Social issue

Discover the complex legacy of Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. From economic reforms and global diplomacy to deep controversies and a shocking assassination—this article explores the man who shaped modern Japan.

In March 2025, a shocking incident occurred in Japan that sent ripples through the country and beyond. Ai Mogami, a young live streamer, was stabbed to death during a livestream by a man who was once one of her fans.This wasn’t just a case of online stalking—it revealed the vulnerabilities of modern digital life, emotional boundaries, and the failure of societal systems.Let’s take a closer look at the story behind this tragic event.

In 2024, Netflix released the drama Tokyo Swindlers, a series that shocked viewers with its intricate fraud schemes. What many may not realize is that this drama is based on a real-life fraud case in Japan: The Sekisui House Jimenshi Fraud Case.In this case, one of Japan’s largest home builders, Sekisui House, was tricked by a professional fraud group, losing over 5.5 billion yen (about 50 million USD) in a sophisticated real estate scam. The perpetrators, known as “Jimenshi” (land sharks), used fake property owners, forged documents, and even fake lawyers to make the transaction appear legitimate.How could such an elaborate scam succeed? What vulnerabilities exist in Japan’s real estate system? In this article, we will explain the details of the Sekisui House Jimenshi fraud case, its impact, and why Japan is particularly susceptible to these types of scams.

In 2024, a woman known as “Idataki Joshi Riri-chan” (literally “Receiving Girl Riri-chan”) was arrested in Japan for fraud.She had mastered a technique to persuade middle-aged men to give her money and had even sold a guidebook called the “Idataki Manual,” teaching other women how to do the same.However, the money she received from these men did not go towards her own luxurious lifestyle—it was entirely spent on host club men.This case revealed a disturbing cycle in Japan’s nightlife industry:“Lonely middle-aged men” → “Young women” → “Hosts”Riri-chan’s case was not just about fraud; it exposed a larger social issue involving loneliness, financial struggles, and Japan’s unique “gift-giving” culture.But who was this woman, and how did she end up in this situation?To understand the full picture, we must look at her tragic life story.

Japan has a unique and disturbing labor issue known as “karoshi”, or death from overwork.This term refers to cases where excessive work-related stress and fatigue lead to fatal conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, or even suicide.