Japan Reacts

Category: News

  • Day 14 Without Mom: Bipolar NEET’s 5ch Thread — ‘Life’s Been Refreshing Since She’s Gone’

    A thread titled “Bipolar NEET (27), it’s been 14 days since Mom disappeared” popped up on 5ch’s News VIP board. The poster, a 27-year-old NEET with bipolar disorder, complained that two weeks after his mother left home, he can barely manage laundry or meals. Commenters clashed between those recommending concrete job-hunting steps — Hello Work (Japan’s public employment office), Type-A welfare workshops, disability-hire programs — and others pointing out that the poster has repeatedly started similar threads before, with opinions also split over the harsh words he says his mother directed at him.

    1AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:16
    Finally hit the 2-week mark.
    The dishes are a disaster.
    4AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:17
    File a missing persons report. Actually, this is a good chance for you to do your own laundry.
    7AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:18
    Re: #4
    I have no intention of doing laundry.
    8AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:18
    I'm bipolar too, but aren't you currently manic or hypomanic right now?
    Dunno if you're Type I or Type II though.
    12AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:19
    Re: #8
    Maybe a little — I had some trouble falling asleep last night.
    10AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:19
    She didn't abandon you —
    Mom just ran away.
    13AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:20
    Re: #10
    She didn't run away.
    She's coming back.
    14AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:20
    I'll take care of you.
    16AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:21
    Re: #14
    Yay!!
    Where do you live?
    17AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:21
    Re: #16
    Is it cool if I hit you in the head with a bat?
    21AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:25
    Re: #17
    Am I allowed to fight back?
    19AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:22
    Re: #12
    You've been starting threads under a semi-fixed trip name (a partial tripcode, so regulars can recognize you) every single day, so I was wondering what's up with that.
    37AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:30
    Re: #19
    Re: #20
    https://www.kyodemo.net/sdemo/b/news4vip/251?k=%E7N%9FT%83j%81%5B%83g&kt=k_&j=1

    This guy's been doing this since 2025, so whatever "situation" or "backstory" he's using this time doesn't matter.
    40AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:31
    Re: #37
    Looking lively today, longtime fan!
    43AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:32
    Re: #37
    Judging by this, your mother absolutely hates your guts.
    There's no way a mother like that would keep paying your rent out of the goodness of her heart.
    You'd better start taking this seriously.
    29AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:28
    Didn't you make a thread before admitting it was all a lie?
    38AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:31
    Re: #29
    Like I said, everything I'm talking about now is true.
    30AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:28
    Re: #22
    Because I can't get hired anywhere.
    I even got rejected for a convenience store part-time job.
    34AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:29
    Re: #30
    Go to Hello Work.
    44AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:32
    Re: #34
    I do go to Hello Work.
    46AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:33
    Re: #44
    Then something should've come up.
    And even if not, there's always Type-A welfare workshops.
    47AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:34
    Re: #44
    Then just get a part-time job.
    How many places have you applied to? Are you going to at least 5 to 10 interviews a month?
    33AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:29
    Re: #25
    1 year 10 months as a full-time employee.
    3 years as a NEET.
    Can't get hired anywhere.
    42AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:31
    Re: #33
    Why not go to a Type-A welfare workshop?
    53AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:36
    Re: #42
    I don't want to because they charge facility fees.
    55AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:37
    Re: #53
    If a part-time job is impossible, that's that.
    But if you won't do a part-time job or Type-A work either, are you planning to become homeless?
    58AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:38
    Re: #53
    With your income level they wouldn't even charge you, right?
    63AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:42
    Re: #55
    I'll apply for full-time disability-hire positions instead.
    64AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:43
    Re: #63
    I see.
    Well, good luck then.
    65AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:43
    Re: #63
    Why do you think you'd get hired full-time when you can't even land a part-time job?
    80AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:52
    What crime is she even supposed to be charged with for leaving an adult child on their own?
    84AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:53
    Re: #80
    Even for an adult, there's a legal duty to support a disabled family member.
    So she can't just run away from me either.
    Did you not know that?
    93AnonymousOct 2, 2026 07:58
    Re: #84
    If she's living separately, wouldn't that mean no crime at all?
    107AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:11
    Re: #103
    She badmouthed me behind my back and hurled abuse at me.
    It was so bad I even developed psychogenic aphonia (sudden stress-induced loss of voice).
    That fear of not being able to speak was something I'd never felt before.
    108AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:11
    Re: #107
    So what exactly was the badmouthing and abuse?
    111AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:13
    Re: #108
    The backbiting was during my twin older brother's job hunt — I overheard something like "I don't expect anything from OP, but I'm counting on my older brother." That was one of the triggers for my bipolar disorder.
    116AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:17
    Re: #111 If you were just going to let people down anyway, isn't it better not to be expected of in the first place?
    117AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:17
    Re: #111
    That's it? lol
    What about the actual abuse? lol
    118AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:19
    Not every human speaks their true feelings out of love.
    She's not with my brother — she's with me.
    123AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:20
    Re: #118
    So you're the twin older brother?
    125AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:21
    Re: #118
    Save that line for someone else.
    Are you happy being stuck with a 59-year-old granny?
    145AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:32
    Re: #143
    So objectively speaking, you don't actually have an example of abuse your parent said to you?
    146AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:33
    Re: #145
    The other day I took out the trash in the rain, and she still told me "There's no point in you being alive."
    148AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:35
    Re: #146
    Okay yeah, that's kind of rough.
    150AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:41
    Re: #148
    The front door stopped closing properly, and she accused me of breaking it.
    Really there was just sand jammed in the door track — no matter how many times I tell her "I never broke it," she still holds a grudge.
    151AnonymousOct 2, 2026 08:45
    Re: #148
    I'm paying 50,000 yen a month toward household expenses, and I still get treated like a slave at home. Honestly, life's been refreshing since Mom's gone.

