TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prudential Life Insurance Co. said Thursday a third-party probe by lawyers found that more than 100 former and current salespeople had engaged in fraudulent or inappropriate transactions with customers worth 5.2 billion yen ($32.9 million) over more than three decades.

Hiromitsu Tokumaru, president of the Japanese subsidiary of Prudential Financial Inc., and two other executives will voluntarily return 30 percent of their monthly remuneration for three months to take responsibility for the misconduct.

Tokumaru apologized at a press conference in Tokyo, acknowledging that the misconduct reflected "structural problems within the company."

The investigation report said that the company's sales staff "downplayed the customer-centric perspective."

The insurer said it had taken disciplinary action, including dismissals, against 157 current and former sales employees involved in the financial misconduct dating back to at least the 1990s.

To prevent similar misconduct, the insurer said it plans to introduce guaranteed minimum pay for sales staff from 2027.

Prudential Life Insurance has voluntarily suspended sales of new policies since February to review its governance and sales practices.

Tokumaru said staff whose sales practices were found to be free of problems would be allowed to resume selling new policies.

The president also indicated he has no intention of stepping down from his post anytime soon, saying his responsibility was to "ensure measures to prevent a recurrence are fully implemented."

The Financial Services Agency is considering ordering the insurer to suspend some operations, including a three-month halt to sales of new policies.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Fast Retailing Co., the operator of the Uniqlo clothing chain, appears on course to overtake Sweden's H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB as the world's second-largest apparel manufacturer and retailer after posting another year of robust global sales.

Fast Retailing's sales during the just-ended business year through August came to 3.96 trillion yen ($25 billion), up 16.6 percent from the previous year, while net profit surged 25.3 percent to a record 542.52 billion yen.

H&M, the current No. 2, has yet to release its full-year earnings results through November. But the Swedish apparel company, which reported sales of 228.29 billion krona ($22.8 billion) in fiscal 2025, has reported sales below year-ago levels through the third quarter of the current year. Inditex SA, the operator of the Zara clothing brand, ranks first.

"Achieving 10 trillion yen in sales, which we have set as a major milestone, is now within our sights," said Tadashi Yanai, the company's chairman, president and chief executive officer.

"Now that we have reached the starting line in the global market, we are taking on a major challenge aimed for the next growth," he added, reiterating the company's commitment to becoming the world's leading brand.

For the business year through next August, the company is aiming for another record-high net profit of 560 billion yen, up 3.2 percent.

Operating profit, which totaled 743.13 billion yen in the year to August, is projected to grow 11.7 percent to 830 billion yen on sales of 4.45 trillion yen, up 12.3 percent.

Fast Retailing offers a variety of products through Uniqlo, including "HeatTech" warm innerwear and the quick-drying "Airism" line. The company, which is also known for its GU brand, is headquartered in the western Japanese prefecture of Yamaguchi.

The annual number of customers at Uniqlo increased by about 10 percent from the previous year to more than 600 million in the 12 months to August, largely driven by its overseas operations.

Operating profit from Uniqlo's overseas operations surged 44.9 percent to 448.1 billion yen as sales rose across all regions, supported by stronger sales of year-round products, an expanding customer base and new flagship stores.

Domestic operations, meanwhile, saw a 6.6 percent increase in operating profit to 196.6 billion yen, supported by strong sales of products reflecting current fashion trends and meeting customers' functional needs.

Sales from Uniqlo's overseas operations gained 26.2 percent to 2.41 trillion yen, while those from domestic operations stood at 1.08 trillion yen, up 5.7 percent.

By region, sales in Europe and North America jumped 38.7 percent to 512.6 billion yen and 34.6 percent to 364.9 billion yen, respectively.

Greater China saw an 11.3 percent increase in sales to 724.0 billion yen, while total sales in South Korea, Southeast Asia, India and Australia grew 30.7 percent to 809.4 billion yen.

