The Yomiuri Shimbun
Forty-eight academics at 43 universities possess bogus diplomas they were awarded by overseas organizations claiming to be universities, an Education, Science and Technology Ministry investigation has revealed.
The ministry has asked the universities to take a consistently firm line on the fraudulent qualifications, saying it is detracting from the status of universities.
The investigation carried out from July to September covered all of the nation's public and private universities.
According to the ministry, the organizations, known as "degree mills," have not conducted any educational activities yet have sold fake diplomas for hundreds of thousands of yen. The organizations were found in Australia, Britain, China and the United States, though the governments in each countries have not recognized them as universities.
(Dec. 29, 2007)
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Giants announce signing of Ramirez
Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 17:36 EST
TOKYO — The Yomiuri Giants said Saturday they have signed a two-year, 1 billion yen contract with former Yakult Swallows outfielder Alex Ramirez.
The 33-year-old Ramirez, who was released from the Swallows at the end of the season after talks on a new deal collapsed, will don the No. 5 jersey. The Venezuela native joined Yakult in 2001 and claimed the home run (40) and RBI titles (124) in 2003. This season, Ramirez set a league record with 204 hits and led the league with 122 RBIs.
Kyodo
TOKYO — The Yomiuri Giants said Saturday they have signed a two-year, 1 billion yen contract with former Yakult Swallows outfielder Alex Ramirez.
The 33-year-old Ramirez, who was released from the Swallows at the end of the season after talks on a new deal collapsed, will don the No. 5 jersey. The Venezuela native joined Yakult in 2001 and claimed the home run (40) and RBI titles (124) in 2003. This season, Ramirez set a league record with 204 hits and led the league with 122 RBIs.
Kyodo
爆発物を作った男に懲役５年求刑 東京
ＴＡＴＰ（トリアセトントリパーオキサイド）と呼ばれる爆発物を自宅で製造したなどとして、爆発物取締罰則違反の罪に問われた無職、寺沢善博被告（３８）の論告求刑公判が２５日、東京地裁（半田靖史裁判長）で開かれ、検察側は「極めて危険な犯行」として、懲役５年を求刑した。判決は来年１月２８日。検察側は論告で、寺沢被告がＴＡＴＰを製造した目的を、西武新宿線車内で爆発させるためだったと指摘した。
December 26, 2007
Sankeiweb
December 26, 2007
Sankeiweb
Police officer charged for molesting woman at detention facility
CHIBA -- Public prosecutors filed charges against a Chiba prefectural police officer on Wednesday for molesting a 22-year-old woman who was being held at a detention facility.
The 26-year-old officer, Kenji Nakamura, stands accused of cruelty as a special public officer. The prefectural police inspection office sacked Nakamura the same day.
According to the charges, Nakamura hugged the woman and fondled her breasts and private parts in a detention facility on two occasions at about 12:15 a.m. on Feb. 8, and 1:15 p.m. on March 15.
The prefectural police inspection office said the officer, who worked at Urayasu Police Station in Chiba Prefecture, was suspected of carrying out similar behavior dozens of times, but due to a lack of evidence, only two incidents were used to form a case against him.
警官免職：拘置女性へのわいせつで起訴 千葉
千葉県警警察官による拘置中の女性（２２）へのわいせつ行為事件で、千葉地検は２６日、県警浦安署巡査長、中村憲司容疑者（２６）を特別公務員暴行陵虐罪で起訴した。県警監察官室は同日、中村被告を懲戒免職にした。
起訴状によると、中村被告は２月８日午前０時１５分ごろと３月１５日午後１時１５分ごろ、留置場内で女性を抱きしめ、胸や下半身を触るなどした。監察官室によると、このほかにも２月上旬から３月下旬にかけ、数十回にわたり同様の行為を繰り返していたとみられるが、十分な証拠が得られた２件についてのみの立件となった。
一方、監督責任を怠ったとして、監察官室は当時の警務課長（５７）を戒告処分にしたほか、同じく浦安署長（５１）▽警務課看守係長（５２）▽同看守係長（３４）を本部長訓戒とした。【山本太一】
December 26, 2007
Mainichi
The 26-year-old officer, Kenji Nakamura, stands accused of cruelty as a special public officer. The prefectural police inspection office sacked Nakamura the same day.
According to the charges, Nakamura hugged the woman and fondled her breasts and private parts in a detention facility on two occasions at about 12:15 a.m. on Feb. 8, and 1:15 p.m. on March 15.
The prefectural police inspection office said the officer, who worked at Urayasu Police Station in Chiba Prefecture, was suspected of carrying out similar behavior dozens of times, but due to a lack of evidence, only two incidents were used to form a case against him.
警官免職：拘置女性へのわいせつで起訴 千葉
千葉県警警察官による拘置中の女性（２２）へのわいせつ行為事件で、千葉地検は２６日、県警浦安署巡査長、中村憲司容疑者（２６）を特別公務員暴行陵虐罪で起訴した。県警監察官室は同日、中村被告を懲戒免職にした。
起訴状によると、中村被告は２月８日午前０時１５分ごろと３月１５日午後１時１５分ごろ、留置場内で女性を抱きしめ、胸や下半身を触るなどした。監察官室によると、このほかにも２月上旬から３月下旬にかけ、数十回にわたり同様の行為を繰り返していたとみられるが、十分な証拠が得られた２件についてのみの立件となった。
一方、監督責任を怠ったとして、監察官室は当時の警務課長（５７）を戒告処分にしたほか、同じく浦安署長（５１）▽警務課看守係長（５２）▽同看守係長（３４）を本部長訓戒とした。【山本太一】
December 26, 2007
Mainichi
30-hospital denial fatal to woman
Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007
Ambulance crew spent two hours finding care for 89-year-old
Compiled from AP, Kyodo
An 89-year-old woman in Osaka Prefecture died after an ambulance crew spent two hours trying 30 hospitals before later finding one that would accept her for treatment, officials said Friday.
The woman's family called an ambulance early Tuesday morning after she started vomiting and suffering diarrhea the previous evening, said Hideto Matsumoto, a fire official in Tondabayashi, Osaka Prefecture.
