Tokyo International News Agency

Yusuke Kawai, a member of the Toda City Council in Saitama Prefecture, has announced his intention to run in the Saitama Gubernatorial Election scheduled for August next year. Kawai criticized the administration of incumbent Governor Motohiro Ono and declared that addressing the "foreigner issue"—a topic of growing debate in the prefecture, particularly in its southern region—will be his top priority. Announcing his candidacy on social media, Kawai pointed to public safety concerns and challenges surrounding foreign residents in cities such as Kawaguchi and Warabi, criticizing current local government measures as inadequate. His early announcement has unexpectedly accelerated political maneuvering ahead of next summer's election. Reactions on social media have been divided. Supporters who want local integration and public order challenges addressed welcomed his platform, with some noting that his candid stance gives them a reason to head to the polls. Conversely, critics ...

A series of violent residential burglaries targeting residents while they sleep has broken out in Saitama Prefecture, sparking widespread anxiety among local communities. The crimes are heavily concentrated in areas near National Route 16, a major arterial road, including Saitama City's Iwatsuki Ward and Kumagaya City. The typical modus operandi involves intruders breaking first-floor window glass to enter homes between late night and dawn. On April 20, multiple reports of cash and valuables being stolen from detached houses in the Kakura and Namiki neighborhoods of Iwatsuki Ward surfaced. These incidents have been occurring almost nightly, characterized by a high volume of strikes within a specific area over a short period. On social media, residents are expressing deep concern. "I feel like I can't protect my home without installing iron bars or shutters," one user wrote, while another shared, "I’m now terrified of living on the first floor." While many po...