    Background and Points of Debate

    Type-A welfare employment workshops involve a formal employment contract with a guaranteed minimum wage, but depending on a user’s income, facility usage fees can sometimes apply — suggesting the poster’s complaint that “they charge facility fees” may stem partly from a misunderstanding of how the system works. Additionally, the legal duty of support under Japan’s Civil Code concerns mutual financial assistance between relatives; it does not directly mandate continued cohabitation or mean a parent “can’t escape.” Some longtime users in the thread pointed out that the poster has repeatedly started threads with similar content before, and opinions were divided on how seriously to take this latest complaint.

    *This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (News VIP) thread “Bipolar NEET (27), it’s been 14 days since Mom disappeared.”

  • Spain Moves to Ban Evictions — Foreign Commenters Worry It Could Fuel ‘Squatting’

    Protests erupted in Spain after an 87-year-old woman was evicted from her home, prompting the Spanish government to announce a ban on evictions. The backdrop: Spanish housing prices and rents have been climbing at a pace of nearly 10% a year, far outpacing wage growth. Following the news, discussion on overseas forums focused less on whether the eviction ban itself was a good idea and more on what’s driving the price surge — with criticism aimed at the lack of taxes on vacant homes and the system that turns real estate into a speculative asset. At the same time, many worried the ban could worsen Spain’s already troublesome squatting (“okupas”) problem, splitting commenters between supporters and the concerned.

    Spain announces eviction ban following protests over 87-year-old woman’s removal from her apartment

