Please log in and check your service registration status.To cancel your subscription 1) === '|') document.write("&#"+unescape(l[i].substring(1))+";");else document.write(unescape(l[i]));} Read the full story on SportsLook - [NPB NOTEBOOK] Tsuyoshi Shinjo Has the Nipponham Fighters Believing in Themselves A lot has happened in Nippon Professional Baseball since our attention was focused on the highly successful and entertaining Paris Olympics. For one thing, the Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters have gone on a bit of a tear With a 6-1 victory over the Chiba Lotte Marines on Thursday the Fighters picked up their eighth win in nine nine games.  That winning streak allowed Tsuyoshi Shinjo's team to move into second place in the Pacific League standings just percentage points ahead of third-place Lotte through games of Saturday While the Fighters (55-45-7) are still 12 games back of the front-running Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (69-35-3) they are six games ahead of the fourth-place Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and seem almost certain to make the playoffs for the first time since 2018 going back to the days when he was a player and famously stole home in an All-Star Game is that he is not afraid to think outside the box That was the case in a 4-1 win over the visiting Marines on August 14 at Es Con Field Hokkaido With runners at second and third in the second inning Shinjo called for a squeeze bunt that successfully plated the runner from third as the baserunner on second advanced Not content to sit back and wait for a run Shinjo called for another squeeze bunt that scored another run Few managers in NPB would have the nerve to pull off back-to-back suicide squeezes Nipponham Fighters starting pitcher Sachiya Yamasaki picked up the win and improved to 8-3 after allowing a run on six hits over 7⅓ innings Yamasaki was appreciative of his manager's bold move "We squeezed twice in a row," Yamasaki said "I could tell from that move that we were really going for the win." "I was pitching the whole time with determination that I was going to hold them down no matter what." On offense, the Nipponham Fighters are getting another solid season from star outfielder Chusei Mannami Former major leaguer Franmil Reyes has found his swing including his fourth in five games in Thursday's win Making the postseason would be a big boost for the Fighters who finished last in the previous two seasons under Shinjo.  The last time they finished in the top three the so-called A-Class to qualify for the postseason he had a reputation as a showman with his outlandish fashion and the moniker "Big Boss" on the back of his jersey All that seems in the distant past and Shinjo himself has matured as a manager Continue reading the full story on SportsLook Author: Jim Armstrong The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Today's print edition Home Delivery Tsuyoshi Shinjo’s plan for Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters ace Hiromi Ito in the first stage of the Pacific League Climax Series would either make him look crazy like a fox or not every manager would willingly go into a three-game playoff series without planning for his best pitcher to throw.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); But that is what Shinjo did in the first stage of the Climax Series against the Chiba Lotte Marines In a short series that could have ended in the blink of an eye the Fighters manager ran the risk of being run out of the postseason without his best pitcher touching the ball In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Read the full story on SportsLook - [NPB NOTEBOOK] Nipponham Fighters Hoping to Reach the Summit in New Season There are high hopes for Tsuyoshi Shinjo's Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters this season In their third season under the charismatic manager and former player the Fighters finished second in the Pacific League standings in 2024 with a 75-60-8 record That still left them 13½ games behind the high-flying PL champion Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks who had the best record in Japanese baseball but it was an impressive showing for Shinjo's team The Fighters beat the Chiba Lotte Marines two games to one in the first stage of the PL Climax Series before being swept in three games by the Hawks in the second stage With some valuable playoff experience under their belt the hope is that the Fighters are ready to contend for the Japan Series in 2025 it was widely accepted there would be growing pains as the 53-year-old former outfielder found his footing as a bench boss the team struggled with back-to-back last-place finishes in 2022 and 2023 But 2024 was a breakout season as the team showed it had matured and was ready to contend with the top teams Shinjo spoke about the upcoming season in a recent interview with NHK "I didn't think I would have a fourth year as manager," Shinjo said "I thought it would end in three years."  