Daihachi Yoshida's film 'Teki Cometh' premieres at the 2024 Tokyo International Film Festival, marking another literary adaptation in his career. The film, based on Yasutaka Tsutsui's novel, explores themes of aging and existential reflection through the story of a retired professor. Yoshida's adaptation process was influenced by his personal experiences and the pandemic, leading to a unique black-and-white cinematographic choice. The film blurs the lines between reality and imagination, with the concept of 'enemy' being open to interpretation. Yoshida's previous works, including 'The Kirishima Thing' and 'Pale Moon,' have garnered critical acclaim, establishing him as a prominent figure in Japanese cinema.

South Korea has deployed a bedbug sniffer dog named Ceco at Incheon International Airport as a pre-emptive measure against the potential entry of bedbugs following the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. This decision comes after reports of bedbugs in Parisian hotels and public spaces, which some experts believe may have been exaggerated or even engineered by Russia to undermine President Macron ahead of European elections.

Kim Jong-un's collection of luxury cars, including Mercedes, Aurus, Rolls-Royce, Cadillac, and Lexus, highlights his opulent lifestyle despite North Korea's widespread poverty. His luxury tastes extend to cognac and high-end fashion brands like Christian Dior and Movado. The article also touches on his interactions with Vladimir Putin, who gifted him luxury cars, and mentions other family members seen with luxury items.

Soaring temperatures in South Korea have resulted in 11 deaths and significant livestock losses, following the hottest June on record. The heatwave, which has also affected China and Japan, has led to record high temperatures and numerous heatstroke cases. Japan has introduced a new severe category to its heatstroke index, and authorities in both South Korea and Japan predict continued high temperatures and humidity. The extreme heat has caused widespread disruption across south and southeast Asia since April.

Japan is experiencing a significant influx of tourists, with nearly 18 million visitors in the first half of the year and a foreign-born population exceeding 3.3 million. Popular tourist routes like the Golden Route (Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto) are particularly crowded, prompting authorities to encourage travel to less congested areas. The weak yen has made Japan more attractive to tourists, despite higher prices. Local businesses and residents have mixed reactions to the tourism boom, with some noting increased litter and congestion, while others appreciate the economic benefits. The agriculture ministry reported a drop in rice stocks, partly attributing it to increased tourist demand. Long-term visitors have observed noticeable changes in tourist presence and behavior over the years.

Copper theft in Japan has surged, particularly in the Kanto region around Tokyo, driven by rising copper prices due to increased demand for renewable energy, electric vehicles, and data centers. The thefts have led to significant disruptions, including the death of a million chickens due to air conditioning failures. Security measures in Japan are relatively lax, and thieves have repeatedly targeted locations like solar farms. Police are urging metal dealers to implement stricter checks on the origins of materials they purchase.

Copper theft in Japan has surged, particularly in the Kanto region around Tokyo, driven by high copper prices due to increased demand for renewable energy, electric vehicles, and data centers. The thefts have led to significant disruptions, including the death of a million chickens due to air conditioning failures. Security measures in Japan are relatively lax, and police are urging metal dealers to perform more stringent checks on the origins of materials they purchase.

Hirose, a female MP from Japan's conservative LDP, has been embroiled in multiple scandals, including a controversial publicly funded trip to Paris, an extramarital affair with Canadian saxophonist Andy Wulf, and allegations of defrauding government finances. Public outrage and media scrutiny have led to her downfall, despite her apologies and attempts to regain trust. Hirose, elected in 2022, is known for her opposition to same-sex marriage and calls for constitutional reform.

In Japan, the likelihood of recovering lost items, including wallets and large sums of cash, is exceptionally high due to a cultural emphasis on honesty and a well-organized lost and found system. Last year, nearly 30 million items and 22.85 billion yen (£110 million) in cash were returned to the police. This phenomenon is attributed to a combination of rewarding finders, a systematic approach to lost and found, and a deeply ingrained sense of responsibility and honesty cultivated from a young age.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party lost three seats in by-elections, including a conservative stronghold in Shimane, amid scandals involving illegal political fundraising and unreported income. The defeats, including the loss of a traditionally LDP-dominated seat to Akiko Kamei, have put Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's leadership at risk.