Real Voice Japan

Real Voice Japan is a curation site that introduces news which mainstream Japanese TV and newspaper outlets tend to under-report, organized independently with sources clearly cited.

We're translating our Japanese coverage into English on an ongoing basis. If an article isn't available in English yet, our Japanese edition always has full coverage.

Foreign National Crime

Foreign National Crime

26-07-30 Vietnamese Man, 20, Arrested Over Impersonation Scheme Linked to Theft Ring That Stole Roughly ¥900 Million in Smartphones (Chukyo TV News (via Yahoo! News))
26-07-29 Two Ringleaders Re-Arrested as 11-Member Vietnamese Theft Ring Tied to 111 Burglaries, ¥47.8 Million in Damage Across 5 Kanto Prefectures (KAB (Kumamoto Asahi Broadcasting))
26-07-28 Vietnamese Woman, 35, Arrested for Attempted Murder After Slashing Man's Neck at Kisarazu Home (Chiba Prefectural Police (official announcement))
26-07-28 Vietnamese Company Executive and Female Office Worker Arrested Over Receipt of ¥7.52 Million in Special Fraud Proceeds (Yomiuri Shimbun Online (via Yahoo! News))
26-07-24 Vietnamese Technical Intern Trainee Arrested for Allegedly Breaking Into Vacant House in Tendo, Yamagata, and Stealing Rings (Sakuranbo Television)
26-07-23 Vietnamese Woman Arrested as Alleged 'Collector' in Drugstore Theft Ring That Stole Over 4,000 Medicine Items Worth ¥16.7 Million Across Tokyo and Six Prefectures (FNN Prime Online (via Yahoo! News))
26-07-22 Former Chinese Hire-Car Company President Among 4 Arrested for Lending Business License to Unlicensed 'White Taxi' Drivers, Allegedly Received ¥38 Million in Fees (Jiji Press)
26-07-21 Six Vietnamese Nationals Arrested in Bangkok Over Attempted Smuggling of 2kg of Methamphetamine to Japan Hidden in Tamarind Paste Jars (Thai Hyper (Thailand Hyperlinks))
26-07-16 Two Vietnamese Nationals Arrested for Possessing Cannabis for Sale, Saitama House Suspected as Dealing Hub (Kobe Shimbun NEXT)
26-07-14 Taiwanese Women Arrested as Alleged Cash Collectors in Investment Fraud Scheme, One Accomplice Already Indicted (Nikkei)
26-07-13 Two Chinese Nationals Arrested on Suspicion of Breaking Into Vacant House in Kochi Prefecture (Kochi Shimbun)
26-07-09 Nigerian Man Arrested, Then Released, Over Alleged Touting Targeting Tourists in Kabukicho (nippon.com (via Jiji Press))
26-07-06 Foreign Suspect Jumps Into River and Flees During Voluntary Questioning Near Osaka Detention House (Livedoor News)
26-07-05 'One of Asia's Largest Criminal Organizations': Executive Re-Arrested Over Lending Residence Card to Another Person (Nikkei)
26-07-05 Men Suspected of Being International Crime Ring Executives Re-Arrested Over Alleged Residence Card Misuse (Jiji Press)
26-07-02 Chinese Company Executive and Six Others Arrested Over Laundering ¥200 Million from SNS Investment Scam (Jiji Press)
26-07-02 Three Vietnamese Nationals Re-Arrested Over Theft of 6,700 Meters of Copper Cable From Toyota City Solar Plant (Chunichi Shimbun)
26-07-02 Technical Intern Program Supervisor Arrested for Running Illegal Sex Business Employing 40 Thai Women, Earning ¥136.8 Million (coki)
26-07-01 Chinese National Arrested Over Phone Scam Impersonating Police Officer, Woman in Her 20s in Chatan Loses ¥400,000 (Ryukyu Shimpo)
26-06-29 Vietnamese Man, 33, Arrested for Breaking Into 90-Year-Old Woman's Home, Suspected of Up to 150 Other Break-Ins in Kanagawa (FNN Prime Online (via Yahoo! News))
26-06-26 Six Vietnamese Nationals Arrested for Possessing Cable Cutters, Suspected of Planning Copper Wire Theft — First Such Case in Okayama Prefecture (OHK Okayama Broadcasting (via Yahoo! News))
26-06-25 Arrest Warrants Issued for Two Suspected Masterminds in Vietnam Behind Mass Shoplifting Ring (TBS NEWS DIG (via Yahoo! News))
26-06-25 Filipino Teen's Charge Upgraded to Fatal Reckless Driving After Three Rail Workers Struck at Level Crossing (Kyodo News (via Yahoo! News))
26-06-24 Chinese Man and Japanese Woman Arrested Over False Marriage Registration in Aichi (Tokai Television)
26-06-24 Chinese Man Indicted for Unlicensed Driving While on Suspended Sentence, Reoffending 7 Months After Saitama Hit-and-Run Conviction (TV Saitama (via Yahoo! News))
26-06-23 South Korean Women Arrested Over Suspected Sham-Marriage Brokering (NTV News (breaking news, reposted via SNS))
26-06-23 Nagoya Customs Reports Iranian Man Over Alleged Attempt to Smuggle 40 Kilograms of Methamphetamine (NHK News)