    Source: bbc.co.uk / Original article here

    3Anonymous2026-10-01 06:56
    It's just wrong that owning property purely to rent it out has become some kind of 'badge of success.' All it creates is a divided society — tenants scraping by paycheck to paycheck, and landlords constantly fretting over whether their investment will pay off.
    6Anonymous2026-10-01 07:34
    Sure, it shouldn't be that way, but from what this article says, no better alternative solution is actually being offered.
    5Anonymous2026-10-01 09:55
    There was a guy in my neighborhood who used to blast music from 4 to 7 in the morning. After months of complaints, he finally got evicted. If evictions were banned, he probably would've just gotten 'taken care of' some other way.
    7Anonymous2026-10-01 08:18
    Spain's overall population probably isn't growing, but people are moving into popular areas where it's easier to find work or study.
    17Anonymous2026-10-01 08:52
    The rich are the beginning and the end of this problem.
    21Anonymous2026-10-01 06:46
    Housing prices and rent both climbing almost 10% a year is just insane… can someone explain why? The article just says there's a housing shortage, but what's actually causing it? Spain's population isn't even growing.
    27Anonymous2026-10-01 07:09
    Greed. That's it.
    Cost of living is rising faster than wages. We're edging toward that late-stage-capitalism scenario people joke about — 'you'll own nothing and be happy.'
    8Anonymous2026-10-01 11:22
    I think it's really great that so many people stood up for one person. Well done 🙌
    20Anonymous2026-10-01 13:42
    Yeah, that's the kind of thing that happens when a society's roots aren't completely rotten. At least I want to believe that's the reason — though that might just be wishful thinking.
    10Anonymous2026-10-01 08:13
    Just tax vacant units, with the tax increasing exponentially the longer they're left empty.
    12Anonymous2026-10-01 06:26
    'How do we prevent the obvious abuse this would cause?'…
    Oh no, just imagine it.
    Every house actually becomes a place where someone lives, and people stop handing their money over to rich folks who leave multiple homes empty for all but a few days a year.
    Truly a 'terrible' outcome.
    13Anonymous2026-10-01 07:30
    Without any guarantee of a return on investment, nobody will invest in building housing anymore, and there'll end up being fewer livable homes, or worse-quality ones.
    29Anonymous2026-10-01 07:03
    If evictions are banned, why would you need to worry about that? No evictions means you can't get kicked out of your own home… 🤷‍♀️
    15Anonymous2026-10-01 05:53
    I wish this would happen in the US too.
    18Anonymous2026-10-01 15:10
    Wasn't Spain already dealing with a problem of people squatting in other people's homes and refusing to leave?
    39Anonymous2026-10-01 18:23
    Until someone shows actual numbers, I'm guessing that problem is just being overblown.
    23Anonymous2026-10-01 09:42
    A Spanish friend of mine told me this has been going on for a while already.
    Apparently if a foreigner buys a house or apartment to use as a vacation home, and someone breaks in and squats there while they're away, they can't be kicked out.
    Can any Spaniards confirm if this is actually true?
    26Anonymous2026-10-01 13:13
    That's true, but it's an extremely rare case that only gets attention because it sounds so outrageous. Most cases are simply people who, for whatever reason, became unable to pay rent. There are some who exploit the eviction ban and deliberately refuse to pay, but we don't know the proportion — I'd guess that's a minority too.
    31Anonymous2026-10-01 12:48
    I don't know about Spain, but in France this is 100% true. It's actually even worse — if someone squats in your one and only home and you don't file a police report within 48 hours of the break-in, the squatter gets to stay.
    It's absolutely insane.
    24Anonymous2026-10-01 09:32
    Turning housing — something that's supposed to be a basic necessity — into a speculative asset, then profiting even further off the rental market from a housing shortage they themselves caused? That's just karma.
    28Anonymous2026-10-01 07:13
    Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. This law will surely go through rounds of amendments down the line too.
    30Anonymous2026-10-01 07:27
    If there's a plan to prevent supply from collapsing, that amendment should be put forward at the same time.
    32Anonymous2026-10-01 07:02
    Come visit the Czech Republic — Prague especially.
    33Anonymous2026-10-01 06:47
    Somebody please think of the poor 'little guy' landlords too. All they did was buy a property first so nobody else could, and now they just sit back doing nothing while skimming money off other people's labor.
    35Anonymous2026-10-01 18:22
    Oh yeah, totally. Their 'investment' just drains money from poor people's paychecks while crushing their chance to ever own a home. Super fair.
    36Anonymous2026-10-01 16:08
    The idea that 'not everyone wants to own' is fine in theory, but even students would want their own place if they could afford it. Same goes for other groups — ideally, if it weren't so expensive, you'd buy, maintain it, and sell it for roughly the same price when you move.
    38Anonymous2026-10-01 15:05
    Whoa…
    But isn't it illegal in the first place to not have the proper paperwork? At least for tax purposes.
    I get that court cases take time, but I'm curious how this actually works legally.
    Does the same thing happen with cars too?
    40Anonymous2026-10-01 18:55
    I saw this covered on TV. Apparently there are now specialized companies that remove squatters for you. If that's become an actual business, it must be a pretty big problem for people in Spain.

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    Spain is one of the Southern European countries where housing prices and rents have risen especially sharply, and the nearly 10%-a-year pace mentioned in the thread far outstrips wage growth. The thread repeatedly brought up the issue of “squatting” (okupas), but that’s actually a separate legal matter from this eviction ban — in Spain and France, if you don’t report a break-in within 48 hours, it becomes difficult to remove the squatter, a legal treatment distinct from ordinary rental contracts. The eviction ban itself applies only to tenants who’ve become unable to pay rent, not to squatters — though commenters didn’t always draw a clear line between the two as the discussion unfolded. Points about the merits of holding housing as an investment asset and taxing vacant homes were also raised, but the discussion never got into concrete policy design, and it ended with opinions still divided.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from a 5ch (Lemmy c/europe) thread: “Spain announces ban on evictions after protests over 87-year-old woman’s removal from flat“.

