Overview
- On October 16, the Tokyo District Court gave former detective Masano Ryōji, 51, a three-year prison term suspended for five years for stealing about ¥6.4 million from three fatal fire scenes between October 2022 and January 2025.
- The presiding judge condemned his abuse of police authority for eroding public trust but noted settlement payments and remorse in granting the suspended sentence; he had served in Investigation Division 1 since 2020 and was a designated fire-investigation skills instructor.
- LDP leader Sanae Takaichi and Nippon Ishin co-leader Fumitake Fujita held a second policy meeting on October 17 and moved to finalize a coalition agreement document, with Ishin ending coordination with other opposition parties for the upcoming prime minister vote.
- South Korea’s national security adviser Wi Seong-nok said a charter flight carrying about 60 detainees will depart Phnom Penh for Incheon early on October 18.
- Sports results included Hokkaido Nippon-Ham’s first win in the Climax Series Final Stage (Game 3), Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff home run in NLCS Game 4 for the Dodgers, a 0–0 draw between J1 leader Kashima and Vissel Kobe, and Shintaro Mochizuki’s quarterfinal loss at the Almaty Open.