Japan PM candidate involved in astroturfing scandal.

Shinjiro Koizumi's campaign faced backlash for unethical astroturfing practices amid his bid for Prime Minister in Japan.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba just announced he’s stepping down, leaving behind a legacy of mediocrity that rivals past leaders. Now it’s time for another politician to step up, but the two frontrunners, Sanae Takaichi and Shinjiro Koizumi, already face controversy. Koizumi's campaign went rogue with astroturfing, instructing members to post fake positive reviews about him online, which is a big no-no in Japan.

After the scandal broke, Koizumi claimed ignorance during a press conference. But Twitter exploded with calls for him to “drop out of the race.” People aren’t just upset; they're calling this tactic election fraud. It’s a mess, and some think stepping down could actually improve his image since he's young and can always try again later. But let’s be real—how can you want to lead a nation and not know what’s happening in your own campaign?

Read more__〆(￣ー￣ )

Fascinated by Japan’s culture and history? Learn the language that brings it all to life. Start now at LearnJapanese.com!

Japan's top beer faces shortage due to cyberattack.

A cyberattack has disrupted Asahi beer production in Japan, causing potential shortages with no expected recovery timeline.

Saya Nomura Remixes Baseball Heritage with The Player’s Greatest Hits Pop-Up in Harajuku

This October, baseball culture takes over Harajuku — but not in the way you’d expect. From October 16–22, Saya Nomura, member of Japan’s legendary Nomura baseball family, will curate The Player’s Greatest Hits, a fan appreciation pop-up at H4LO Tokyo in Harajuku. Timed with the MLB Playoffs,

Osaka Expo mascot Myaku-Myaku ranked low in popularity.

At the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, Germany's mascot Circular unexpectedly won a popularity contest, surprising many attendees and fans.

Japan's black cat Halloween donuts are popular and require pre-orders.

Mister Donut has launched a new cat-shaped Halloween donut, the Black Thunder Cat, available by reservation throughout October.