Tokyo International News Agency

A specialized unit of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) has sparked intense controversy following revelations that it gathered deeply personal information on Japanese citizens—including university professors—ranging from ideological beliefs such as "patriotism" to highly private matters like "sexual orientation" and "romantic relationships." First reported by local media including the Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, the findings have triggered rapidly growing concern and criticism over the limits of military intelligence gathering and the effectiveness of civilian control in Japan. According to media reports and testimony from related sources, the intelligence gathering was allegedly conducted by foreign intelligence units within the GSDF Military Intelligence Command based at Camp Asaka. The unit is suspected of systematically investigating and recording personal privacy data on thousands of domestic citizens, including scholars and university pro...

A weekly magazine report featuring testimony from an individual identified as the "family doctor" of the suspect, Adachi, in a tragic case involving the abandonment of an elementary school student's body in Kyoto, has sparked a firestorm of controversy on social media. While the report delves into the suspect's complex family history, upbringing, and relationship with their mother, it has also triggered a wave of criticism regarding the ethical and legal boundaries of medical confidentiality. On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), many users have voiced concerns over potential legal and ethical violations. Comments such as "Is it not a breach of confidentiality for a doctor to speak about a patient, even after retirement?" and "Does this not violate Article 17-3 of the Medical Practitioners' Act?" have flooded the conversation. There is a strong public sentiment that medical professionals should not disclose personal information o...