The ambulance crew and local fire department contacted 30 hospitals before one finally said it could admit her, Matsumoto said — about two hours after her family had called for an ambulance, he said.
The woman's heart had already stopped when she was taken to Osaka Minami Medical Center in the city of Kawachinagano. She was resuscitated at the hospital but died Wednesday, according to hospital official Hiroshi Tone, who refused to disclose the woman's name or cause of death, citing privacy reasons.
Matsumoto said the other hospitals, including those in the cities of Osaka and Sakai, rejected the woman, saying their hospitals were full or their doctors were not immediately available to treat her.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said it is extremely rare for a patient to be denied emergency treatment by as many as 30 hospitals.
However, similar cases have taken place in Hyogo and Fukushima prefectures. Last year, a pregnant woman in Nara Prefecture died after being refused admission by about 20 hospitals that said they were full.
The latest case underscores Japan's health-care woes, in part created by a shortage of doctors in the country's rapidly aging society. Critics say long working hours and a government policy change several years ago to keep the number of doctors down are to blame.
"Behind the recurrence of such problems in various parts of Japan is the chronic shortage of doctors, as well as the fact that regional networks among medical institutions are not functioning," Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe told a news conference Friday.
Japan Times
Ambulance crew spent two hours finding care for 89-year-old
Compiled from AP, Kyodo
An 89-year-old woman in Osaka Prefecture died after an ambulance crew spent two hours trying 30 hospitals before later finding one that would accept her for treatment, officials said Friday.
The woman's family called an ambulance early Tuesday morning after she started vomiting and suffering diarrhea the previous evening, said Hideto Matsumoto, a fire official in Tondabayashi, Osaka Prefecture.
The ambulance crew and local fire department contacted 30 hospitals before one finally said it could admit her, Matsumoto said — about two hours after her family had called for an ambulance, he said.
The woman's heart had already stopped when she was taken to Osaka Minami Medical Center in the city of Kawachinagano. She was resuscitated at the hospital but died Wednesday, according to hospital official Hiroshi Tone, who refused to disclose the woman's name or cause of death, citing privacy reasons.
Matsumoto said the other hospitals, including those in the cities of Osaka and Sakai, rejected the woman, saying their hospitals were full or their doctors were not immediately available to treat her.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said it is extremely rare for a patient to be denied emergency treatment by as many as 30 hospitals.
However, similar cases have taken place in Hyogo and Fukushima prefectures. Last year, a pregnant woman in Nara Prefecture died after being refused admission by about 20 hospitals that said they were full.
The latest case underscores Japan's health-care woes, in part created by a shortage of doctors in the country's rapidly aging society. Critics say long working hours and a government policy change several years ago to keep the number of doctors down are to blame.
"Behind the recurrence of such problems in various parts of Japan is the chronic shortage of doctors, as well as the fact that regional networks among medical institutions are not functioning," Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe told a news conference Friday.
Japan Times
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Cop accidentally fires revolver at Saitama police station
SOKA, Saitama -- A police officer accidentally fired a revolver in a weapons storage room at a police station here, blasting a hole in a maintenance stand, law enforcers said.
Police said the 49-year-old senior officer accidentally fired the bullet into the wooden cleaning stand in the weapons storage room at Soka Police Station at about 8:50 a.m. on Wednesday. There were about five other people in the room at the time, but no one was injured.
Police said that the 49-year-old officer had been loading bullets into a revolver before going on duty at a police box. Holding the gun in his right hand, he reportedly went to open his holster with his left hand, but accidentally pulled the trigger instead.
"We will work to prevent a reoccurrence by thoroughly implementing correct handling procedures for handguns," said a police station official commenting on the accident.
拳銃暴発：埼玉・草加署内で警官誤って引き金
２６日午前８時５０分ごろ、埼玉県草加市花栗３の県警草加署拳銃格納室で、同署地域課の男性巡査長（４９）が回転式拳銃（３８口径）を暴発させ、銃弾１発が木製の拳銃手入れ台を貫通した。室内には巡査長ら５～６人がいたがけがはなかった。
同署によると、巡査長は交番勤務に就く前に格納室内で拳銃に弾を装てん。右手に拳銃を持ったまま、左手でホルスターのふたを開けようとして、誤って引き金を引いてしまったという。岡田昭文署長は「拳銃の適正な取り扱いを再度徹底させ、再発防止に努める」とコメントした。【小泉大士】
December 26, 2007
Police said the 49-year-old senior officer accidentally fired the bullet into the wooden cleaning stand in the weapons storage room at Soka Police Station at about 8:50 a.m. on Wednesday. There were about five other people in the room at the time, but no one was injured.
Police said that the 49-year-old officer had been loading bullets into a revolver before going on duty at a police box. Holding the gun in his right hand, he reportedly went to open his holster with his left hand, but accidentally pulled the trigger instead.
"We will work to prevent a reoccurrence by thoroughly implementing correct handling procedures for handguns," said a police station official commenting on the accident.
拳銃暴発：埼玉・草加署内で警官誤って引き金
２６日午前８時５０分ごろ、埼玉県草加市花栗３の県警草加署拳銃格納室で、同署地域課の男性巡査長（４９）が回転式拳銃（３８口径）を暴発させ、銃弾１発が木製の拳銃手入れ台を貫通した。室内には巡査長ら５～６人がいたがけがはなかった。
同署によると、巡査長は交番勤務に就く前に格納室内で拳銃に弾を装てん。右手に拳銃を持ったまま、左手でホルスターのふたを開けようとして、誤って引き金を引いてしまったという。岡田昭文署長は「拳銃の適正な取り扱いを再度徹底させ、再発防止に努める」とコメントした。【小泉大士】
December 26, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Traffic cop's negligence causes crash in Nagano
CHIKUMA, Nagano -- A police car collided with another car at an intersection here while patrolling the area as part of the annual year-end safety campaign, investigators said.
The officer admitted that he was careless. "I was thinking about the patrol route," he was quoted as telling his bosses.
"A police officer, who is supposed to play a leading role in preventing accidents, caused one himself during the year-end safety campaign. We're sorry," a police official said.
