Karin Kaneko
@kanekokarin.bsky.social
Freelance journalist
Former reporter at The Japan Times | Work featured in SCMP
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/4420/karin-kaneko/
Former reporter at The Japan Times | Work featured in SCMP
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/4420/karin-kaneko/
My first freelance article.
What happens when someone meant to help you take advantage of you?
These incidents are not rare in Tokyo’s red-light district, where predators pose as an NPO worker, to exploit young women in night-life industry.
amp.scmp.com/week-asia/pe...
What happens when someone meant to help you take advantage of you?
These incidents are not rare in Tokyo’s red-light district, where predators pose as an NPO worker, to exploit young women in night-life industry.
amp.scmp.com/week-asia/pe...
Japan’s red-light district outreach under scrutiny after NGO misconduct claims
Several criminal cases involving social workers tasked with protecting vulnerable women have dented the reputation of Japan’s non-profits.
amp.scmp.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:28 PM
My first freelance article.
What happens when someone meant to help you take advantage of you?
These incidents are not rare in Tokyo’s red-light district, where predators pose as an NPO worker, to exploit young women in night-life industry.
amp.scmp.com/week-asia/pe...
What happens when someone meant to help you take advantage of you?
These incidents are not rare in Tokyo’s red-light district, where predators pose as an NPO worker, to exploit young women in night-life industry.
amp.scmp.com/week-asia/pe...
Japanese universities and students are responding to the U.S. government’s temporary suspension of student visa application processing. Many fear delays ahead of fall study abroad programs.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05...
Halt of U.S. visa process puts Japanese students' futures in question
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo has confirmed that the embassy and U.S. consulate offices in Japan have suspended scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants.
www.japantimes.co.jp
May 29, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Japanese universities and students are responding to the U.S. government’s temporary suspension of student visa application processing. Many fear delays ahead of fall study abroad programs.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05...
Details on Fuji TV’s news conference, including the president and chairman’s resignation.
The conference started at 16:00 and shows no sign of ending. It has been going on for 4 hours at this point:
@japantimes.co.jp Reporting with @yukanai.bsky.social
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01...
i
The conference started at 16:00 and shows no sign of ending. It has been going on for 4 hours at this point:
@japantimes.co.jp Reporting with @yukanai.bsky.social
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01...
i
Fuji TV president resigns over handling of Masahiro Nakai scandal
Koichi Minato has been the target of criticism following the revelation that he became aware of the incident involving Nakai right after it occurred in June 2023.
www.japantimes.co.jp
January 27, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Details on Fuji TV’s news conference, including the president and chairman’s resignation.
The conference started at 16:00 and shows no sign of ending. It has been going on for 4 hours at this point:
@japantimes.co.jp Reporting with @yukanai.bsky.social
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01...
i
The conference started at 16:00 and shows no sign of ending. It has been going on for 4 hours at this point:
@japantimes.co.jp Reporting with @yukanai.bsky.social
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01...
i
In Japan, many salons/medical institutions offer hair removal treatment for kids. Some places offer for those as young as 3 and the prices can be quite high.
I talked with a salon's 6-year-old client and various experts. Here's what they have to say:
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01...
I talked with a salon's 6-year-old client and various experts. Here's what they have to say:
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01...
Hair removal for kids — boosting confidence or preying on insecurities?
Hair removal treatments are increasingly being extended to children as young as three years old in Japan, raising concerns over the risks.
www.japantimes.co.jp
January 9, 2025 at 9:58 AM
In Japan, many salons/medical institutions offer hair removal treatment for kids. Some places offer for those as young as 3 and the prices can be quite high.
I talked with a salon's 6-year-old client and various experts. Here's what they have to say:
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01...
I talked with a salon's 6-year-old client and various experts. Here's what they have to say:
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01...
Drivers, beware of sleeping pedestrians in the middle of the road at night, especially during holiday season as people would get drunk and doze off on the street, leading to fatalities/injuries.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
Japan drivers warned to steer clear of drunk pedestrians sleeping on road
Collisions involving pedestrians asleep on the road typically spike in December, when more people get imbibed at New Year's gatherings.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 27, 2024 at 8:54 AM
Drivers, beware of sleeping pedestrians in the middle of the road at night, especially during holiday season as people would get drunk and doze off on the street, leading to fatalities/injuries.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
You can also read more here on how the industry exploits young women:
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/10...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/10...
December 20, 2024 at 7:11 AM
You can also read more here on how the industry exploits young women:
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/10...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/10...
Host clubs have been criticized for taking advantage of clients' romantic feelings for hosts, who sweet-talk them into ordering expensive drinks and food, sometimes on credit. When the women are unable to settle the high debt, hosts are known to persuade them into engaging in prostitution.
National Police Agency calls for stricter rules against host clubs, famous in Japan as establishments where male hosts entertain female customers.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
National Police Agency panel calls for stricter rules against host clubs
The expert panel recommends targeting malicious practices, rather than specific establishments, to cover more ground.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 20, 2024 at 7:10 AM
Host clubs have been criticized for taking advantage of clients' romantic feelings for hosts, who sweet-talk them into ordering expensive drinks and food, sometimes on credit. When the women are unable to settle the high debt, hosts are known to persuade them into engaging in prostitution.
National Police Agency calls for stricter rules against host clubs, famous in Japan as establishments where male hosts entertain female customers.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
National Police Agency panel calls for stricter rules against host clubs
The expert panel recommends targeting malicious practices, rather than specific establishments, to cover more ground.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 20, 2024 at 7:08 AM
National Police Agency calls for stricter rules against host clubs, famous in Japan as establishments where male hosts entertain female customers.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
Japan announces new measure to tackle yami baito/shady part time jobs:
Undercover investigators posing as applicants for yami baito (shady part-time jobs) to crack down on a surge in violent burglaries linked to such jobs.
@francisbtang.bsky.social
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
Undercover investigators posing as applicants for yami baito (shady part-time jobs) to crack down on a surge in violent burglaries linked to such jobs.
@francisbtang.bsky.social
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
Japan to let investigators go undercover to crack down on yami baito
Until now, undercover operations have been allowed only for drug- and gun-related criminal investigations.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 18, 2024 at 12:23 AM
Japan announces new measure to tackle yami baito/shady part time jobs:
Undercover investigators posing as applicants for yami baito (shady part-time jobs) to crack down on a surge in violent burglaries linked to such jobs.
@francisbtang.bsky.social
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...
Undercover investigators posing as applicants for yami baito (shady part-time jobs) to crack down on a surge in violent burglaries linked to such jobs.
@francisbtang.bsky.social
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12...