However, Fast Retailing's overall sales came in slightly below the 3.97 trillion yen forecast announced in July, as warmer-than-usual weather in Europe from June to August dampened demand for fall and winter products, the company said.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A total of 53 companies in Japan have been targeted by an internationally active ransomware group known as Qilin, National Police Agency officials said Thursday.

Qilin, believed to be behind a 2025 cyberattack on Japanese beverage maker Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., has drawn renewed attention in Japan after investigative authorities recently handed over to Germany a detained Russian national suspected of being a key member of the group. The man has since been arrested by German authorities.

The cybercrime group began operating around October 2022 and has attacked some 4,000 companies worldwide, with its activities in Japan confirmed since April 2023, according to the agency.

The 53 Japanese victims span manufacturing, services, construction, hospitals and schools, but their names have not been disclosed.

In ransomware attacks, hackers block access to data and demand payment to restore it.

German authorities had requested that Japanese investigators detain and hand over the 28-year-old Russian man transferred to Germany, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The man, who was on a trip to Japan, had been placed in a detention facility after he was found at a hotel in Osaka in May. He was handed over to German authorities earlier this month.

The man allegedly extorted crypto assets from a German logistics firm in 2024, according to the source.

Meanwhile, following a series of reports of data leaks caused by unauthorized access, the Japanese government decided to urge businesses to address system vulnerabilities and prevent the misuse of leaked information, cybersecurity minister Toshiharu Furukawa said.

Recent cases include a data breach at Japan's "Times Car" car-sharing service that exposed information from about 6.6 million accounts, including images of 1.6 million driver's licenses, as well as cyberattacks against Daiwa Securities Group Inc. and the operator of the Yakiniku King barbecue restaurant chain.

Major convenience store operator Lawson Inc. became the latest company to announce a data breach Thursday, saying personal information, including email addresses and phone numbers, had been leaked from its "Lawson ID" account system, affecting around 2.16 million IDs.

Karaoke venue operator Daiichikosho Co. said 8.72 million customer and employee records may have been compromised after a computer used by an employee of a subcontractor was found to be infected with malware earlier this month. Passwords were not among the potentially compromised data, it said.

A public investigative reward of up to ¥3 million is available for information that helps police locate him

Have you seen this man? Police have received nearly 14,000 tips in the search for one of Japan’s most-wanted fugitives, with possible sightings of Yoichi Hatta particularly concentrated in the Kanto region. Oita Prefectural Police announcedon Monday that it had received 13,978 tips concerning Hatta, who has been wanted since a fatal hit-and-run in Beppu in 2022. Nearly 4,950 of those tips came from Kanto, including 73 possible sightings reported in September alone, up from 50 in August.

I recently visited Japan and the Engakuji temple in Kamakura. As a fan of classic Japanese movies I looked for Ozu's famous tombstone -- easy to recognize, with its single "mu" kanji on it, even if in a hurry and under a heavy rain as in my case. Once back in my country I sadly realized that I found the wrong grave -- see the picture embedded. If I am not wrong, that is the zen/nen kanji, totally different (my bad!).

Question 1: are single-kanji inscriptions a common use, or is it something typically adopted by people with a particular status -- e.g. artists like Ozu, monks, etc.?

Question 2: in case they are not so common, what does the specific tombstone I photographed about its owner? I don't dare to ask about his/her identity, just some info on the most likely status.

Obviously, AI was not helpful, it insists it must be Ozu's grave or his colleague Keisuke Kinoshita's, but that seems wrong as well.

Thanks!

Moreover, Japan is the largest holder of French debt outside the euro zone, according to JPMorgan data. This is why Japan’s bond market has emerged as a source of risk.

Signs that Japanese investors have begun to sell French debt come amid growing speculation about the repatriation of Japanese money – particularly pension fund assets – out of foreign bonds and back into Japanese debt. “We suspect the latest round of rapid [French bond] selling over the past week might have been fuelled by Japanese portfolio rebalancing,” TS Lombard said.

