Latest news with #ANNNews
SoraNews24
08-07-2025
- Business
- SoraNews24
Rental grandma service growing in Japan, can help cook or break up with boyfriends
Get a grandma delivered right to your door. As we've seen time and time again, the cost of living is steadily on the rise in Japan, and while it's expected that wages will rise to keep pace, the same may not be true for the elderly living on pensions. Because their monthly allotments are just barely covering the necessities in life, many seniors are seeking work to ensure they have some savings as well. According to the Statistics Bureau of Japan, there are about 9.3 million people working over the age of 65. This amounts to about one in four seniors remaining in the workforce after retirement age. This all sounds pretty bleak, but one service is seeing this as a positive and regarding the elderly of Japan as a valuable human resource. ▼ See? This guy's totally wired and ready to rock. The service is called OK Obaachan, and for a fee of 3,300 yen to cover transportation and a 3,300 yen per hour rate, you can have your very own grandma. They currently have a roster of about 100 ladies aged 60 to 94 and with a range of abilities from housework, interpersonal skills, historical knowledge, and life experience. According to the OK Obaachan website, they have been getting a lot of requests for an incredibly wide range of uses, such as teaching how to cook, mediating family disputes, writing things with nice penmanship, and babysitting. They are often also called upon to act as pillars of emotional support and have been requested by men planning to come out as gay to their parents to be present when it happens. A report by ANN News also interviewed some satisfied clients who used rental grandmothers to be present when breaking up with boyfriends or to help with research for reports that deal with changes in Japanese society over the years. Reaction to the news was mixed in online comments, which is understandable since it's really hard to process a grandma rental service just after hearing about it. 'I think that's a good business. Sometimes it's good to get advice from people you don't know.' 'I think the effectiveness really depends on the individual though. It seems a little hit-and-miss.' 'The ones going out to breakups should get hazard pay too.' 'I think it's important to feel needed.' 'Do they hire in the countryside? I'm over 60 and am interested.' 'I would be too worried my grandma would fall down or something.' 'All of these people-rental businesses make me uneasy.' 'These days, there are a lot of healthy people in their 60s. They can still do a lot.' 'Poor grandpas… There's no rental service for them.' The reason that this is a grandma-only service is that it's run by Client Partners, a firm that sets women with different skills up with jobs, calling themselves a 'women-only handyman company.' They also offer rental friends and family members, all of whom are women as well. For those in the market for some grandpas, a few years back we trialed the Ossan Rental service, which is more loosely defined as 'middle-aged guys' and can include guys in their 30s and 40s too. However, I just popped into their website, and they have many age-appropriate granddads who appear to be among the most popular men for rent. So, whatever your people needs are, it seems there's a rental agency out there for you. Of course, you could just go out and meet people too, but time is money, so I guess it's all relative. Source: OK Oba-achan, TV Asahi, YouTube/ANNnewsCH, Ossan Rental Top image: Pakutaso Insert image: Pakutaso ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Scottish Sun
27-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Serial murderer ‘The Twitter Killer' who dismembered 9 victims he snared on social media is executed by hanging in Japan
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JAPAN has executed the man who brutally murdered eight women and one man - aged between 15 and 26 - after luring them to his flat. Takahiro Shiraishi, dubbed the "Twitter killer", raped, strangled and dismembered his victims - in a chilling case that shook one of the world's safest countries. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Takahiro Shiraishi was recently executed for murdering nine people in 2017 Credit: ANN News 5 The 'Twitter killer' in a 2020 court sketch when he was sentenced to death Credit: AFP 5 Japan's Minister of Justice Keisuke Suzuki announced on Friday that Shiraishi had been executed Credit: AFP Shiraishi, who committed the crimes in 2017, was executed by hanging - marking Japan's first execution since 2022. Then 27, the serial killer lured young women to his home, where he raped them before murdering them. Three of the eight women were schoolgirls. He also killed the boyfriend of one of the women to silence him. Read more world news FLOWER POWER Radioactive soil to be used outside PM's office in Japan in divisive PR stunt Authorities made the disturbing discovery in October 2017 while investigating the disappearance of a 23-year-old woman last seen walking with Shiraishi. Cops found the victims' body parts in Shiraishi's flat in the Japanese city of Zama, near Tokyo. One resident told The Japan Times in 2017: 'I thought it smelled like sewage. It was something I never smelled before.' Another neighbour said they noticed a 'nasty smell' coming from the flat. Nine dismembered bodies