Murder Case of Ear Cleaner Aesthetician

On Oct 21, prosecutors requested the death penalty for the suspect who is allegedly a murderer of the Ear Cleaner Aesthetician.

The reasons why this case got attention from nationwide are;

1) The first case prosecutor requests death penalty under the newly introduced jury trial system. Jury system has been introduced into Japan’s trial system since May 2009. It is because it has been pointed out for a long time that there were huge gaps between the judgments of the professional judges and common sense of ordinary people. Professional judges tend to sentence relatively light penalty to even the criminals who committed crucial homicides. Japan’s citizens called for more strict penalties to such criminals.

Since this jury system started, many cases had been judged by juries already. But this is the very first case prosecutors seek for death penalty. So, how the first judge by juries is going to be is the one of the reason why this case gets attention.

2) Weirdness of victim’s job: Ear Cleaner Aesthetician
This case’s victims were the young woman (20) who worked as ‘Ear Cleaner Aesthetician’ and her grandmother (78), killed by one of this young woman’s clients, 40-year-old man, of Ear Cleaner Aesthetic Salon.

Wait. Nobody knew that ear cleaning salon can be a business in Japan, until this case was appeared to public. Ear Cleaning salon is a place where young woman cleans your ear in a small Japanese style room, privately closed for anybody but just a young woman and you. And a young woman will clean your ear, putting your head on her thighs.

No need to say, this murderer needs to be strictly punished based on a law. This is a criminal case.

On the other hand, what I want to say to young women is just put yourself away from this kind of weird job.

Image Pic of Ear Cleaning Salon

Haneda Airport expanded new international terminal on Oct 21

Haneda Airport has started the operation of new International Terminal since Oct 21.

Haneda was used to be the sole international airport in Tokyo area.

But when it came to its maximum capacity of the flight arrival/departure, the residence near Haneda airport refused to expand its facilities.

Then Narita Air Port was opened in 1978. But many protesters to the Narita Airport continued to protest to its operation plan, the further expansion plan of Narita was difficult to be executed.

(this protests was a very famous riots along with the movements of the socialists since 1960s.)

Then, Haneda came back as International Airport by expanding its new international terminal.

As many complained that Narita Airport is too far from Tokyo city area, this Haneda expansion was welcomed so much by many Tokyo area residents because this new expansion will give more convinient access to Tokyo city area, roughly 40 min to Shiodome JR railway station.

(still Narita is in operation, so we should make sure which Tokyo Airport the flight you ride would arrive.)

Tabaco Price Raised

From this Oct. 1st, tabaco price went up because the Government raised tax on it. In Japan, retail price of tabaco is restricted and it should be the same price nation wide.

It used to cost JPY320-/pack. Now it costs JPY420-/pack. It could be a huge burden for smokers.


Accroding to the JT's (Japan Tabaco: dominant tabaco production company) 2009survery, the smokers ratio of the man was 38.9%, while it used to be 83.7% in 1966. This is significant decrease.

Meanwhile, the smokers ratio of women is flatten since 1966, which is 11.6%.

The number of the smokers is expected to decrease with this significant rise of the price. (Now various kind of support kits to quit smoking are well-sold. )

(Left Img is the most popular brand in Japan: Mild Seven.)

(sorry somehow, the picture does not show up in right direction)