Added the former outfielder "I've been thinking about what kind of baseball I want to play this season and I'm looking forward to it because our lineup is so strong." The Fighters' preseason schedule opens on Saturday February 22 with a game against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows There is a good chance Dominican slugger Franmil Reyes will also be in the heart of the order after connecting for 25 homers last season It will be interesting to see how Kiyomiya performs in 2025 Kiyomiya was chosen by seven teams in the first round of the 2017 NPB draft and signed with the Fighters who won the right to negotiate with him after winning the lottery Kiyomiya struggled to adjust to the pro level in his first three seasons with Nipponham as he bounced between the minors and the top team Things got better in 2022 and 2023 when he started to live up to his potential by raising his batting average slightly and hitting 25 homers in '22 and 20 the following season Kiyomiya had his best season last year when he finished with a .300 batting average 51 RBIs and a career-high .374 on-base percentage in 89 games Kiyomiya will be looking for bigger and better things in 2025 especially if he can hold on to a coveted spot in the batting order On the pitching front, the Nipponham Fighters will have veterans Hiromi Ito (10-9, 2.90, 141 strikeouts) and Sachiya Yamasaki (10-6 But the Fighters won't have the services of right-hander Naoyuki Uwasawa.  he was a solid 9-9 with a 2.69 ERA and 124 strikeouts But after qualifying for international free agency Uwasawa played for the Boston Red Sox appearing in only two games for the American League team Uwasawa returned to NPB for this season and signed with the rival Hawks Continue reading the full story on SportsLook You must be logged in to post a comment Long before Tsuyoshi Shinjo was Big Boss or the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager he was an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants who made history as the first Japanese player to appear in the World Series Shinjo got the ball rolling for Japanese stars in MLB’s Fall Classic in 2002 and the list of Japanese players to vie for the title eventually grew to 13 in 2020 when Yoshitomo Tsutsugo made it with the Tampa Bay Rays.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Two more players will join the club this year when superstar talent Shohei Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto take the field for the Los Angeles Dodgers who will battle the New York Yankees for the title Netflix has been on a hot streak with its original Japanese dramas recently, but its film offerings are less inspiring. After ho-hum efforts like “City Hunter” (2024) the streaming giant hits a nadir with “Demon City,” a joyless weirdly anonymous adaptation of Masamichi Kawabe’s ultra-violent manga series Toma Ikuta plays former hit man Shuhei Sakata who wakes from a lengthy coma to exact vengeance against the masked criminals who betrayed him and murdered his family Such behavior is par for the course in the film’s fictional Shinjo City where legend tells of a demon that possesses someone every 50 years sending them on a killing spree.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Shuhei already possesses the necessary skill set We first see him brutally dispatching an entire yakuza clan in what he believes will be his last job before he gets to settle down and become a family man No prizes for guessing how that plan turns out Shuhei has barely had a chance to shower before he sees his wife and daughter get gunned down by a gang of criminals wearing sinister noh theater masks Netflix’s recent TV series “Tokyo Swindlers” is a very different creation from Ko Shinjo’s 2019 novel of the same title Although showrunner Hitoshi One credits Shinjo for co-writing all seven episodes fans shouldn’t approach the novel as simply a written version of the suspenseful The novel is best appreciated as a companion work — a comparative psychological study into the nature of the criminal mind As Shinjo boldly explores the twisted psyches of various con artists readers should expect not only ruthless violence but also appalling sexual gratification connected to death and money.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Muay Thai rising star Jake “The One” Peacock is set for a highly anticipated return to action at ONE 169: Atlanta when he squares off with crafty Japanese striker Shinji Suzuki in a bantamweight Muay Thai tilt. That contest will go down on November 8 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta and will mark each man’s opportunity to make a name for himself in front of a raucous American crowd. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ONE Championship (@onechampionship) One of the most inspirational athletes in all of combat sports Peacock is a limb-different fighter who was born without his right forearm While he was developing inside his mother’s womb her umbilical cord wrapped itself around his arm the British-born Canadian resident has never stopped following his dreams while continuing to rise through the combat sports world After dominating the Muay Thai scene in Canada and then winning a Road to ONE tournament to earn his ONE Championship contract, Peacock made his promotional debut in April at ONE Friday Fights 58 with plenty of fanfare. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ONE Championship (@onechampionship) The 31-year-old quickly proved he belongs among the best of the best, overwhelming Japanese star Kohei Shinjo with a well-rounded attack en route to a dominant decision win. “The One” is now gearing up for his sophomore appearance in the world’s largest martial arts organization – and the stiffest test of his career. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ONE Championship (@onechampionship) A master technician with an elite fight IQ and a vicious boxing game Suzuki will come into the contest following his first victory on the global stage This past March at ONE 166: Qatar, the 38-year-old scrapper used pinpoint striking to score a decision over former ONE World Title challenger Han Zi Hao Suzuki is certainly hungry to make it two in a row – and put on a show for American fans – but the limb-different Peacock has plenty of momentum as he looks to continue his ascent through the talent-laden bantamweight Muay Thai division Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about ONE 169: Atlanta on November 8 Limb-different athlete Jake Peacock’s ONE Championship debut in April was an inspirational tale, but not one that was ready for a conclusion. The ongoing story will unfold at ONE 169: Atlanta on Friday, Nov. 8. Peacock will test his mettle again against Shinjo Suzuki in a bantamweight Muay Thai contest inside the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Peacock bested Japan’s Kohei Shinjo at ONE Friday Fights 58 The Road to ONE winner proved he belonged among the world’s best strikers with a three-round victory they will be shown the skills that led Peacock to the big stage at ONE 169 Suzuki will prove to be another tough test for the Dunamis Muay Thai standout The talented Japanese athlete will try to put an abrupt end to the inspirational story and make his own mark in the bantamweight division The 38-year-old is coming off a quality win against Han Zi Hao at ONE 166: Qatar and wants to continue his momentum to get to title contention Suzuki has everything to compete for against Peacock and can steal his thunder to make a massive jump in a log-jammed division The bantamweight Muay Thai showcase is another stellar matchup added to the lineup that includes superstars such as ONE heavyweight and middleweight MMA champion Anatoly Malykhin ONE flyweight Muay Thai champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon and ONE welterweight and lightweight MMA champion Christian Lee ONE 169: Atlanta emanates from the State Farm Arena on Friday, Nov. 8. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster Jake “The One” Peacock knows that he performs at his best when the lights are the brightest, and that’s what he plans to do at ONE 171: Qatar This coming Thursday, February 20, the Canadian-British sensation will return for his sophomore appearance in the world’s largest martial arts organization when he takes on Japan’s Shinji Suzuki in a bantamweight Muay Thai scrap. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ONE Championship (@onechampionship) A former Road to ONE: Canada winner, Peacock made waves in his much-anticipated promotional debut last April at ONE Friday Fights 58, dominating Kohei Shinjo over the course of three action-packed rounds That victory proved he belongs among the planet’s best strikers It also gave him loads of confidence as he prepares to step up in competition against the dangerous and experienced Suzuki Peacock told onefc.com: I completely respect any man who stands across from me especially in 4-ounce gloves on the world’s stage Shinji has been in there against very high-level opposition “He’s been in there with guys like Han Zi Hao and dropped him, too. He’s dangerous. But I’m more dangerous and more dynamic, and I was born for this. I accepted this fight before I even heard his name.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by ONE Championship (@onechampionship) Although Peacock is missing his right forearm, that doesn’t limit his ability to fight in all phases of Muay Thai. With that in mind, he’s ready to go toe-to-toe with Suzuki however the matchup plays out, whether that’s trading strikes from long distance or from close range in the clinch. Ultimately, the 31-year-old expects to overwhelm his foe with offense from the opening bell: “He’s tough. I think he likes his boxing and his low kicks. I’ll take the fight wherever I want to take it. If I wanna box with him, I will. If he wants to play the kicking game, we can. If he wants to play the tough man game, we can do that, too. Even in the clinch, I’ll be comfortable everywhere. “Wherever he feels like he’s going to be drowning, that’s where I’m going to take him. I’m hunting for it. You can get someone to tell him that in Japanese because I want him to know this.