In this week’s news roundup we congratulate Shohei Ohtani on his fourth MVP award. NHK Party leader Takashi Tachibana is arrested for defamation. Tensions grow between Japan and China. Maya Imamori is fired from her role in the Super Sentai drama No.1 Sentai Gozyuger due to underage drinking. Perfume singer Ayaka Nishiwaki marries a fan. And we pay our respects to legendary actor Tatsuya Nakadai, who passed away, aged 92.
Another MVP Award for Ohtani
On Thursday night, Shohei Ohtani won his third consecutive Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, his second straight National League triumph, and his fourth overall. His latest accolade came as no surprise. After making history in 2024 by becoming the first member of Major League Baseball’s 50-50 club, with 54 homers and 59 stolen bases, he created a new 50-50 club in 2025, becoming the first player in Major League history with at least 50 pitching strikeouts and 50 home runs in the same season.
The Dodgers star finished the regular season with 55 home runs and 62 strikeouts. He saved his finest performance for Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Six scoreless innings, 10 strikeouts and three home runs. It was one of the greatest performances of all time, and was rightly named as Major League Baseball’s Moment of the Year. The National League’s MVP award, meanwhile, went to Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees. It’s the third time he has won the award.
Original Image: Wikimedia Commons, edits TW (Victoria Bennett)
NHK Party Leader Takashi Tachibana Arrested for Defamation
Takashi Tachibana, the leader of Japan’s NHK Party, was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of defaming a former Hyogo prefectural assembly member. He is accused of spreading falsehoods through his street speeches and social media posts about Hideaki Takeuchi, who took his own life in January. Takeuchi was on a special investigative committee set up to look into allegations against Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito, who was accused of engaging in workplace bullying and other misconduct.
Saito was forced to vacate his post, angering his supporters. Tachibana called Takeuchi the “mastermind” behind the allegations against the former governor. Speaking about Takeuchi in a speech, he later said, “It’s probably certain he’s being questioned by police.” After Takeuchi died, Tachibana posted on X that he appeared to be on the verge of arrest. The Hyogo prefectural police chief categorically denied this allegation. In June, Takeuchi’s wife filed a criminal complaint against Tachibana.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi | Wikimedia
Chinese Envoy Responds After Takaichi’s Comments on Taiwan, Threatening To ‘Cut Off That Dirty Neck’
On Monday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara complained to China about “extremely inappropriate” remarks by one of its diplomats. Two days earlier, Xue Jian, China’s Consul General in Osaka, allegedly wrote on X, “We have no choice but to cut off that dirty neck that has lunged at us without a moment’s hesitation. Are you ready?” The post, which was later deleted, also included a link to an article in the Asahi Shimbun.
The article referenced comments made by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan. Takaichi asserted that if China were to impose a naval blockade on Taiwan, it would likely constitute a “survival-threatening situation” that could force Japan to respond. Asked to clarify her position on Monday, she said, “Although I stated a number of possible scenarios, I also said the government will make a comprehensive judgment on whether the situation constitutes a ‘survival-threatening situation’ taking into account all information.”
Still from “Harakiri” (1962) starring Tatsuya Nakadai | © Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Legendary Actor Tatsuya Nakadai, Star of The Human Condition and Ran, Dies Aged 92
On Tuesday, the agency of Tatsuya Nakadai announced the death of the legendary actor due to complications from pneumonia. The Tokyo native, who was a central figure during Japan’s Golden Age of cinema, died at a hospital in Tokyo on November 8, aged 92. He was most well known for his collaborations with the esteemed directors Masaki Kobayashi and Akira Kurosawa. The former reportedly discovered him when he was working as a shop clerk.
Kobayashi then cast him in an uncredited role The Thick-Walled Room (1953). The pair went on to work together on several successful movies, including The Human Condition trilogy (1959–1961), Harakiri (1962) and Kwaidan (1964) and Samurai Rebellion (1967). Nakadai’s first film with Kurosawa was the 1954 classic Seven Samurai. He eventually replaced Toshiro Mifune as Kurosawa’s go-to leading man, starring as Takeda Shingen in the 1980 Palme d’Or-winning classic Kagemusha and as the aging warlord Hidetora Ichimonji in Ran.
Maya Imamori, Super Sentai’s First Female Black Ranger, Fired After Underage Drinking Scandal
On Saturday, TV Asahi confirmed that Japanese-Filipino actress Maya Imamori will no longer appear in the Super Sentai series No.1 Sentai Gozyuger due to an alleged underage drinking incident. In the show, the 19-year-old gravure model and actress who was first scouted as a TikToker, played the role of Sumino Ichikawa/Gozyu Unicorn, the first female Black Ranger. As well as losing her role in the series, Imamori was also dropped by her agency, Seju.
“I sincerely apologize for the trouble and concern my reckless actions have caused many people,” posted Imamori on Instagram. “Consuming alcohol while underage is a deeply shameful act as a member of society and as a human being, and it is inexcusable regardless of the reason. I keenly feel the gravity of my actions and deeply regret them. Through this incident, I’ve taken a hard look at my own immaturity and deeply regret betraying the trust placed in me.”
Ayaka Nishiwaki in a promotional shot for “Moon” (2023)
Perfume Singer Ayaka Nishiwaki Marries Fan
Ayaka Nishiwaki, better known as A-Chan from the popular all-female techno-pop group Perfume, announced on Tuesday that she has tied the knot. The 36-year-old singer revealed the news on her Instagram page, stating that she has married “an ordinary man.” She added, “He has been a best friend of mine for a long time — he knows me inside out and has always been a supporter both of myself and Perfume.”
Nishiwaki went on to say that it has always been a dream of hers to marry a fan. “Congratulations to my teenage self. Way to go!” she wrote. The singer added that she wants “to become a ‘superwoman’ who can share even more laughter and energy with everyone.” News of Nishiwaki’s marriage comes just over a month after the trio from Perfume announced that they will be going on hiatus at the end of 2025.
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Updated On November 14, 2025