At around midnight on Monday, the car driven by Sergeant Hiroo Shima, 52, collided with a small car driven by a 29-year-old woman at an intersection along Route 403 in the Inariyama district of Chikuma, local police said. Both the sergeant and the woman suffered slight injuries in the accident.
パトカー事故：年末警戒中に乗用車と衝突、女性重傷 長野
２４日午前０時ごろ、長野県千曲市稲荷山の国道４０３号交差点で、同県警千曲署生活安全課の志摩洋雄巡査部長（５２）運転のパトカーと、同市八幡の女性会社員（２９）運転の軽乗用車が出合い頭で衝突。女性は右手骨折などの重傷、志摩巡査部長も右肩打撲などの軽傷を負った。
同署の調べでは、パトカーは年末特別警戒パトロール中。赤色の点滅信号で一時停止せずに交差点へ進入した。パトカーは赤色回転灯を点灯していた。乗用車側は黄色の点滅信号だった。志摩巡査部長は「次の警戒場所やその道順について考え事をしていた」などと話したという。同署の手塚博邦副署長は「年末安全運動期間中であり、事故防止を率先しなければいけない警察官が事故を起こし、大変申し訳ありません。再発防止を署員に徹底したい」と話している。【池乗有衣】
December 24, 2007
Mainichi
The officer admitted that he was careless. "I was thinking about the patrol route," he was quoted as telling his bosses.
"A police officer, who is supposed to play a leading role in preventing accidents, caused one himself during the year-end safety campaign. We're sorry," a police official said.
At around midnight on Monday, the car driven by Sergeant Hiroo Shima, 52, collided with a small car driven by a 29-year-old woman at an intersection along Route 403 in the Inariyama district of Chikuma, local police said. Both the sergeant and the woman suffered slight injuries in the accident.
パトカー事故：年末警戒中に乗用車と衝突、女性重傷 長野
２４日午前０時ごろ、長野県千曲市稲荷山の国道４０３号交差点で、同県警千曲署生活安全課の志摩洋雄巡査部長（５２）運転のパトカーと、同市八幡の女性会社員（２９）運転の軽乗用車が出合い頭で衝突。女性は右手骨折などの重傷、志摩巡査部長も右肩打撲などの軽傷を負った。
同署の調べでは、パトカーは年末特別警戒パトロール中。赤色の点滅信号で一時停止せずに交差点へ進入した。パトカーは赤色回転灯を点灯していた。乗用車側は黄色の点滅信号だった。志摩巡査部長は「次の警戒場所やその道順について考え事をしていた」などと話したという。同署の手塚博邦副署長は「年末安全運動期間中であり、事故防止を率先しなければいけない警察官が事故を起こし、大変申し訳ありません。再発防止を署員に徹底したい」と話している。【池乗有衣】
December 24, 2007
Mainichi
Tokyo cop in coma after being pushed in front of oncoming train at Ochanomizu
An off-duty police officer was left in a coma after two drunken men pushed him off a Tokyo railway station platform onto the tracks, where he was hit by an arriving train, police said.
The two men -- Li Zhi, 41, and Jin Quan, 31 -- stand accused of attempted murder.
"I got furious after he told us off for talking loudly on a train. I just shook off his hand, and had no intention of pushing him onto the tracks," one of them was quoted as telling investigators.
At around 11:25 p.m. on Saturday, Li and Jin allegedly pushed the 49-year-old assistant police inspector from a platform at JR Ochanomizu Station in Chiyoda-ku onto the tracks, local police say. The officer was knocked unconscious after being hit by an oncoming train.
The two had got into an argument with the officer on a train, and got off the train at Ochanomizu Station.
殺人未遂：警官ホームに突き落とされ重体 ＪＲ御茶ノ水駅
２２日午後１１時２５分ごろ、東京都千代田区神田駿河台２のＪＲ御茶ノ水駅で「ホームから男性が転落し電車にひかれた」と警視庁に１１０番があった。調べによると、はねられたのは警視庁通信指令本部の警部補の男性（４９）。病院に運ばれたが、頭の骨などを折っており意識不明の重体という。神田署は男性をホームから突き落としたとして２人の中国人を殺人未遂容疑で逮捕した。
神田署によると、逮捕されたのは調布市調布ケ丘３、会社役員、李志（４１）と国分寺市富士本１、会社員、金権（３１）の両容疑者。２人は電車が御茶ノ水駅のホームに到着する直前の同１１時２０分ごろ、ホームから男性を突き落とした疑い。調べでは２人は電車内で男性と言い争いになったため御茶ノ水駅で一緒に下車し、数分間ほどホーム上でもみ合いになっていた。
男性は勤務を終えて帰宅途中だったとみられる。２人は同じ会社の同僚でかなり酒を飲んでおり、「電車内でしゃべっていたら男性に注意されてかっとなった。ホームでは手を振り払っただけで突き落とすつもりはなかった」などと供述している。【川上晃弘】
December 23, 2007
Mainichi
The two men -- Li Zhi, 41, and Jin Quan, 31 -- stand accused of attempted murder.
"I got furious after he told us off for talking loudly on a train. I just shook off his hand, and had no intention of pushing him onto the tracks," one of them was quoted as telling investigators.
At around 11:25 p.m. on Saturday, Li and Jin allegedly pushed the 49-year-old assistant police inspector from a platform at JR Ochanomizu Station in Chiyoda-ku onto the tracks, local police say. The officer was knocked unconscious after being hit by an oncoming train.
The two had got into an argument with the officer on a train, and got off the train at Ochanomizu Station.
殺人未遂：警官ホームに突き落とされ重体 ＪＲ御茶ノ水駅
２２日午後１１時２５分ごろ、東京都千代田区神田駿河台２のＪＲ御茶ノ水駅で「ホームから男性が転落し電車にひかれた」と警視庁に１１０番があった。調べによると、はねられたのは警視庁通信指令本部の警部補の男性（４９）。病院に運ばれたが、頭の骨などを折っており意識不明の重体という。神田署は男性をホームから突き落としたとして２人の中国人を殺人未遂容疑で逮捕した。
神田署によると、逮捕されたのは調布市調布ケ丘３、会社役員、李志（４１）と国分寺市富士本１、会社員、金権（３１）の両容疑者。２人は電車が御茶ノ水駅のホームに到着する直前の同１１時２０分ごろ、ホームから男性を突き落とした疑い。調べでは２人は電車内で男性と言い争いになったため御茶ノ水駅で一緒に下車し、数分間ほどホーム上でもみ合いになっていた。
男性は勤務を終えて帰宅途中だったとみられる。２人は同じ会社の同僚でかなり酒を飲んでおり、「電車内でしゃべっていたら男性に注意されてかっとなった。ホームでは手を振り払っただけで突き落とすつもりはなかった」などと供述している。【川上晃弘】
December 23, 2007
Mainichi
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Professional concerns preceded cop's suicide in police box
A Tokyo police officer who shot himself dead while at work had told his family that he was concerned about being re-assigned to a police box after a long absence, investigators said.
