A Japanese prosecutor who accused her boss of rape has said she will resign after her office rejected a request for an independent probe into harassment within the organization. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/28/japan/crime-legal/prosecutor-rape-resignation/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #osaka #sexualharassment #rape #japanesepolice #sexcrimes
Prosecutor who accused boss of rape to resign after request for probe rejected

Very few women in Japan speak out about sexual assault, but the prosecutor came forward in 2024 to accuse Osaka's then-top prosecutor of raping her six years earlier.

The Japan Times
Police in Japan have taken action against 99 people ranging in age from 14 to 72 in the country as part of an international crackdown on online child sexual abuse material, the National Police Agency said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/28/japan/crime-legal/child-abuse-crackdown/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #japanesepolice #children #sexcrimes #pornography #childabuse #juniorhighschools #highschools #childporn
99 accused in Japan in international crackdown on child sexual abuse material

Of the 99 people, 25 are junior high school and high school students involved in cases including sharing explicit images of classmates with friends.

The Japan Times
Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido announced its summer opening will be postponed after a male employee admitted to disposing of his wife's body in the zoo's incinerator. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/28/japan/crime-legal/asahiyama-zoo-murder/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #asahiyamazoo #asahikawa #hokkaido #japanesepolice
Zoo employee admits to burning wife’s body in incinerator

A zoo in Hokkaido has postponed its summer opening as it cooperates with the investigation.

The Japan Times
Tokyo police arrested a 47-year-old man on Saturday on suspicion of killing a 29-year-old woman in an apartment in Tokyo's Roppongi district in 2018. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/25/japan/crime-legal/arrest-roppongi-tokyo-murder/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #nobuakitakahashi #japanesepolice #malaysia #tokyo
Man arrested over 2018 murder in Tokyo's Roppongi district

The suspect, Nobuaki Takahashi, had left for Malaysia the day after the 2018 murder.

The Japan Times
Police in Fukuoka Prefecture have arrested a 30-year-old mother on suspicion of murdering her 4-year-old daughter at a mother-child support facility. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/24/japan/crime-legal/mother-daughter-facility-murder/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #japanesepolice #fukuoka #parenthood #children
Mother arrested on suspicion of killing daughter in Fukuoka

Police are investigating whether the woman, 30, was involved in another daughter's death.

The Japan Times
Tokyo police have found an oil leak in the hydraulic system of an attraction at an amusement park in the city where a fatal accident occurred, sources have said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/24/japan/tokyo-dome-oil-leak-accident/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #tokyo #bunkyoward #japanesepolice #themeparks #tokyodome #oil
Oil leak found on theme park ride during probe into fatal accident

A 24-year-old female employee died during a routine inspection after being caught in the ride at Tokyo Dome City Attractions.

The Japan Times
Japan's organized criminal group ranks fell to a record low in 2025 amid a shift in the criminal landscape that has seen the rise of loosely organized "tokuryū" crime groups. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/23/japan/crime-legal/organized-crime-figure-npa/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #npa #japanesepolice #organizedcrime #fraud #yamibaito #yakuza
Yakuza membership fell to record low in 2025

Authorities have attributed the decline to an aging population within these criminal groups, tighter enforcement and the nationwide rollout of anti-gang ordinances.

The Japan Times
Two ex-convicts have been arrested on suspicion of robbery causing injury after they allegedly attacked a woman at her apartment in Yokohama. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/22/japan/crime-legal/yokohama-robbery-arrest/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #yokohama #tokyo #japanesepolice
Two ex-convicts arrested over Yokohama home invasion robbery

Police are also investigating their possible involvement in nearly 10 other similar incidents, including some involving sexual assault.

The Japan Times
As crimes in Japan grow ever more complex, the police force is eager to see new recruits. But with application numbers declining, the police academy is hoping to change its image by easing some of its rules. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/21/japan/crime-legal/police-admission-rules/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #japanesepolice
Japan’s police force eases academy rules in bid to attract fresh faces

The move comes amid declining recruitment numbers fueled by the image of police academies being too strict.

The Japan Times
A worker in her 20s is in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest after being caught in the equipment of an amusement park attraction in Tokyo while inspecting it on Tuesday, according to authorities. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/21/japan/tokyo-dome-attraction-accident/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #tokyo #bunkyoward #japanesepolice
Theme park worker in serious condition after accident while inspecting equipment

A disaster medical assistance team and other officials are working to rescue the worker from the Flying Balloon ride at Tokyo Dome City Attractions.

The Japan Times