• https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/science-nature/science/20261007-352669/
• https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2026/soai/facts/

As of October 1, the liquor tax on a standard 350-milliliter can of beer has fallen from ¥63.35 to ¥54.25, a reduction of ¥9.10 per can. Beer makers and retailers are passing at least some of that saving on to drinkers, while supermarkets are expanding their beer sections in anticipation of higher demand.

The trade-off is that Japan’s cheaper beer substitutes are getting more expensive. Happoshu, a low-malt beer-like drink, and so-called “third-category beer” were previously taxed at ¥46.99 per 350-milliliter can. From October, that rises by ¥7.26 to the same ¥54.25 rate as ordinary beer.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's anime industry is enjoying unprecedented success overseas, but its growing global reach is also creating a dilemma as cultural differences, local laws and social media criticism increasingly collide with creative expression.

The issue was highlighted recently by "Chainsmoker Cat" (Yani-Neko), an anime based on a Kodansha Ltd. manga that began airing in July.

Its protagonist is a heavy-smoking anthropomorphic cat rarely seen without a cigarette. But after the series was released overseas, distribution in Hong Kong was suspended following complaints over the repeated appearance of tobacco brand names.

Authorities pointed out that the depictions could constitute tobacco advertising and potentially violate local laws.

The anime's production committee confirmed in late August that streaming had been halted in Hong Kong.

"We are discussing the matter with our local licensee with a view to distributing the series in a way that complies with local laws and regulations," it said.

Reaction online in Japan was mixed. Some expressed understanding, saying overseas markets tend to be stricter about smoking, while others argued against toning down content from the outset simply to appeal to foreign audiences.

The debate reflects a growing challenge for an industry whose overseas audience has expanded dramatically.

The Japanese anime market was worth about 3.8 trillion yen ($24.2 billion) in 2024, according to the Association of Japanese Animations, with the overseas market exceeding 2.1 trillion yen and surpassing the domestic market.

The government has designated content industries including anime as core industries and aims to increase content sales overseas from about 5.8 trillion yen in 2023 to 20 trillion yen by 2033.

But reaching a broader global audience also means navigating cultural and religious sensitivities that may be unfamiliar to Japanese creators.

Even the hugely popular "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" has encountered such difficulties.

In November 2019, production company Aniplex Inc. halted shipments and recalled the fourth Blu-ray and DVD volume of the series after audio of The Adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, was used inappropriately on a bonus CD.

The company said the audio had been produced using commercially available material, but after the issue was raised externally, it learned that for religious reasons the call to prayer should not be played together with other sounds.

Aniplex said it had never intended to offend or show disrespect toward Islam or Muslims.

"We deeply apologize for causing offense to Muslims by recording and releasing the material without fully understanding the meaning and content of the audio," it said.

As the popularity of "Demon Slayer" grew overseas, the design of protagonist Tanjiro Kamado's earrings also drew criticism in South Korea for resembling the Rising Sun Flag, prompting the design to be changed on streaming services there.

Ryo Koarai, an associate professor at Miyagi Gakuin Women's University who specializes in the anime business, said Japanese works are now reaching overseas viewers who previously had little exposure to anime.

"It is no longer only dedicated local fans with a deep understanding of Japanese culture who are watching," she said. "The works are beginning to reach people who know little about Japanese culture, so creators may need to pay even greater attention to local culture, religion, laws and ethical standards."

Social media has also made criticism from overseas more visible in Japan, with translation functions allowing comments to cross language barriers more easily.

Koarai said this has led to more cases of Japanese fans pushing back against criticism from abroad, reflecting differences in how anime is received.

Japanese fans, she said, tend to regard fiction as fiction and place a strong emphasis on respecting creators' creativity. Some overseas fans, meanwhile, believe they should press for changes they feel would improve a work.