26-06-20 South Korean Man Arrested for Shoplifting Groceries (Yamaguchi Shimbun)
26-06-17 Three Chinese Nationals Arrested Over 'Underground Bank' Allegedly Used to Launder Special Fraud Proceeds (Jiji Press)
26-06-12 American College Student Indicted for Smuggling Methamphetamine Worth 800 Million Yen at Street Value (NHK News)
26-06-11 17-Year-Old Filipino Boy Arrested on Suspicion of Robbery Resulting in Injury (TV Saitama (via Yahoo! News))
26-06-10 Indonesian Couple Arrested Over Suspected Unlicensed 'Underground Bank,' Allegedly Transferred 1 Billion Yen (CBC Television (via Yahoo! News))
26-06-09 Three Arrested in Hiroshima Over Alleged Sham Marriage for Residency Status and Payment, Including Filipino Woman (Chugoku Shimbun Digital)
26-06-08 Chinese Technical Intern Trainee Re-Arrested on Attempted Murder Charge After Allegedly Beating Another Male Coworker with a Crowbar (KBC Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting (via Yahoo! News))
26-06-08 Chinese Technical Intern Trainee Arrested on Suspicion of Attempted Murder After Allegedly Striking Coworker with an Axe (NTV News NNN (via Yahoo! News))
26-06-05 Civil Engineering Company President and Father Arrested Over Suspected Facilitation of Illegal Employment of Four Vietnamese Workers (Kobe Shimbun NEXT (via Yahoo! News))
26-06-02 Three Chinese Nationals Arrested Over Ginza Robbery of 21.85 Million Yen in Cash (Jiji Press)
26-05-26 French Woman Arrested for Shoplifting Tarts From Souvenir Shop While Traveling in Hokkaido (STV News Hokkaido (via Yahoo! News))
26-05-25 Cleaning Company Hiring Manager Arrested After Tip That 'Foreign Nationals Were Working Illegally' (Kobe Shimbun NEXT (via Yahoo! News))
26-05-20 Three Vietnamese Nationals Arrested Over Suspected Residence Card Forgery, Organized Counterfeiting Ring Suspected (NHK (republished via an administrative scrivener's office site))
26-05-16 Trio of Thai Nationals Tied to 167 Vacant-House Burglaries Across 11 Prefectures, Damages Estimated at 24 Million Yen (Ibaraki Shimbun)
26-05-13 Three Arrested for Brokering Illegal Thai Labor for Apple Orchards, Employer Already Arrested (Mainichi Shimbun (via Yahoo! News))
26-05-12 Three Arrested Over Suspected 215-Kilogram Methamphetamine Smuggling, but Nagoya Prosecutors Decline to Indict Any of Them (Chunichi Shimbun)
26-05-10 Indian Temp Worker Arrested on Suspicion of Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse (Kyoto Shimbun (SNS post))
26-05-08 South Korean Man Arrested Over Alleged Shoplifting and Resale of More Than 10,000 Items from Tokyo Bookstores (NTV News NNN (via Yahoo! News))
26-04-21 Three Brazilian Defendants Indicted Over Cultivation of 143 Cannabis Plants at House in Itoman, Okinawa (Ryukyu Shimpo (via Yahoo! News))
26-04-20 Kawaguchi Demolition Company Raided, Kurdish Company President Among Those Arrested Over Employing Illegal Workers (Saitama Shimbun)
26-04-09 Construction Worker Arrested Over Suspected Facilitation of Illegal Employment of Two Vietnamese Nationals (Kobe Shimbun NEXT (via Yahoo! News))
26-04-07 Pakistani Man and Five Others Arrested Over Suspected Smuggling of 270kg of Methamphetamine from UAE Worth ¥14.3 Billion (Tokyo Shimbun Digital)
26-03-15 19 Thai Nationals Arrested on Suspicion of Facilitating Illegal Overstay (Nagano Asahi Broadcasting (abn))
26-02-26 Chinese Man and Accomplice Arrested for Brokering Sham Marriages Allegedly Recruited via Social Media (Tokai Television (via Yahoo! News))
26-02-20 Two Vietnamese Nationals Arrested Over 136 Thefts of Agricultural Spraying Equipment Across Tochigi, Gunma, and Saitama (Tochigi Television)
26-02-15 National Police Agency 'Crime Statistics': Monthly Arrest Data for Crimes by Foreign Nationals in Japan, by Nationality (National Police Agency)
26-02-10 Toyota Land Cruiser Theft Ring: Three Brazilian Nationals Arrested Over Suspected Theft of 50 Vehicles Across Tokyo and Seven Prefectures (Nikkei)
26-02-04 Four Arrested, Including Ugandan and Nigerian Nationals, Over Suspected Theft and Smuggling of More Than 300 Stolen Toyota HiAce Vans (Josei Jishin (via Yahoo! News))
26-01-23 Four Chinese Nationals Arrested Over Suspected Laundering of Over 300 Million Yen From Police Impersonation Scam (Jiji Press)
26-01-14 13 Extradited From Cambodia Arrested Over Phone Scam Ring Suspected of Defrauding Victims of 50 Million Yen (Jiji Press)
25-07-26 Vietnamese Technical Intern Trainee Arrested for Robbery-Murder After Mother and Daughter Attacked in Imari, Saga (Nikkei)