  • ‘G Generation Eternal’ 200-Pull Gacha Results Spark Buzz on 5ch

    A thread reporting results from 200 gacha pulls in the mobile game “G Generation Eternal” went up on 5ch’s VIP board, a popular general-chat forum. The original poster reported pulling zero copies of V2AB or Zanspine, ending up instead with two Gotlatans and one Gomez. Other users piled on with their own results — “fully maxed out Gotlatan in 60 pulls,” “completed the whole pickup banner in 200 pulls” — and the thread turned into a back-and-forth about gacha luck and team-building woes: how strong the pulled units were, the shortage of “Heavy Attack”-tagged units, and progress on “piece collecting,” a pity system that lets players guarantee a character outright. By the later posts, the conversation drifted into general chat, covering impressions of Master League matchmaking and tips for dealing with insomnia.

    1AnonymousOct 1, 2026 14:53
    (っ´ω`c) Didn't get a single V2AB or Zanspine… finished with two Gotlatans and one Gomez…
    As for off-banner pulls (non-featured units that slip through on a pickup banner):
    Psycho Zaku x1
    6AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:00
    Got everything except V2AB in 60 pulls.
    Gotlatan's fully maxed out though…
    10AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:02
    Re: #6
    (っ´ω`c) Nice, Gotlatan's strong. Wish I could get a V2 though.
    7AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:01
    I completed the whole pickup banner except for Gomez and Otto in 200 pulls.
    Yeah, I know you still haven't pulled a Supporter unit, huh?
    12AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:03
    Re: #7
    (っ´ω`c) Wish I had Otto. Did you pull on the rerun banner too?
    8AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:01
    (っ´ω`c) Though honestly, getting Gomez is great and all, but I've got so few “Heavy Attack”-tagged units that I can't actually use him.
    11AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:02
    Re: #8
    Don't worry, next time Master League rolls around you'll need Heavy Attack units so bad you'll be sick of it.
    13AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:04
    Re: #11
    (っ´ω`c) Hope so… though I don't really play Master League seriously…
    14AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:06
    Re: #13
    Once you start, you'll end up playing it properly just for the rewards, trust me.
    15AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:07
    So Pomii-kun makes threads on Edge too, huh.
    How's Edge? Is it fun?
    Kinda makes me a little jealous…
    18AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:09
    Re: #15
    (っ´ω`c) I've only made a thread on Edge once… Honestly, browsing Edge is more fun than browsing VIP…
    17AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:09
    I was planning to sit this one out, but with Uso's base chance-step triggering twice, you can get up to four actions even in a worst-case Dev SP setup… and seeing Zanspine zipping around the map so smoothly, I caved and pulled anyway.
    Hope I get more Heavy Attack units.
    21AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:11
    Re: #17
    (っ´ω`c) Zanspine was ridiculously strong in the trial stage, right?

    Glad you got one, congrats!
    20AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:10
    Lately I keep getting matched against “Jansei”-tier players (borrowing a Mahjong Soul rank as slang for top-tier players) like it's nothing, but my results have stayed solid.
    I'm a cut above your average Class-1 player, so don't underestimate me.
    Even when matchmaking's stingy, skill makes up for it.
    23AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:12
    Re: #20
    (っ´ω`c) You should probably be asleep at that hour…
    24AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:13
    (´･ω･`) Pomii-kun is done for.
    26AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:14
    Re: #24
    (っ´ω`c) Yeah, this life is already over.
    25AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:13
    I see…
    So Edge really is more fun than VIP for you…
    27AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:14
    Re: #25
    (っ´ω`c) Yeah, obviously it's more fun.
    28AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:15
    Hello 😊
    And here I am wanting to turn the AC on, even though it's October.
    30AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:17
    Re: #28
    (っ´ω`c) Yeah, it's gotten hot again somehow.
    29AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:15
    Re: #23
    Honestly it's pretty dead, so it's only strong players left, which makes it hard to rack up points.
    There's a decent number of people around until about midnight, then it just empties out all at once.
    33AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:18
    Re: #29
    (っ´ω`c) Yeah, people do clear out once it's past midnight.
    32AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:18
    If you're using the internet, it's already leaked out ages ago 🤣
    34AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:19
    Re: #32
    (っ´ω`c) What did you even order?
    60AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:41