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jake Peacock (@jake_leestriking) While some might view Peacock’s limb difference as a disability, he said that couldn’t be further from the truth. Quite the opposite – “The One” believes it’s his destiny to fight on the biggest stages, and that his battle at ONE 171: Qatar is just another opportunity to fulfill that destiny: “Man, I thrive off of this stuff. I really believe God put me on the planet for this. I’m blessed with an incredible amount of skill in such a unique situation as my own. I believe I belong. I love the lights, the cameras, and I love fighting.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by ONE Championship (@onechampionship) For Jake Peacock, simply walking away with a victory over Shinji Suzuki won’t be enough. Instead, he wants to deliver a spectacular finish and nothing less. He said the fans at Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar and those watching live around the world can look forward to fireworks: “Expect a firefight again. I’ll be bringing the cowboy hat and I’m gonna be gunslinging, baby. I’m gonna put on a great performance for the fans and those watching around the world. “I’m gonna put this guy out within two rounds. This will not enter the third round, mark my words on that.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jake Peacock (@jake_leestriking) Peacock was proud of his excellent showing in his promotional debut but did feel a twinge of disappointment that he didn’t secure the knockout. He admits that he might have been having too much fun in an effort to display his dominance. On this occasion, he vows to hunt for a memorable stoppage: I’m laser-focused. There’s no messing around. Everything is precise. I’m very switched on. This time, I’ve told myself that I’m going to finish the guy. I have to. I don’t do decisions. I’m here for the highlights.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jake Peacock (@jake_leestriking) Muay Thai phenom Jake “The One” Peacock is set to make his hotly anticipated sophomore appearance in the world’s largest martial arts organization when he battles Japanese standout Shinji Suzuki in a bantamweight scrap at ONE 171: Qatar. The blockbuster event will take place on Thursday, February 20, at the beautiful Lusail Sports Arena. A Road to ONE: Canada winner with proven knockout power Peacock is one of the most inspirational athletes in all of combat sports The British-born Canadian resident is a limb-different fighter who was born without his right forearm has not stopped “The One” from taking the world of Muay Thai by storm After employing his crafty footwork, clean combination striking, and savage finishing instincts to dominate the Canadian scene and win the ultra-tough Road to ONE tournament, Peacock made his promotional debut last April at ONE Friday Fights 58. That night in Bangkok, he overwhelmed Japan’s Kohei Shinjo en route to a dominant decision victory, erasing any doubts that he belongs among the best strikers on the planet. Next up, the 31-year-old is in for a difficult test against Suzuki in Qatar. Known for his elite fight IQ and venomous boxing-based attack, the Road to ONE: Japan winner will come into the contest following the biggest win of his career – a hard-fought decision victory over former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title challenger Han Zi Hao Suzuki undoubtedly hopes to keep his momentum going and put an abrupt halt to Peacock’s hype train fans should buckle up for nonstop action when these strikers go toe-to-toe at ONE 171 and both have the power to end the bout at a moment’s notice PodcastPremium DirectoryThe Black Belt List At ONE 169: Atlanta the limb-different athlete will take on Shinji Suzuki in a bantamweight Muay Thai contest as part of a stacked lineup inside the State Farm Arena on Friday Peacock made his ONE debut at ONE Friday Fights 58 in April The Canadian striker inspired the world with a unanimous decision victory against Kohei Shinjo showing he was certainly worthy of stepping onto the global stage The Road to ONE winner will now have another chance to impress against a craft veteran The 31-year-old has no plans to slow down when he makes his walk down the aisle in Atlanta He has his eyes set on the division’s upper echelon The Japanese athlete is coming off an impressive victory of his own Suzuki defeated Han Zi Hao to pick up his first win in the promotion A win over Peacock would push him another step forward in the division The bantamweight