"I'm worried about working in a police box for the first time in years," Sergeant Yasumasa Onishi, 32, was quoted as telling his family.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating whether there was a causal relationship between his concerns about working at the police box and his suicide.
Onishi was promoted to sergeant and transferred to Marunouchi Police Station on Dec. 13. He began working at the police box in front of JR Tokyo Station in Chiyoda-ku on Tuesday, the day before he committed suicide.
警官拳銃自殺：「交番勤務に不安」と家族にもらす 東京
東京都千代田区の警視庁丸の内署東京駅前交番で１９日朝、拳銃自殺した丸の内署地域課の大西泰正巡査部長（３２）＝足立区西新井７＝が「交番勤務は久しぶりで不安だ」と家族に話していたことが分かった。丸の内署は自殺との関連を調べている。
警視庁によると、大西巡査部長は交通機動隊の白バイ隊員だったが、昇任に伴い１３日付で丸の内署に異動、１８日夕から約３年ぶりとなる交番勤務に就いていた。私生活上の大きなトラブルは見当たらず、遺書も見つかっていないという。
December 20, 2007
Mainichi
"I'm worried about working in a police box for the first time in years," Sergeant Yasumasa Onishi, 32, was quoted as telling his family.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating whether there was a causal relationship between his concerns about working at the police box and his suicide.
Onishi was promoted to sergeant and transferred to Marunouchi Police Station on Dec. 13. He began working at the police box in front of JR Tokyo Station in Chiyoda-ku on Tuesday, the day before he committed suicide.
警官拳銃自殺：「交番勤務に不安」と家族にもらす 東京
東京都千代田区の警視庁丸の内署東京駅前交番で１９日朝、拳銃自殺した丸の内署地域課の大西泰正巡査部長（３２）＝足立区西新井７＝が「交番勤務は久しぶりで不安だ」と家族に話していたことが分かった。丸の内署は自殺との関連を調べている。
警視庁によると、大西巡査部長は交通機動隊の白バイ隊員だったが、昇任に伴い１３日付で丸の内署に異動、１８日夕から約３年ぶりとなる交番勤務に就いていた。私生活上の大きなトラブルは見当たらず、遺書も見つかっていないという。
December 20, 2007
Mainichi
Police officer removed from post following probe into manipulative sales
YOKOHAMA -- Kanagawa Prefectural Police on Thursday removed a security division head from his post over alleged involvement in manipulative spiritual sales methods, officials said.
Prefectural police also searched several locations including a "healing salon" that 51-year-old police superintendent Sumio Yoshida regularly visited and the superintendent's own office.
Investigators said that on April 15 and 19, 2004, the 44-year-old woman who headed the healing salon in Tokyo's Minato-ku conspired with several employees and told a man living in Yokohama that the area where his company was located was used to cut people's heads off during the period of civil wars in the 16th century. On May 19, the man was allegedly swindled out of 4.9 million yen as a fee to dispel spirits.
Police suspect the man was prompted to buy charms as well, and was swindled out of a total of about 20 million yen.
Yoshida who regularly visited the healing salon was an acquaintance of the salon's president. He was a nominee on the contract that was formed when the salon was set up, and served as a joint guarantor.
Large sums of money were reportedly deposited into the superintendent's bank account from the group that managed the salon. Several police officers also reportedly deposited money into his account. Prefectural police said they planned to thoroughly question nine officers, including Yoshida.
霊感商法：強制捜査に着手…神奈川県警、詐欺容疑で
神奈川県警警備課長の吉田澄雄警視（５１）がヒーリングサロンを装って法外な値段でお札やお守りを売りつける霊感商法に関与している疑いが強まり、県警は２０日、吉田警視を警備部付に異動させるとともに、詐欺容疑で関係先の家宅捜索に着手した。東京都港区のヒーリングサロン「びびっととうきょう青山サロン」やサロンを運営する山梨県甲斐市の「神世界」本部、県警本部の警備課長室など十数カ所を調べる。
捜索の容疑は、青山サロン社長の女（４４）は０４年４月１５、１９日、サロンの従業員数人と共謀し、横浜市内の男性会社役員（当時４１歳）に「あなたの会社は戦国時代は首切り場だった。処刑された人の霊が成仏できずに地縛霊としてさまよっている。運気を下げ業務等に影響している」などとうそをつき、同年５月１９日、除霊代として現金４９０万円をだまし取った疑い。
県警によると、男性は水や「ライセンス」というお守りも勧められ、総額約２０００万円をだまし取られた。サロンは駅前で女性に「ヒーリングはいかがですか」などと声をかけていたという。
吉田警視は女社長の知人で、０３年ごろ、サロン開設時の契約書の名義人や連帯保証人に名を連ねた。元同僚の県警横須賀署警備担当次長の稙田紀郎警視（４７）も連帯保証人だった。吉田警視の口座には神世界側から多額の現金が定期的に入金されていたほか、数人の警察官からも現金が振り込まれていた。
サロンには吉田警視が警察学校の教官だった時の教え子である警察官ら５人が出入りし、吉田警視が勧誘した可能性もある。県警は吉田警視ら計９人の現職警察官から詳しく事情を聴く。【堀智行、野口由紀、鈴木一生】
December 20, 2007
Mainichi
Prefectural police also searched several locations including a "healing salon" that 51-year-old police superintendent Sumio Yoshida regularly visited and the superintendent's own office.