were found in three coolers and five large storage boxes inside the flat - dubbed the "house of horrors" by the media. The serial killer had discarded parts of his victims in the bin, which was collected with the recycled garbage. Inside the hellish prison dubbed 'Indonesia's Alcatraz' which executes death row inmates with a firing squad It later emerged that he had searched online for how to mutilate bodies before buying a saw and a meat cleaver. Shiraishi pleaded guilty to murdering nine victims in October 2020. The killer revealed he met them on the social media platform Twitter, now known as X. He told the victims he could help them die, even claiming in some cases he would kill himself alongside them. His Twitter profile wrote: "I want to help people who are really in pain. Please DM [direct message] me anytime." Prosecutors demanded the death penalty for Shiraishi, while his lawyers argued for a prison sentence, claiming his suicidal victims had consented to their deaths and that he should be charged with "murder with consent". They also called for his mental state to be assessed. But Shiraishi later disputed his own defence team's version of events, revealing he killed without the victims' consent. 435 people showed up to watch the 2020 verdict sentencing him to death - despite the court having only 16 public seats - Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported. The murders also prompted Twitter to change its rules to state users should not "promote or encourage suicide or self-harm". Shiraishi was hanged at the Tokyo Detention House in secrecy, with nothing revealed until the execution was done. Japan's Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki, who ordered Shiraishi's execution, said on Friday that Shiraishi acted "for the genuinely selfish reason of satisfying his own sexual and financial desires", according to AFP. The case "caused great shock and anxiety to society", he said. Japan currently has 105 people on death row, Suzuki added. The country has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. What is Japan's death penalty? JAPAN'S justice system allows the death penalty for serious crimes like murder, typically carried out by hanging. The nation's death penalty dates back to the Meiji era - with the current legal framework established under the Penal Code of 1907. Executions are rare and usually follow a lengthy appeals process. The justice minister must sign the execution order. Inmates are often told just hours before, and the executions are carried out in total secrecy. Between January 2000 and June 2025, 99 inmates have been executed in Japan. Who has recently been executed? July 2022: Tomohiro Kato, 39, was executed for a rampage in a Tokyo shopping district in 2018, where he killed seven people in a car crash and stabbing spree. December 2021: Yasutaka Fujishiro, 65, was executed for killing seven relatives in 2004. December 2021: Tomoaki Takanezawa, 54, and Mitsunori Onogawa, 44, were executed for the 2003 murders of two employees at separate pachinko parlours. August 2019: Koichi Shoji, 64, was executed for multiple rape-murders in Kanagawa Prefecture in 2001. August 2019: Yasunori Suzuki, 50, was executed for murdering three women - and raping one of them - in Fukuoka Prefecture between 2004 and 2005. 5 Cops found nine dismembered bodies in his flat in Zama, south of Tokyo, Japan, in October 2017
The Irish Sun
27-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Serial murderer ‘The Twitter Killer' who dismembered 9 victims he snared on social media is executed by hanging in Japan
JAPAN has executed the man who brutally murdered eight women and one man - aged between 15 and 26 - after luring them to his flat. Takahiro Shiraishi, dubbed the Advertisement 5 Takahiro Shiraishi was recently executed for murdering nine people in 2017 Credit: ANN News 5 The 'Twitter killer' in a 2020 court sketch when he was sentenced to death Credit: AFP 5 Japan's Minister of Justice Keisuke Suzuki announced on Friday that Shiraishi had been executed Credit: AFP Shiraishi, who committed the crimes in 2017, was executed by hanging - marking Japan's first execution since 2022. Then 27, the serial killer lured young women to his home, where he raped them before murdering them. Three of the eight women were schoolgirls. He also killed the boyfriend of one of the women to silence him. Advertisement Read more world news Authorities made the disturbing discovery in October 2017 while investigating the disappearance of a 23-year-old woman last seen walking with Shiraishi. Cops found the victims' body parts in Shiraishi's flat in the Japanese city of Zama, near Tokyo. One resident told The Japan Times in 2017: 'I thought it smelled like sewage. It was something I never smelled before.' Another neighbour said they noticed a 'nasty smell' coming from the flat. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive Nine dismembered bodies were found in three coolers and five large storage boxes inside the flat - dubbed the "house of horrors" by the media. The serial killer had discarded parts of his victims in the bin, which was collected with the recycled garbage. Inside the hellish prison dubbed 'Indonesia's Alcatraz' which executes death row inmates with a firing squad It later emerged that he had searched online for how to mutilate bodies before buying a saw and a meat cleaver. Shiraishi pleaded guilty to murdering nine victims in October 2020. Advertisement He told prosecutors he met the youngsters on the social media platform Twitter, now known as X. He told them he could help them die, even claiming in some cases he would kill himself alongside them. His Twitter profile wrote: "I want to help people who are really in pain. Please DM [direct message] me anytime." Prosecutors demanded the death penalty for Shiraishi, while his lawyers argued for a prison sentence, claiming his suicidal victims had consented to their deaths and that he should be charged with "murder with consent". Advertisement They also called for his mental state to be assessed. But Shiraishi later disputed his own defence team's version of events, revealing he killed without the victims' consent. 435 people showed up to watch the 2020 verdict sentencing him to death - despite the court having only 16 public seats - Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported. The murders also prompted Twitter to change its rules to state users should not "promote or encourage suicide or self-harm". Advertisement Shiraishi was hanged at the Tokyo Detention House in secrecy, with nothing revealed until the execution was done. Japan's Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki , who ordered Shiraishi's execution, said on Friday that Shiraishi acted "for the genuinely selfish reason of satisfying his own sexual and financial desires", according to AFP. The case "caused great shock and anxiety to society", he said. Japan currently has 105 people on death row, Suzuki added. Advertisement The country has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. What is Japan's death penalty? JAPAN'S justice system allows the death penalty for serious crimes like murder, typically carried out by hanging. The nation's death penalty dates back to the Meiji era - with the current legal framework established under the Penal Code of 1907. Executions are rare and usually follow a lengthy appeals process. The justice minister must sign the execution order. Inmates are often told just hours before, and the executions are carried out in total secrecy. Between January 2000 and June 2025, 99 inmates have been executed in Japan. Who has recently been executed? July 2022: Tomohiro Kato, 39, was executed for a rampage in a Tokyo shopping district in 2018, where he killed seven people in a car crash and stabbing spree. December 2021: Yasutaka Fujishiro, 65, was executed for killing seven relatives in 2004. December 2021: Tomoaki Takanezawa, 54, and Mitsunori Onogawa, 44, were executed for the 2003 murders of two employees at separate pachinko parlours. August 2019: Koichi Shoji, 64, was executed for multiple rape-murders in Kanagawa Prefecture in 2001. August 2019: Yasunori Suzuki, 50, was executed for murdering three women - and raping one of them - in Fukuoka Prefecture between 2004 and 2005. 5 Cops found nine dismembered bodies in his flat in Zama, south of Tokyo, Japan, in October 2017 5 Shiraishi being taken to the prosecutor's office in November 2017 Credit: AFP
Tokyo Weekender
09-06-2025
- Business
- Tokyo Weekender
Outrage After Foreign Landlord Nearly Triples Tokyo Apartment Rent
Residents in a seven-story apartment building in Tokyo's Itabashi ward were outraged after a new foreign owner suddenly raised the price of their rent from ¥72,500 to ¥190,000. The reason given for the approximately 2.5-times increase was rising costs. However, it has been suggested that the real reason was to force the residents out so the vacated apartments could be used as short-term rentals for travelers. When ANN News directly contacted the owner, who is in China, he stated that he would withdraw the rent hike. Despite this, residents still feel very uneasy about the situation. List of Contents: Residents Move Out Due to Astronomical Rent Increase Property Owner Reverses His Decision Related Posts Residents Move Out Due to Astronomical Rent Increase Due to the notice of the astronomical price increase, some have already moved out. Unknown people with suitcases were also seen entering the building. According to a website that provides information on private accommodations for tourists, a room in the condominium was being rented for about ¥25,000 per night. When ANN News checked with Itabashi ward officials, though, it was confirmed that the notification required as a private accommodation operator hadn't been submitted. Similar cases have been seen in other cities such as Osaka, where foreign-owned companies excessively raise rent to push out tenants so they can convert buildings into places for tourists to stay. Property Owner Reverses His Decision ANN News tracked down the Chinese owner of the condominium, who stated that large price hikes in Hong Kong and other places where he invested in real estate were not unusual as it was important to 'clean up the apartments and provide residents with a nice environment.' Not long after these comments, though, he decided to reverse his decision. 'I heard there was a big backlash, so I will not raise the rent,' he said. 'I will give notice next Monday (June 9).' He added that the elevator, which broke down in May, will be reopened soon. Apartments in the building will also no longer be available as short-term rentals for travelers. Related Posts Tokyo House Hunting: A Six-Step Guide to Renting Apartments in Japan Peek Inside Tokyo Apartments A Practical Guide to Apartment Gardening in Tokyo