bout will propel the victory closer to contention The massive event gives each athlete a platform to showcase their skills and deliver an unforgettable performance The Muay Thai collision joins an absolutely loaded card for ONE’s Atlanta debut ONE 169: Atlanta airs live on Prime Video on Friday Tickets for the event are on-sale now via Ticketmaster Accessibility Statement About  Black Belt Hall of Fame Advertise & Contact Privacy Policy Terms of use A 35-year-old man was arrested Saturday for allegedly killing a neighbor who was serving as his probation officer in Otsu Kohei Iitsuka was on probation after being convicted of robbery in 2019 the last time a probation officer was killed by someone they were overseeing was in 1964 had been a volunteer probation officer since 2006 He had supported Iitsuka's rehabilitation and met him at his home in Otsu for interviews on May 24 and was scheduled to interview Iitsuka there at 7 p.m. A security camera captured the suspect entering through the front door An autopsy has found that Shinjo died the same night He was stabbed at least 10 times in his upper body Iitsuka was arrested on May 28 after being found in possession of a knife on a street in Otsu late at night two days after Shinjo's body was discovered at home The suspect then told investigators he had the knife to use while hiking he was served with a fresh arrest warrant for allegedly stabbing Shinjo multiple times in the upper body with a knife the Otsu District Court sentenced Iitsuka to three years in prison stemming from an incident where he pointed a survival knife at a convenience store clerk and stole money To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible which has been suspended between Fukushima and Shinjo stations since its first departure on Saturday will maintain the suspension all day Sunday East Japan Railway Co.’s Yamagata branch announced shortly before 11 a.m please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent The company had initially announced that trains would be suspended from the first departure on the day until around noon it later said that all trains on both the inbound and outbound lines will be canceled for the entire day The impact of the area’s heavy snow is ongoing Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun AD Leave a rating/comment#Photography#PaintingBack to ArticlesSHARE Tokyo's "TOXGO", Sapporo, Japan.WAKE.Shota Shinjo(Paulo)'s "Night Field Stroll" was a great success in Hiroshima, Japan. The same event was held in Hiroshima'sANCHORETThe event will return with even more power the themes of the festival are "Football" and "Tokyo Nights The "Tokyo Night" reminds us of the streetlights and vacant lots where we kicked a ball in our childhood and the white lines and dim lights of the night that we saw in the emptiness of the night the artist will exhibit his own activities and experiences under the title of "B&W communication(Black&White = old soccer ball pullovers and set-ups not for sale were made and an event to "kick a ball together locally" was held The event was held in conjunction with the exhibition Come and experience the new football communication that Shota Shinjo (Paulo) expresses in various forms at the exhibition site The football category is becoming hotter than ever partly due to the worldwide success of Japan's national team players Shota Shinjo (Paulo) is one of the key players in this category and we will continue to keep an eye on his activities With its close ties to football, "NICE COFFEE STANDThe "Mere Old Man" is also planning to open a stall so why not spend the weekend discussing football with a cup of good coffee in hand Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report Yamagata Prefecture--The body of a man believed to be the second of two police officers reported missing amid record-breaking heavy rainfall was found and confirmed dead here on July 28 Yamagata prefectural police said that firefighters who were searching for missing flood victims found the man lying face-down on the left bank of the Nittagawa river in the Motoaikai district of Shinjo city at around 10:50 a.m The man is believed to be the missing police sergeant in his 20s based on his clothing and other factors two police officers in their 20s from the Shinjo Police Station were swept away in their patrol car while responding to a rescue call on the night of July 25 was found showing no signs of life near the site and confirmed dead on July 26 1 feared dead in Yamagata and Akita flooding Man already on parole held in May slaying of volunteer officer Police tap public in probe over headless body in love hotel Missing Ugandan Olympic athlete found in Mie Prefecture father arrested over headless body in Sapporo hotel Four die on Mount Fuji before start of climbing season Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission New Nippon Ham Fighters manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo said Thursday