Investigators said that on April 15 and 19, 2004, the 44-year-old woman who headed the healing salon in Tokyo's Minato-ku conspired with several employees and told a man living in Yokohama that the area where his company was located was used to cut people's heads off during the period of civil wars in the 16th century. On May 19, the man was allegedly swindled out of 4.9 million yen as a fee to dispel spirits.
Police suspect the man was prompted to buy charms as well, and was swindled out of a total of about 20 million yen.
Yoshida who regularly visited the healing salon was an acquaintance of the salon's president. He was a nominee on the contract that was formed when the salon was set up, and served as a joint guarantor.
Large sums of money were reportedly deposited into the superintendent's bank account from the group that managed the salon. Several police officers also reportedly deposited money into his account. Prefectural police said they planned to thoroughly question nine officers, including Yoshida.
霊感商法：強制捜査に着手…神奈川県警、詐欺容疑で
神奈川県警警備課長の吉田澄雄警視（５１）がヒーリングサロンを装って法外な値段でお札やお守りを売りつける霊感商法に関与している疑いが強まり、県警は２０日、吉田警視を警備部付に異動させるとともに、詐欺容疑で関係先の家宅捜索に着手した。東京都港区のヒーリングサロン「びびっととうきょう青山サロン」やサロンを運営する山梨県甲斐市の「神世界」本部、県警本部の警備課長室など十数カ所を調べる。
捜索の容疑は、青山サロン社長の女（４４）は０４年４月１５、１９日、サロンの従業員数人と共謀し、横浜市内の男性会社役員（当時４１歳）に「あなたの会社は戦国時代は首切り場だった。処刑された人の霊が成仏できずに地縛霊としてさまよっている。運気を下げ業務等に影響している」などとうそをつき、同年５月１９日、除霊代として現金４９０万円をだまし取った疑い。
県警によると、男性は水や「ライセンス」というお守りも勧められ、総額約２０００万円をだまし取られた。サロンは駅前で女性に「ヒーリングはいかがですか」などと声をかけていたという。
吉田警視は女社長の知人で、０３年ごろ、サロン開設時の契約書の名義人や連帯保証人に名を連ねた。元同僚の県警横須賀署警備担当次長の稙田紀郎警視（４７）も連帯保証人だった。吉田警視の口座には神世界側から多額の現金が定期的に入金されていたほか、数人の警察官からも現金が振り込まれていた。
サロンには吉田警視が警察学校の教官だった時の教え子である警察官ら５人が出入りし、吉田警視が勧誘した可能性もある。県警は吉田警視ら計９人の現職警察官から詳しく事情を聴く。【堀智行、野口由紀、鈴木一生】
December 20, 2007
Mainichi
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Cop dies after shooting self in head in police box
A Tokyo police officer died Wednesday after shooting himself in the head in an apparent suicide, police said.
At around 9 a.m., the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) received an emergency call from a passer-by reporting that a police officer was lying on the floor of a police box in front of JR Tokyo Station in Chiyoda-ku, bleeding from the head.
The unconscious officer was rushed to a hospital where he later died.
He has been identified as Yasumasa Onishi, 32, a sergeant with Marunouchi Police Station who was transferred to the police box on Thursday last week.
Onishi was holding a gun when he was found collapsed, leading MPD investigators to suspect that he shot himself in the head in a bid to commit suicide.
１９日午前９時５分ごろ、東京都千代田区丸の内１の警視庁丸の内署東京駅前交番内で、交番に勤務する丸の内署地域課の大西泰正巡査部長（３２）＝足立区西新井７＝が頭から血を流して倒れていると通行人から１１０番があった。大西巡査部長は病院に運ばれたが約３時間後に死亡した。右手に拳銃を握っており、丸の内署は大西巡査部長が頭を撃って自殺を図ったとみて調べている。
調べでは、大西巡査部長は貸与された拳銃で右側頭部を１発撃ち、交番入り口に面した１階の見張り所（事務室）内に倒れていた。病院搬送前は意識があったという。１８日午後４時半から同僚２人と交番勤務に就いていた。発砲時は同僚のうち１人が事務室の奥の休憩室で仮眠していたが、もう１人は不在で、事務室には大西巡査部長しかいなかった。
拳銃には銃弾５発を装てん可能で、４発が残っていた。発射された１発は、事務室内に落ちていた。通りに面した窓の内側の枠に銃弾が当たったような跡があり、跳ね返って室内に落ちたとみられる。窓枠からそれていれば、外部に飛び出した可能性もあった。
大西巡査部長は１３日付で丸の内署に配属されたばかりで、１８日が交番勤務の初日だった。丸の内署に着任後は変わった様子はなかったという。遺書は見つかっていない。
現場はＪＲ東京駅丸の内北口前。北口改札から大型商業ビルやオフィスビルの集中する地区へ抜ける場所で、終日人通りが絶えないという。
現場付近にいた通行人らによると、午前９時ごろ「パーン」という音が１回聞こえ、交番内の机付近に大西巡査部長が倒れていた。近くには帽子がころがり、壁には大量の血痕が付いていた。同僚の警察官が大西巡査部長に覆いかぶさるようにして呼びかけていたという。
発砲後、交番の出入り口に青いシートがかけられ、鑑識作業を行う警視庁の捜査員らや集まった約４０人の報道陣で騒然とした。不安げな表情でＪＲ職員に尋ねるスーツ姿の会社員もいた。
買い物に来ていた主婦（３８）は「こんな場所で拳銃を使った騒ぎが起きるなんて……。仕事のために持っていたのだから佐世保の（散弾銃乱射）事件とは違うのだろうが、こんなに身近で起きると不安に思う」と話した。
丸の内署の浦忠雄署長は「拳銃を使用して自殺を図ったことは誠に残念。再発防止に努めたい」とのコメントを出した。
◇警官の拳銃自殺 今年全国で５件、８月には女性射殺
警察庁によると、交番などに勤務する警察官が拳銃を使用して自殺したケースは今年は全国で今回も含め、５件発生している。８月には警視庁立川署の巡査長が、勤務中に知人女性宅で女性を射殺したうえで、自殺した。０６年は６件、０５年は４件、０４年は２件、０３年は６件起きている。
警察庁幹部は「職務遂行のために貸与されている拳銃をほかの目的に使用することはあってはならないこと」と話す。警視庁は立川事件以降、再発防止のために組織的に警察官の心情把握に努める対策をとっていただけに、警視庁幹部も今回の自殺未遂事件に衝撃を受けている。
December 19, 2007
Mainichi
At around 9 a.m., the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) received an emergency call from a passer-by reporting that a police officer was lying on the floor of a police box in front of JR Tokyo Station in Chiyoda-ku, bleeding from the head.