Immigration & Coexistence

Immigration & Coexistence

26-07-26 Over 33,000 Sign Petition Opposing Fujisawa Mosque Construction as City Assembly Rejects All Related Petitions (Minkabu Magazine)
26-06-01 Unauthorized 'Illegal Mosque' in Kawagoe, Saitama; City Demands Removal (NEWS Post Seven (Weekly Post))
26-05-01 Kurdish Residents in Kawaguchi Hold 'Night Patrols' in Bid for Coexistence: 'We Consider This Town Our Home,' Amid Criticism (Tokyo Shimbun Digital)
26-04-12 Opponents and Supporters of Fujisawa Mosque Construction Plan Clash Near Station (Diamond Online)
26-03-30 Tsukuba City Says It Will Not Offer Halal School Lunches, Citing Policy of Equal Meals for All Students Regardless of Religion (City of Tsukuba (official website))
26-03-01 Second- and Third-Generation Kurdish Youths Accused of Disruptive Behavior in Kawaguchi Neighborhood, Residents Uneasy (Seiji Portal)
26-01-28 Kurdish Coexistence Becomes Key Issue in Kawaguchi Mayoral Election (Tokyo Shimbun Digital)
26-01-18 Fujisawa Masjid Launches Official Website, Signals Focus on 'Dialogue' with Residents (Kanagawa Shimbun (Kanaloco))
26-01-08 Mosque Construction Plan Emerges in Itoshima, Fukuoka, Amid Complaints of Insufficient Advance Notice to Residents (Data Max)
25-08-01 Turkish Media Reports on Domestic Reaction to Japan's Kurdish Asylum Issue (Turkiye Today (Turkey))
25-07-15 Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo Denies Rumor of Japan Work Ban (Tempo (citing a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo))