he has returned to his former team "to change Nippon Ham and with a desire to change pro baseball." Speaking at a press conference after signing a one-year contract for a reported 100 million yen ($877,000) the popular 49-year-old former outfielder introduced himself with a few jokes before answering questions from the media I was more surprised than anyone (by the offer)," said Shinjo I thought maybe I was the only one for the job." The Fighters have finished fifth in the six-team Pacific League for three seasons now a bright reddish suit and white shirt with an outlandishly large collar "I'm absolutely not going to aspire to win the championship," he said if you're in the pennant race in September the Fighters will play their final season at Sapporo Dome before moving to their new ballpark in nearby Kita Hiroshima in 2023 said Shinjo was tasked with two goals -- putting a winning club on the field and entertaining the fans Ex-Mets, Giants outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo to manage Nippon Ham Fighters Baseball: Former celebrity outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo unretires OTSU--Shiga prefectural police announced the arrest June 8 of a local man already on parole in the slaying of a volunteer probation officer here in May The suspect was identified as Kohei Iitsuka a resident of Otsu who lived in the same neighborhood as the victim Shinjo lived alone and was Iitsuka’s case officer Iitsuka has denied any wrongdoing and told investigators and I don’t want to answer anything,” according to the sources Police believe Iitsuka stabbed Shinjo multiple times sometime between 7 p.m Shinjo was scheduled to meet with Iitsuka from 7 p.m He was found lying face down in the living room of his home here by a relative who came to visit him on the afternoon of May 26 The body bore more than 10 stab wounds and cuts some of which appeared to be protective injuries Police believe he died on the night of May 24 two days after Shinjo’s body was discovered on suspicion of violating the firearms control law A police officer on patrol in Otsu stopped him and found a knife with a blade of more than 6 centimeters in his backpack He told police it was “for hiking in the mountains.” Shinjo worked as a volunteer probation officer for about 20 years helping offenders to rehabilitate themselves and get back on their feet and had a can-do spirit as well as ambition,” said a male volunteer probation officer who got Shinjo interested in the job in the first place and spent years working with him Shinjo threw himself into the task of helping offenders find employment after their release from prison He was involved in the launch of the Shiga prefectural employment support providers organization A friend said Shinjo cared about people and cases even after his involvement as a volunteer probation officer came to an end Shinjo had served as secretary-general of the Shiga prefectural association for offenders’ rehabilitation services which is made up of volunteer probation officers He believed there are limits to what probation officers alone can do to rehabilitate offenders and help them make a fresh start he proposed the creation of a network of local medical and welfare professionals business owners and others to assist in the endeavor This initiative has become a pillar of the association’s activities The male volunteer probation officer said he last met Shinjo on May 23 Shinjo did not seem to be in any particular trouble A man who works at Shinjo’s restaurant called his cellphone on the night of May 24 but got no answer “He was very mild-mannered about everything Volunteer probation officers work with probational officers to help offenders reintegrate into society after they have been released from prison on parole or received a suspended sentence with probation They interview those on probation on a regular basis to make sure they abide by their probationary commitments and help them find employment Interviews are held about several times a month often at the volunteer probation officer’s home and sometimes at base facilities for rehabilitation activities in the area Volunteer probation officers are part-time national public servants commissioned by the Justice Minister they work without remuneration but do get out-of-pocket expenses for transportation and things like that they can be reappointed as long as they are under the age of 76 There were 46,956 volunteer probation officers as of January 2023 About 80 percent of them were aged 60 or older It has been a challenge to secure more volunteer probation officers (This article was written by Yuhei Nakahodo Camera catches police kicking diabetic who died in custody Crucial meetings to fight drug addiction halted because of virus Diabetic who died in police cell was deprived of medication Fugitive former trainees find jobs at construction sites in Hyogo No reproduction or republication without written permission.