Police in Shiraoka, Saitama Prefecture, are investigating the death of a 15-year-old boy who was found unconscious his bedroom at home, and later died in hospital.
According to police, the boy’s mother called 119 at around 4:50 a.m. on Jan 15, claiming that her son was lying on his futon in the living room, half-conscious, Sankei Shimbun reported. When paramedics arrived at the scene, they found bruises inflicted on the boy’s face and reported the incident to the police.
The teenager, Sota Kato, was taken to a hospital but died on Tuesday afternoon. A judicial autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of death.
Police said they are questioning the boy’s parents about how he got the bruises, and if he was out on the night of Jan 14. Police said the boy’s mother told them he returned home a few days earlier, having been injured or beaten. The boy lived with seven siblings in the house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pReXtY_H2aA
Japan’s changing Valentine’s chocolate tradition
NHK – Jan 20
Valentine’s Day has always been a bit different in Japan where it is usually women who give chocolates to men. But that tradition is changing, a trend accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Famed baseball manga artist Mizushima dies at 82
Nikkei – Jan 18
Shinji Mizushima, a famed baseball-themed manga artist known for such works as “Dokaben” and “Abu-san,” died of pneumonia on Jan. 10, his management office said Monday. He was 82.
Japan’s Pet Otter Obsession
aljazeera.com – Jan 14
Pet cafes are popular tourist destinations in Japan where visitors pay to play with otters and other exotic creatures.
Japan firefighter punished for YouTube side hustle
gulf-times.com – Jan 12
A Japanese firefighter moonlighting as a gaming YouTuber had cold water poured on his career by public officials, who uncovered the secret side hustle by identifying his voice in the lucrative videos.
Lower age of majority won’t affect ceremonies
NHK – Jan 11
An NHK survey has found that most major municipalities across Japan will stick with the tradition of allowing people around 20 years old to take part in coming-of-age ceremonies even after the national legal age of adulthood is lowered later this year.
Man arrested after holding “yakiniku” restaurant manager hostage
Kyodo – Jan 10
Police on Sunday arrested a 28-year-old man who held the manager of a “yakiniku” grilled meat restaurant in Tokyo hostage and claimed he had planted a bomb in the establishment, later telling police he wanted to eat grilled meat before being nabbed, investigative sources said.
