Overview
- Hyogo Prefectural Police arrested a man they say led a Cambodia‑based phone‑scam ring that caused more than ¥100 million in losses, and investigators are probing the group's recruitment and operations.
- The National Tax Agency disclosed FY2025 results showing 127 forced inspections and 82 referrals to prosecutors totaling about ¥8.4 billion, with the average evasion per referred case the highest in a decade.
- The Japan Fair Trade Commission formally found Beisia Denki in breach of rules for underpaying freelance contractors and issued a recommendation requiring corrective measures to stop pay reductions and improper fee deductions.
- Finance ministry officials cleared three domestic megabanks to use Google's advanced AI for defenses against AI‑driven cyberattacks after talks with Google Japan, signaling a policy shift that treats leading AI tools as defensive security assets.
- Local governments and public institutions reported recent management and safety incidents, including Kitami's new citizen council for demographic planning, a laser pointer aimed at a popular macaque at Ichikawa Zoo, and a ¥10.94 million embezzlement at an Atsuma town facility.