Pavy

These two giant turtles have been fighting each other for more than 120 years. According to the zoo, one turtle stole the other’s food 120 years ago, and since that day they became enemies. There hasn’t been a single day where they don’t fight for 2–3 minutes😂

山本祐大選手の入団会見が行われました #ソフトバンクホークス

The Dragons fall into the Island of Rice Fields Rookie Shunya Shimada strikes out 9 in just 6 innings of work. And he did it in less than 70 pitches.

Berita sedih tentang penipuan orang Jepang 🇯🇵😢 Di Surabaya, 6 orang Jepang yang terlibat dalam penipuan khusus (special fraud) telah ditangkap oleh polisi setempat. Sebagai orang Jepang yang tinggal di Indonesia, saya merasa sangat malu dan menyesal. Kami telah menyebabkan banyak kerumitan bagi masyarakat setempat. Atas nama seluruh orang Jepang, saya menyampaikan permohonan maaf yang mendalam. Perbuatan ini telah merusak kepercayaan terhadap Indonesia yang selama ini menyambut kami dengan hangat. Saya benar-benar meminta maaf dari lubuk hati. Semoga kejadian seperti ini tidak terulang lagi🙏

C’est donc ça la Belgique

Japan Declares "Yakuza" as Intangible Cultural Property With UNESCO Officials described the move as “long overdue recognition of a living tradition,” noting that the yakuza's distinctive aesthetics, extortion, and political influence makes them "living treasures" The government of Japan announced today that it has formally designated “the yakuza” '(暴力団・反社会勢力・ヤクザ) as an Intangible Cultural Property and will seek their inclusion on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, alongside traditions such as Noh Theatre, Kabuki, Sontaku and Deriheru. Officials described the move as “long overdue recognition of a living tradition,” noting that the groups’ distinctive aesthetics, rituals, and administrative resilience have “persisted with remarkable consistency.” Prime Minister Insanae Takakichi told the press at Kasumigaseki, “We pay tribute to their traditional extortion rackets, group structure, the carefully itemized blackmail, and a long-standing commitment to organizational paperwork.” “Someday, I hope to see a female kumicho (yakuza boss) as well,” she added, making note of the predominantly male-dominated hierarchy, in which the father figure —the oyabun—is all powerful.” Japan’s ruling party, The Liberal Democratic Party, itself was founded with yakuza money under the guidance of Kodama Yoshio, a powerful fixer and war profiteer. Japan’s longest reigning Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, was the grandson of war criminal and yakuza associate Kishi Nobusuke, also a founder of the party. In fact, when Shinzo Abe was once asked about his post-retirement plans, he said the he dreamed of directing yakuza films, showing his deep respect for Wa-fu Gangsta Style. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the designation recognizes the yakuza’s “historical continuity, visual culture, and codified social practices,” including full-body tattooing, ceremonial sake exchanges, and a robust internal hierarchy that has outlasted multiple economic cycles and several police crackdowns. “Although, yakuza is generally a word used to describe over 20 different organized crime groups, these tattoed thugs share many common values and groups like the Yamaguchi-gumi have been around since 1915, making them older than even Nintendo,” noted one expert. A secondary report, released concurrently, highlights the organization’s unintended contributions to medical innovation. Researchers noted that decades of yubitsume—ritual finger amputation—have “indirectly accelerated advancements in prosthetic design,” particularly in the development of more functional and aesthetically integrated finger replacements. One official described this as “an example of cultural practice intersecting with technological progress, admittedly through unconventional pathways.” At a press briefing, Education and Culture Minister Tetsuo Saito (Sansuketo), speaking on behalf of the cabinet, emphasized that the designation “does not constitute approval of criminal conduct,” but rather acknowledges “a set of practices that, while occasionally challenging from a regulatory perspective, form part of Japan’s broader cultural narrative.” “These traditions exist,” he said. “Our role is to document and preserve. Interpretation is left to the relevant authorities.” Committee notes also cite the preservation of irezumi techniques as a key factor, describing them as “at risk due to modernization and changing workplace norms.” The enduring presence of the punch perm hairstyle, almost extinct outside of kansai, was similarly referenced as “a culturally specific expression with limited but persistent adoption.” Tourism officials are reportedly drafting materials to contextualize the designation for international audiences, with early guidance suggesting visitors “observe respectfully” and “avoid participation”. Yankee Onoda, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also noted, “Roughly 30% of yakuza members are also of Korean-Japanese heritage and we look forward to the eventual recognition from UNESCO as a move that will bring Japan and Korea closer together.” Law enforcement agencies confirmed that enforcement priorities remain unchanged. Crackdowns on organized crime will continue as usual, now with an added layer of cultural sensitivity. “This is a cultural designation,” one official said. “Operational realities continue as before.” The proposal will be submitted to UNESCO later this year. A senior bureaucrat, speaking on condition of anonymity, summarized the effort succinctly: “Japan has always believed in preserving its heritage. Occasionally, that heritage presents logistical complications. And requires paying large sums of traditional yen. In cash. In big paper bags. Right now.” Tourism agencies are already preparing pamphlets. Early drafts reportedly describe the yakuza as “a living cultural experience,” though sources say there is ongoing debate about whether visitors should be encouraged to “observe respectfully” or “keep a safe distance and avoid eye contact.” “Japan is a country of contradictions,” one official said, requesting anonymity. “We preserve temples. We preserve festivals. And now, apparently, we preserve people you should not owe money to.” No word yet on whether the punch perm or white-track suit with organization logo will receive its own protected status, though insiders suggest it is “under active consideration.” Jake Adelstein, author and executive producer of Tokyo Vice, The Last Yakuza, Tokyo Noir, and Everything I Ever Need To Know In Business I Learned From The Yakuza or The Cops That Kick Their Asses, when reached for comment had this to say. “I’ve long dreamed of clearing out all the old yakuza fanzines and crap from my cramped apartment and putting them in a yakuza museum. That dreams seems like a real possibility now. I just hope that UNESCO makes the right call. If Kabuki can make the list, despite its low brow origins, the yaks should be a shoo in.” published April 1st, 2026