The unconscious officer was rushed to a hospital where he later died.
He has been identified as Yasumasa Onishi, 32, a sergeant with Marunouchi Police Station who was transferred to the police box on Thursday last week.
Onishi was holding a gun when he was found collapsed, leading MPD investigators to suspect that he shot himself in the head in a bid to commit suicide.
１９日午前９時５分ごろ、東京都千代田区丸の内１の警視庁丸の内署東京駅前交番内で、交番に勤務する丸の内署地域課の大西泰正巡査部長（３２）＝足立区西新井７＝が頭から血を流して倒れていると通行人から１１０番があった。大西巡査部長は病院に運ばれたが約３時間後に死亡した。右手に拳銃を握っており、丸の内署は大西巡査部長が頭を撃って自殺を図ったとみて調べている。
調べでは、大西巡査部長は貸与された拳銃で右側頭部を１発撃ち、交番入り口に面した１階の見張り所（事務室）内に倒れていた。病院搬送前は意識があったという。１８日午後４時半から同僚２人と交番勤務に就いていた。発砲時は同僚のうち１人が事務室の奥の休憩室で仮眠していたが、もう１人は不在で、事務室には大西巡査部長しかいなかった。
拳銃には銃弾５発を装てん可能で、４発が残っていた。発射された１発は、事務室内に落ちていた。通りに面した窓の内側の枠に銃弾が当たったような跡があり、跳ね返って室内に落ちたとみられる。窓枠からそれていれば、外部に飛び出した可能性もあった。
大西巡査部長は１３日付で丸の内署に配属されたばかりで、１８日が交番勤務の初日だった。丸の内署に着任後は変わった様子はなかったという。遺書は見つかっていない。
現場はＪＲ東京駅丸の内北口前。北口改札から大型商業ビルやオフィスビルの集中する地区へ抜ける場所で、終日人通りが絶えないという。
現場付近にいた通行人らによると、午前９時ごろ「パーン」という音が１回聞こえ、交番内の机付近に大西巡査部長が倒れていた。近くには帽子がころがり、壁には大量の血痕が付いていた。同僚の警察官が大西巡査部長に覆いかぶさるようにして呼びかけていたという。
発砲後、交番の出入り口に青いシートがかけられ、鑑識作業を行う警視庁の捜査員らや集まった約４０人の報道陣で騒然とした。不安げな表情でＪＲ職員に尋ねるスーツ姿の会社員もいた。
買い物に来ていた主婦（３８）は「こんな場所で拳銃を使った騒ぎが起きるなんて……。仕事のために持っていたのだから佐世保の（散弾銃乱射）事件とは違うのだろうが、こんなに身近で起きると不安に思う」と話した。
丸の内署の浦忠雄署長は「拳銃を使用して自殺を図ったことは誠に残念。再発防止に努めたい」とのコメントを出した。
◇警官の拳銃自殺 今年全国で５件、８月には女性射殺
警察庁によると、交番などに勤務する警察官が拳銃を使用して自殺したケースは今年は全国で今回も含め、５件発生している。８月には警視庁立川署の巡査長が、勤務中に知人女性宅で女性を射殺したうえで、自殺した。０６年は６件、０５年は４件、０４年は２件、０３年は６件起きている。
警察庁幹部は「職務遂行のために貸与されている拳銃をほかの目的に使用することはあってはならないこと」と話す。警視庁は立川事件以降、再発防止のために組織的に警察官の心情把握に努める対策をとっていただけに、警視庁幹部も今回の自殺未遂事件に衝撃を受けている。
December 19, 2007
Mainichi
Cop commits suicide in police box
MASHIKO, Tochigi - A police officer committed suicide Thursday by shooting himself with his service revolver in the police box where he worked here, police said.
The 23-year-old officer was found in the sleeping quarters of the police box, collapsed in a pool of blood pouring out from his abdomen, with his gun and a suicide note nearby.
Police said the officer's service revolver still contained four bullets. The officer had worked his regular shift while the sergeant stationed at the same police box was working at the Mooka Police Station in Mashiko at the time. The 59-year-old sergeant found the collapsed officer.
December 13, 2007
Mainichi
拳銃自殺？：交番で２３歳の男性巡査…遺書も 栃木・益子
１３日午前６時５分ごろ、栃木県益子町益子の県警真岡署益子交番２階の仮眠室で、交番勤務の同署地域課の男性巡査（２３）が腹から血を流してあおむけに倒れているのを、同僚の男性巡査部長（５９）が発見した。畳の上に拳銃が落ちており、枕元に「拳銃で自殺したことごめんなさい」と書かれたメモがあった。同署は拳銃自殺を図ったとみている。
調べでは、拳銃は巡査に貸与した回転式（５発入り）で、弾倉には弾丸計４発が残っていた。撃ったのは１発だった。巡査と巡査部長の２人は、１２日午前９時から勤務し、同日午後１０時から１３日午前２時までの仮眠時間を終え、２人で警らに出る予定だった。巡査が「腹の調子が悪い」と申し出たため、巡査部長は１人では警らができないため、午前３時２５分ごろ、真岡署で当直を応援するため交番を出たという。
弾はへその右上約５センチの場所に撃ち込まれていた。遺書とみられるメモは、Ａ４判の半分の大きさのメモ用紙にボールペンで縦書きされていた。【山下俊輔、戸上文恵】
▽手塚港・真岡署次長 警察官が拳銃を不適切に使用し、自殺したことは誠に遺憾。再発防止に努めたい。
The 23-year-old officer was found in the sleeping quarters of the police box, collapsed in a pool of blood pouring out from his abdomen, with his gun and a suicide note nearby.
