hugely popular in China and is often referred to as 'the most beautiful badminton player' on social media. 'Thank you to everyone for your continued support, but I would like to request something from all my fans,' Shida wrote. 'We have been stalked every time we compete in China, it has already been going on for a year and a half. Recently, we've been feeling very uncomfortable and very scared.' Shida Chiharu (right) with doubles partner Nami Matsuyama. Photo: Xinhua Shida, writing in simplified Chinese characters, did not elaborate further or explain her use of 'we'. Her doubles partner is Nami Matsuyama.