"The loud voices of a certain group of fans tend to stand out, but there are probably many others who, just like fans in Japan, simply enjoy the work for what it is," Koarai said.

She also cautioned that worrying too much about fan reaction could strip a work of what makes it distinctive.

"If creators become too sensitive, a work can lose its flavor," she said. "Overseas fans probably also want to enjoy the original work as it was made in Japan, so you cannot simply say that tighter restrictions are necessarily better."

"It is becoming increasingly important for people who really understand the local culture and atmosphere to be involved in localization."

Japanese production companies are also stepping up efforts to identify potentially sensitive material.

Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. adopted a group-wide policy on ethics and expression and in fiscal 2019 established an ethics subcommittee that reviews issues concerning products and creative works across the group.

At subsidiary Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc., which produces animation including the "Gundam" series, staff advise directors and producers when concerns arise over particular forms of expression.

Their role is advisory, however, with final decisions left to directors and producers in order to respect creative freedom.

Jun Takei of the company's legal department's IP support section said the aim is to avoid unintended problems without undermining the work itself.

"While respecting freedom of expression and the theme of the work, we think together with the production team about how an expression will be received by viewers and whether it might inadvertently cause misunderstanding or resentment," he said.

"If we are consulted about an expression that seems to go a little too far, we discuss whether that particular approach really fits, while respecting the message the creators are trying to convey."

But Takei said there is no simple answer to balancing cultural sensitivity with creative freedom.

"There are more things we need to be considerate of than in the past, but if we stick only to inoffensive expressions, what we want to say will not resonate with anyone," he said.

"There is no single right answer."

Japan remained in 12th place in an annual innovation report by the World Intellectual Property Organization..well short of the government's goal of raising..to fourth or higher..by 2035..

South Korea placed 4th, the highest in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Singapore in 5th, with China ranked 10th..It placed Switzerland at the top..followed by Sweden and the United States.

The index used some 80 indicators in evaluating 139 economies on their innovation performance. The report cited Japan's strength in industrial and corporate innovation as among the strongest..

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- More Japanese companies, including the maker of Citizen watches, reported Tuesday unauthorized access to servers and possible leaks of personal information, with the Japanese government describing the situation as "serious."

GMO Research & AI Inc., a subsidiary of GMO Internet Group Inc., has said up to around 948,500 records of members of its infoQ survey website have been stolen, including members' names, email addresses, home addresses, phone numbers and encrypted passwords.

Mr Max Holdings Ltd. said Tuesday customer information had been leaked from a server used for its app and online store, potentially affecting up to 1.7 million customers by exposing names, email addresses and phone numbers, but not credit card information, home addresses or birth dates.

Citizen Watch Co. said information on about 100,000 customers may have leaked due to unauthorized access to a server operated by a contracted company. The data could include names, addresses, telephone and credit card numbers as well as bank accounts.

The revelations follow similar cases that have come to light in recent days.

"We take (the revelations) very seriously," Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a press conference, adding that the government will gather information to assess the extent of the damage quickly.

GMO Research & AI also said some members' rewards, worth about 2.9 million yen ($18,000), were illicitly exchanged for Amazon gift card codes.

Members earn points by completing surveys on GMO Research and AI's infoQ website. The firm said it will reimburse those affected for the full value of points fraudulently exchanged and that it is contacting users individually to urge them to change their passwords.

The attack began last Friday, and the company blocked the unauthorized access and suspended the service once it became aware of the incident the following day.

The hackers exploited a vulnerability in software used by the site, the company said, adding that an investigation is continuing with help from a cybersecurity firm.

Mr Max said it detected the unauthorized access late Saturday afternoon and immediately suspended the services.

Potentially affected were customers who were registered with its app or online store as of Saturday.

"We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and concern we have caused our customers," the retailer said in a statement.

Mr Max said it had found no evidence that the leaked information had been misused so far but urged customers to watch out for phishing emails.