Police said the officer's service revolver still contained four bullets. The officer had worked his regular shift while the sergeant stationed at the same police box was working at the Mooka Police Station in Mashiko at the time. The 59-year-old sergeant found the collapsed officer.
December 13, 2007
Mainichi
拳銃自殺？：交番で２３歳の男性巡査…遺書も 栃木・益子
１３日午前６時５分ごろ、栃木県益子町益子の県警真岡署益子交番２階の仮眠室で、交番勤務の同署地域課の男性巡査（２３）が腹から血を流してあおむけに倒れているのを、同僚の男性巡査部長（５９）が発見した。畳の上に拳銃が落ちており、枕元に「拳銃で自殺したことごめんなさい」と書かれたメモがあった。同署は拳銃自殺を図ったとみている。
調べでは、拳銃は巡査に貸与した回転式（５発入り）で、弾倉には弾丸計４発が残っていた。撃ったのは１発だった。巡査と巡査部長の２人は、１２日午前９時から勤務し、同日午後１０時から１３日午前２時までの仮眠時間を終え、２人で警らに出る予定だった。巡査が「腹の調子が悪い」と申し出たため、巡査部長は１人では警らができないため、午前３時２５分ごろ、真岡署で当直を応援するため交番を出たという。
弾はへその右上約５センチの場所に撃ち込まれていた。遺書とみられるメモは、Ａ４判の半分の大きさのメモ用紙にボールペンで縦書きされていた。【山下俊輔、戸上文恵】
▽手塚港・真岡署次長 警察官が拳銃を不適切に使用し、自殺したことは誠に遺憾。再発防止に努めたい。
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Police officer arrested for molesting woman at detention facility
URAYASU, Chiba -- A police officer has been arrested for molesting a woman who was being held at a police station's detention facility, officials said.
Kenji Nakamura, 26, a senior officer at Urayasu Police Station, stands accused of cruelty as a special public officer. He admitted to the allegations, local police said.
"I did it because I was in love with her," Nakamura was quoted as telling investigators during questioning.
The incident comes after Chiba Prefectural Police sent an investigation report to prosecutors on Oct. 26, accusing a 33-year-old officer of fondling the breasts of a woman who visited his police box in Matsudo.
Nakamura fondled the breasts and private parts of a 22-year-old woman detained at the police station's detention facility where he worked as a guard in mid-March this year, investigators said.
Nakamura continued to contact the woman after she was released shortly after the incident.
The incident came to light after the woman reported the abuse to the National Public Safety Commission in early November this year.
警官不祥事：留置場の女性へのわいせつ行為で逮捕…千葉
留置場に拘置中の女性にわいせつ行為をしたとして、千葉県警刑事総務課は６日、同県浦安市高洲、浦安署巡査長、中村憲司容疑者（２６）を特別公務員暴行陵虐容疑で逮捕した。「好意を持っていたのでやった」と容疑を認めているという。
調べでは、中村容疑者は警務課留置係だった３月１５日ごろ、浦安署の留置場に拘置されていた県内の無職女性（２２）の下半身や胸を触るなどした疑い。女性は直後に釈放されたが、中村容疑者は連絡をとり続けていたという。１１月５日に女性が国家公安委員会に被害を訴える投書をして発覚した。
千葉県警は、交番に相談に来た女性の胸を触るなどしたとして、松戸署の巡査（３３）を１０月２６日に同容疑で書類送検したばかりだった。
刑事総務課の前田弘司課長代理は「事件を捜査する立場なので何もコメントできない」と話した。【山本太一、斎藤有香】
Originally printed in Japanese on December 7, 2007
Kenji Nakamura, 26, a senior officer at Urayasu Police Station, stands accused of cruelty as a special public officer. He admitted to the allegations, local police said.
"I did it because I was in love with her," Nakamura was quoted as telling investigators during questioning.
The incident comes after Chiba Prefectural Police sent an investigation report to prosecutors on Oct. 26, accusing a 33-year-old officer of fondling the breasts of a woman who visited his police box in Matsudo.
Nakamura fondled the breasts and private parts of a 22-year-old woman detained at the police station's detention facility where he worked as a guard in mid-March this year, investigators said.
Nakamura continued to contact the woman after she was released shortly after the incident.
The incident came to light after the woman reported the abuse to the National Public Safety Commission in early November this year.
警官不祥事：留置場の女性へのわいせつ行為で逮捕…千葉
留置場に拘置中の女性にわいせつ行為をしたとして、千葉県警刑事総務課は６日、同県浦安市高洲、浦安署巡査長、中村憲司容疑者（２６）を特別公務員暴行陵虐容疑で逮捕した。「好意を持っていたのでやった」と容疑を認めているという。
調べでは、中村容疑者は警務課留置係だった３月１５日ごろ、浦安署の留置場に拘置されていた県内の無職女性（２２）の下半身や胸を触るなどした疑い。女性は直後に釈放されたが、中村容疑者は連絡をとり続けていたという。１１月５日に女性が国家公安委員会に被害を訴える投書をして発覚した。
千葉県警は、交番に相談に来た女性の胸を触るなどしたとして、松戸署の巡査（３３）を１０月２６日に同容疑で書類送検したばかりだった。
刑事総務課の前田弘司課長代理は「事件を捜査する立場なので何もコメントできない」と話した。【山本太一、斎藤有香】
Originally printed in Japanese on December 7, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Burglar with cop fetish caught breaking into police box
NAGOYA -- A man with a penchant for police paraphernalia has been arrested for creeping into a police box, police said.
Yukio Toho, 36, unemployed of Nagoya, was arrested for trespassing.
He admits to the allegations.
"I was interested in the doorknobs," he told the police.
A raid on Toho's home following his arrest unearthed a huge array of police paraphernalia including police notebooks, handcuffs, holsters, batons and filing cabinets, which investigators suspect may all be stolen. Police said the notebook and handcuffs had been stolen from a police box on Nov. 19.
Police said Toho climbed over a fence and trespassed in a police box yard in Seto, Aichi Prefecture, on Dec. 5.
Tuesday December 11, 2007
Yukio Toho, 36, unemployed of Nagoya, was arrested for trespassing.
He admits to the allegations.
"I was interested in the doorknobs," he told the police.
