Shiretoko tour boat captain sentenced to 5 years in prison for sinking accident

Shiretoko tour boat company president sentenced to 5 years in prison; court says accident was 'easily foreseeable' In the 2022 tour boat sinking accident off the coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula, the Kushiro District Court sentenced the president of the operating company to the prosecution's requested 5-year prison term for professional negligence resulting in death. The presiding judge stated that "the accident was easily foreseeable" and criticized the severity of the breach of duty of care. The defense immediately appealed. 12

Retrial review bill passes House of Representatives, generally prohibits prosecutorial appeals; heads to House of Councillors A bill to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure, which generally prohibits prosecutors from appealing decisions to open retrials to provide relief for wrongful convictions, passed the House of Representatives with a majority of votes from the Liberal Democratic Party, Japan Innovation Party, and Sanseito, among others. It is expected to begin deliberation in the House of Councillors on the 19th, with a high likelihood of enactment. 3

Alleged overseer of Cambodia special fraud hub, 38-year-old man arrested, transferred from Thailand Suspect Yusuke Sasaki (38), allegedly in an owner-like position of an organization, was arrested on suspicion of organized fraud for defrauding Japanese people from a base in Poipet, Cambodia. After being detained in Thailand, he was forcibly deported to Japan, and police are proceeding to uncover the full picture. 45

Prime Minister Takaichi on 1% food consumption tax proposal: 'Ensure speed and sufficiency'; hints at expanding coalition At a press conference after the G7 summit, Prime Minister Takaichi, while saying she would not "preempt conclusions" on the proposal to reduce the consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027, stated that she wants to "ensure speed and sufficiency." She also hinted at expanding the coalition framework, saying with the Democratic Party for the People in mind, "We are always considering necessary responses for political stability." 67

Ruling parties approve bill to reduce House of Representatives proportional representation seats by 45; opposition parties decry 'partisan interests' The Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party approved a bill to reduce the number of House of Representatives seats by 10%, which is expected to be submitted to the Diet soon. The bill includes a provision to cut 45 of the 176 proportional representation seats if no conclusion is reached in the review council, drawing opposition from the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito. The prospects for passage during the current Diet session remain uncertain. 8

Japan Innovation Party proposes early introduction of nuclear submarines; demands 'realistic consideration' of non-nuclear principles In its recommendations for revising three key national security documents, the Japan Innovation Party explicitly called for the swift introduction of nuclear submarines. It listed challenges such as securing specialized personnel and legal framework development, and urged the government to conduct a realistic review of the "not permitting the introduction" aspect of the three non-nuclear principles by 2032. 9

Former Japanese men's volleyball representative Sato arrested for cannabis possession; discovered during training camp The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office indicted suspect Shunichiro Sato (26), a former member of the Japanese men's national team, on the 17th for violating the Cannabis Control Act for possessing approximately 0.8 grams of dried cannabis. The Japan Volleyball Association had removed him from the national team registry on May 28 after his arrest. 10