Technical Intern Trainee & Specified Skilled Worker

Technical Intern Trainee & Specified Skilled Worker

26-07-19 Bangladesh Prepares to Expand Worker Dispatch to Japan Under Specified Skilled Worker Program (The Business Standard (Bangladesh))
26-04-07 Japan to Require Proof of Japanese-Language Proficiency for Specified Skilled Worker Visa Applicants (Migrant Times)
26-03-29 Bangladesh State Minister Meets Japanese Delegation to Discuss Japanese-Language Training and Expanded Study/Work Opportunities (Daily Sun (Bangladesh))
26-01-23 Cabinet Approves New Fields for Specified Skilled Worker Program: Logistics Warehousing, Linen Supply, Resource Recycling, and More (Immigration Services Agency)
26-01-10 Pakistan's Bureau of Emigration Lists Japan-Bound Job Openings on Official Site (Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (Pakistani government))
26-01-03 Local Media Explains Reception Process for Indonesian Technical Intern Trainees After Arrival in Japan (Migrant Times)

Policy & Local Government Trends

Policy & Local Government Trends

26-07-31 Immigration Agency Unveils 'Second Basic Plan for Immigration Control,' Moving to Tighten Permanent Residency Rules (Nikkei)
26-07-29 Foreign Residents Top 4.03 Million, a Record High, as Japanese Population Falls for 17th Straight Year: Internal Affairs Ministry Data (Jigyo Kosou Online (based on a Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announcement))
26-07-28 Cabinet Approves 226 More Immigration Officers to Crack Down on Overstayers and Speed Up Residency Screening, Justice Minister Announces (Jiji Press (via Yahoo! News))
26-07-24 Government Approves 230 New Immigration Officers to Boost Overstayer Crackdown, Sets Up Expert Panel on Numerical Acceptance Targets (Yomiuri Shimbun (via Infoseek News))
26-07-19 Japan to Add Over 200 Immigration Officers in Rare Emergency Hiring to Crack Down on Overstayers (Yomiuri Shimbun)
26-07-03 Japan to Raise Residence Status Fees for Foreign Nationals to Up to ¥75,000, Permanent Residency Fee to ¥200,000 (Jiji Press)
26-07-01 Kawaguchi City Opens Japan's First Consultation Counter for Foreign Residents Staffed by a Resident Immigration Official (Saitama Shimbun (via Yahoo! News))
26-06-15 Kawaguchi City Publishes Official Responses to Public Inquiries About Foreign Residents (City of Kawaguchi (official website))
26-06-14 Japan Launches 'Specified Residence Card' Integrating Residence Card and My Number ID (Immigration Services Agency)
26-06-06 Immigration Agency to Use Deportees' 'Regrets' to Persuade Overstayers to Leave, Considers Reviving Charter Flight Deportations (Sankei Shimbun)
26-05-22 Immigration Services Agency Unveils "Zero Illegal Overstayers Plan — Intensive Promotion Package" (Immigration Services Agency)
26-05-15 54 Years After Okinawa's Reversion, Riot Police Deployed as Chukaku-ha Radicals and Right-Wing Group Clash at Base Protest (Naigai Times)
26-05-11 Ibaraki Becomes First Prefecture in Japan to Offer ¥10,000 Reward for Reporting Illegal Foreign Worker Employment (coki)
26-04-29 Chukaku-ha Activist, 65, Arrested on the Spot for Assaulting Riot Police Officer at Protest Against 'Showa 100th Anniversary Ceremony' (Tokyo Shimbun Digital)
26-04-04 Japan Recognized 187 Refugees in 2025 as Fast-Track 'Manifestly Unfounded' Rejections Surge (Japan Association for Refugees)
26-03-27 Number of Foreign Residents in Japan Tops 4 Million for First Time, Immigration Agency Announces (Immigration Services Agency)
26-01-23 Government Adopts Comprehensive Measures for Accepting Foreign Nationals and Achieving Orderly Coexistence (Prime Minister's Office (Ministerial Council on Realizing an Orderly Society of Coexistence with Foreign Nationals))
25-12-24 Public Security Intelligence Agency Publishes 2026 Annual Report, Including Trends Among Far-Left Militant Groups (Public Security Intelligence Agency)
25-12-15 Fujisawa City Issues Official Statement on Inquiries Regarding Mosque Construction (City of Fujisawa (official website/PDF))
25-10-01 Nagai City Publishes Official Positions on JICA Africa Hometown Initiative (City of Nagai (official website))
25-09-25 JICA Withdraws 'Africa Hometown' Initiative Amid Social Media Misinformation (JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency))
25-07-28 Saitama Governor Calls on Government to Suspend Japan-Turkey Visa Waiver (Next Generation (reporting the governor's remarks at a prefectural assembly exchange))