A raid on Toho's home following his arrest unearthed a huge array of police paraphernalia including police notebooks, handcuffs, holsters, batons and filing cabinets, which investigators suspect may all be stolen. Police said the notebook and handcuffs had been stolen from a police box on Nov. 19.
Police said Toho climbed over a fence and trespassed in a police box yard in Seto, Aichi Prefecture, on Dec. 5.
Tuesday December 11, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Crime down nationwide
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan is safer now than it was in 2002, when crime hit a record high, according to a study.
The Japan Urban Security Research Institute calculated municipal crime figures by looking at the number of crimes per 1,000 people in 2006. It then drew up a colored map featuring seven different crime levels, with red indicating a high crime rate and green indicating a low crime rate.
Compared with a map based on figures for 2002, the map for 2006 has significantly fewer areas colored red, indicating fewer municipalities with a high crime rate.
The drop in crime apparently is a result of a series of security measures taken since 2002.
According to the National Police Agency, about 2.05 million crimes were reported across the country last year--a 28 percent decline from 2002, when 2.85 million cases were reported.
To discern the risk of becoming a victim of crimes such as theft and robbery, the Urban Security Research Institute calculated municipal crime rates based on daytime population figures and the number of crimes.
According to the study, crime declined in most municipalities.
The 2002 map shows many red areas in metropolitan areas, but the 2006 map features fewer red-colored places. In 2006, fewer than 10 percent of municipalities had crime rates exceeding 28.9 per 1,000 people.
Even though the trend in which urban areas have high crime rates and rural areas have low rates continued, rates in both areas dropped by about one-third.
Tokyo Metropolitan University Prof. Masahide Maeda, who participated in the study, said: "Security has improved almost equally across the nation, regardless of area, because police and local governments have been bolstering security measures since 2002. That's the major reason."
The NPA in 2002 instructed the Metropolitan Police Department and prefectural police forces to crack down on street crime, such as mugging and bicycle theft. The police started informing residents of crimes, while many residents began voluntary neighborhood patrols. As of June, there were 35,000 volunteer crime-prevention groups.
As a result, over the past four years bicycle thefts and thefts from cars have fallen by about 40 percent from nearly 1 million. Serious crime, such as murder and robbery, also dropped by 16 percent.
In Tokyo, the number of crimes reported for the year surpassed 300,000 for the first time in 2002. The MPD drew up a plan to restore public security to bring the number of cases down to the 1992 level within three years. The MPD more or less accomplished this goal by 2005.
The research institute plans to compile a report by the end of March and distribute it to local governments.
(Dec. 5, 2007)
Japan is safer now than it was in 2002, when crime hit a record high, according to a study.
The Japan Urban Security Research Institute calculated municipal crime figures by looking at the number of crimes per 1,000 people in 2006. It then drew up a colored map featuring seven different crime levels, with red indicating a high crime rate and green indicating a low crime rate.
Compared with a map based on figures for 2002, the map for 2006 has significantly fewer areas colored red, indicating fewer municipalities with a high crime rate.
The drop in crime apparently is a result of a series of security measures taken since 2002.
According to the National Police Agency, about 2.05 million crimes were reported across the country last year--a 28 percent decline from 2002, when 2.85 million cases were reported.
To discern the risk of becoming a victim of crimes such as theft and robbery, the Urban Security Research Institute calculated municipal crime rates based on daytime population figures and the number of crimes.
According to the study, crime declined in most municipalities.
The 2002 map shows many red areas in metropolitan areas, but the 2006 map features fewer red-colored places. In 2006, fewer than 10 percent of municipalities had crime rates exceeding 28.9 per 1,000 people.
Even though the trend in which urban areas have high crime rates and rural areas have low rates continued, rates in both areas dropped by about one-third.
Tokyo Metropolitan University Prof. Masahide Maeda, who participated in the study, said: "Security has improved almost equally across the nation, regardless of area, because police and local governments have been bolstering security measures since 2002. That's the major reason."
The NPA in 2002 instructed the Metropolitan Police Department and prefectural police forces to crack down on street crime, such as mugging and bicycle theft. The police started informing residents of crimes, while many residents began voluntary neighborhood patrols. As of June, there were 35,000 volunteer crime-prevention groups.
As a result, over the past four years bicycle thefts and thefts from cars have fallen by about 40 percent from nearly 1 million. Serious crime, such as murder and robbery, also dropped by 16 percent.
In Tokyo, the number of crimes reported for the year surpassed 300,000 for the first time in 2002. The MPD drew up a plan to restore public security to bring the number of cases down to the 1992 level within three years. The MPD more or less accomplished this goal by 2005.
The research institute plans to compile a report by the end of March and distribute it to local governments.
(Dec. 5, 2007)
Sunday, December 2, 2007
3rd time unlucky for Tokyo robber
The Yomiuri Shimbun
A 48-year-old man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of stealing about 50,000 yen from a convenience store in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, that he had held up twice previously, according to the police.
Norihisa Namba, of Koto Ward, allegedly entered the Irifune branch of the Shinsen-gumi convenience store chain and threatened the 38-year-old male part-time clerk at the counter with a knife before grabbing 50,000 yen in cash, at about 4 a.m. Saturday, the police said.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department who had been staking out the store, which was robbed on Oct. 6 and Nov. 5, entered the store, disarmed Namba and arrested him.
Namba told investigators that Saturday's robbery was the third time he had targeted the store and admitted stealing a total of about 785,000 yen in at least five robberies, including the three.
(Dec. 2, 2007)
A 48-year-old man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of stealing about 50,000 yen from a convenience store in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, that he had held up twice previously, according to the police.
Norihisa Namba, of Koto Ward, allegedly entered the Irifune branch of the Shinsen-gumi convenience store chain and threatened the 38-year-old male part-time clerk at the counter with a knife before grabbing 50,000 yen in cash, at about 4 a.m. Saturday, the police said.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department who had been staking out the store, which was robbed on Oct. 6 and Nov. 5, entered the store, disarmed Namba and arrested him.
Namba told investigators that Saturday's robbery was the third time he had targeted the store and admitted stealing a total of about 785,000 yen in at least five robberies, including the three.
(Dec. 2, 2007)
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