Noboru Hirosue, a part-time researcher at the Kyoto-based Ryukoku University Criminology Research Center. He says organized crime groups are increasingly adopting techniques honed by a new breed of criminals who operate more anonymously by using social media to recruit and carry out criminal activities. Read
Upper house Diet affairs committee chair Takae Ito. The increasing prevalence of sexually explicit internet advertisements has become a source of growing concern in Japan, with lawmakers pushing for stricter measures to prevent the ads from being seen by children. Read
Ken Kutaragi, 74, known as the "father" of Sony Corp's PlayStation (PS) and a former vice president at the electronics giant. He is one of many Japanese business leaders sounding the alarm on Japan's global decline. Read
University of Tokyo President Teruo Fujii, addressing new undergraduates at their entrance ceremony. Read
Takeshi Niinami, Suntory Holdings Ltd chairman and chief executive officer. He said Suntory is considering resuming running ads on Fuji Television following the investigation of a sexual assault scandal at the network by a third-party committee. Read
Yoshiaki Ishihara, head of the overseas business support center of The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). U.S. President Donald Trump's Trump’s tariffs have created a new level of uncertainty and anxiety among Japanese exporters. Read
A senior LDP member. Ryosei Akazawa’s appointment as the minister in charge of negotiations with the United States over its tariff policy has raised concerns, as he has little diplomatic experience. Some are worried about whether he is capable of handling such a task. Read
Nana Shimada, general manager of FamilyMart Co’s product division. Rather than being exclusive to makeup counters or brand-specific stores, Japan’s convenience stores and lifestyle chains have begun selling South Korean cosmetics with notable success. Read
Japan Investment Corporation (JIC) CEO Keisuke Yokoo, saying Japan risks reputational damage if it were to block a $47 billion foreign bid for retailer Seven & i Holdings on economic security grounds. Read
Tobias Harris, founder and principal of Japan Foresight, a political risk consultancy and the author of "The Iconoclast: Shinzo Abe and the New Japan." He says dealing with an erratic U.S. president means even long-term allies like Japan are on thin ice. Read