    (ꐦ·᷅ὢ·᷄ꐦ ) Got 2 copies of the main unit (1 dupe), the “creepy little sister,” the “butt one,” and the “traitor vampire,” but…
    66AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:44
    Re: #60
    (っ´ω`c) Nice, I'm aiming for 2 dupes on Liryu too.
    71AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:45
    Re: #66
    (ꐦ·᷅ὢ·᷄ꐦ ) At this point all I can do is wait for an off-banner pull.
    I can still pull for a while longer, but 100 pulls' worth of tickets just gave me the main unit again.
    Pulling any more than that would just be a waste.
    72AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:46
    Re: #71
    (っ´ω`c) Well then, maybe it's time to start piece-collecting?
    73AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:48
    Re: #72
    Here's where the piece-collecting stands right now:

    74AnonymousOct 1, 2026 15:51
    Re: #73
    (っ´ω`c) Well, once you've gotten that far, you end up wanting to collect the rest too, huh.
    114AnonymousOct 1, 2026 17:09
    I just took a 2-hour nap earlier.
    But my sleep's so shallow that I'm always drowsy, it's a real problem.
    I never feel like I actually slept.
    Any good tips?
    115AnonymousOct 1, 2026 17:14
    Re: #114
    (っ´ω`c) Seriously, exercise. Exercise until you're exhausted.
    129AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:21
    The truth about Pomii, who said they were going to take a shower yesterday and never came back:
    135AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:13
    Re: #129
    (っ´ω`c) If you actually look closely at what I posted in yesterday's thread, I did mention that after showering I was saying goodbye to the Pomii crowd, so that image doesn't mean anything.
    145AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:18

    Got some free gems from the web store, pulled with them, and managed to complete the set!!
    146AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:21
    Re: #145
    (っ´ω`c) Ngh, I'm so jealous! Congrats! And Gotlatan came out again for you too!
    147AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:23
    Thx!! As for Gotlatan though…
    149AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:25
    Re: #147
    (っ´ω`c) Gotlatan's strong! Go ahead and use her!
    151AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:27
    Re: #147
    More like, it's Katejina (fan nickname for the unit) that's actually pretty solid — it carries a map weapon and two support-defense cards.
    Even at zero dupes it doesn't go down easily (unlike Zanspine, which drops a lot if you mess up).
    181AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:17
    (っ´ω`c) I just need the top two of these three to show up, that's all I'm asking. Please, help me out.
    189AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:19
    (っ´ω`c) Aaali aaali aaali aaali aaali aaali aaali!!!! (an exuberant victory shout)

    Background and Key Points

    “G Generation Eternal” is a Bandai Namco mobile game based on the Gundam franchise, and this thread centers on reports from roughly 200 gacha pulls on a limited-time banner. In gacha games, two recurring topics are “off-banner pulls” (getting units other than the one you’re aiming for) and “hard whiffs” (getting zero copies of the unit you want), and this thread was no exception — alongside reports of whiffing on V2AB and Zanspine, several users also reported fully maxing out Gotlatan. Within the game, attacks are tagged by type, such as “Heavy Attack,” and posters discussed the frustration of pulling a strong unit only to be unable to build a team around it because they lack other units with the same tag. The thread also touches on a safety-net system called “piece collecting,” which lets players guarantee missing units outright rather than leaving it to chance. In the latter half, the conversation drifts into general chat — covering impressions of Master League (the game’s ranked mode) matchmaking and tips for dealing with insomnia — giving the thread more the feel of a regular catch-up chat than a single-topic live report.

    *This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (VIP board) thread “(っ´ω`c) Results of doing 200 pulls on the G Generation Eternal gacha”.

  • Is ¥100,000–130,000 a Month Enough to Live on Welfare? 5ch Weighs In: ‘A Cultured Life Needs ¥200,000’

    A thread on 5ch (News VIP) asking “Isn’t ¥100,000–130,000 in welfare benefits too little?” sparked a debate over the constitutional guarantee of a “minimum standard of wholesome and cultured living.” While some argued that “a cultured life requires at least ¥200,000,” others shared personal experience getting by on just ¥50,000 a month — splitting opinion not so much over the raw figure as over where to set the baseline for an acceptable standard of living. Posters also questioned the premise that rent must come out of that ¥100,000–130,000, and pointed out that benefit amounts differ depending on whether a recipient owns or rents their home.

    1AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:41
    If you want a 'cultured' life, I think ¥200k isn't unreasonable.
    5AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:42
    Re: #3
    Yeah, ¥200k is the bare minimum.
    8AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:42
    Re: #5
    This isn't about the amount, it's about the standard of living.
    13AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:44
    Re: #8
    So that 'standard' comes out to about ¥200k?
    11AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:42
    Not totally sure how this works, but is that ¥100,000–130,000 free to spend, with rent paid separately?
    21AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:45
    Re: #11
    No, rent comes out of that ¥100,000–130,000.
    That's messed up, right?
    23AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:46
    Re: #21
    If that's for real, that's rough.
    27AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:47
    Re: #21
    Right, exactly.
    It doesn't add up.
    That's why the prefecture or the national government should just buy dedicated low-rent apartments and house welfare recipients there.
    12AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:43
    Even with the money it's not a 'cultured' life — that's why they call it 'namapo' (a slangy, somewhat derisive term for welfare).
    15AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:44
    You wouldn't say it's 'cheap.'
    You'd say it's 'not enough.'
    29AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:47
    Re: #15
    What are you, a schoolteacher?
    16AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:44
    Re: #13
    ¥70k excluding housing costs ought to be plenty, no?
    34AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:49
    Re: #16
    I'd take that seriously if it came from someone actually living on that.
    17AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:44
    Maybe we should factor having a job into this whole 'cultured life' thing.
    35AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:49
    Re: #17
    Work is inhumane slavery though.
    26AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:47
    If the minimum became ¥200k, probably only households with kids would qualify.
    41AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:51
    Re: #26
    Does it still count if the kid's already an adult?
    50AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:53
    Re: #41
    Why would you think that's fine?
    59AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:57
    Re: #52
    You get screened out at the interview stage, seriously lol.
    They judge you off the paperwork, off your résumé.
    63AnonymousOct 1, 2026 18:58
    Re: #59
    Where are you even trying to work?
    That doesn't happen if you're not picky about the job.
    88AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:08
    Re: #59
    What on earth did you do?
    Only finished middle school or something?
    70AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:01
    Is 'not struggling to survive' really a fair bar for the minimum?
    Take-home pay of ¥200k is, for now, enough that you're not struggling to survive.
    Though get seriously ill and you'd probably fall straight into needing welfare.
    75AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:02
    Re: #70
    With ¥200k cash in hand you could travel every month.

    Even ¥150k would be more than plenty.
    77AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:03
    Re: #70
    And medical costs come out of that too.
    90AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:08
    I want welfare too.
    How'd you get approved? Tell me.
    94AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:09
    Re: #90
    Same, I want it too.

    It's basically a privileged class.
    98AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:10
    Re: #90
    Anyone can get it if they meet the requirements and apply.
    If you don't know how, go to a support center.
    116AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:29
    I get by on ¥50k a month.

    With ¥70k you could splurge a few times a month.

    Food's two home-cooked meals a day, running about 25–3K.
    119AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:31
    Re: #116
    Meaning ¥25,000–30,000.
    126AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:34
    Re: #116
    Welfare exists to help people like YOU.
    121AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:32
    If you factor in free insurance and free hospital bills, that's effectively another plus ¥50,000.
    When you think they're getting ¥150,000–180,000 every month without working at all, I think that's just too much.
    128AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:35
    Re: #121
    You can't live on a gross ¥150,000 though……
    129AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:36
    Re: #121
    People keep saying they're jealous that medical costs are covered, but if you're so sick you're racking up that kind of medical bill, you probably should be on welfare yourself.
    Are you guys really that frail? If so, go get on welfare too.
    163AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:04
    Honestly, I don't think we even need pensions.
    Everyone should just work, I say.
    Even at 80 you could do a convenience-store part-time job or Uber Eats deliveries.
    166AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:07
    Re: #163
    If that's what you think, go move to Africa — plenty of countries there match what you want.
    171AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:10
    Re: #163
    Sounds like the type who'd make their elderly parents keep working.

    Background and Key Points of the Debate

    Welfare payments are set according to standards established by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and vary based on the recipient’s residential “cost-of-living grade” and household composition. The rent portion is paid separately from the basic living allowance as a distinct “housing assistance” benefit, and medical costs are, in principle, fully covered with no out-of-pocket burden. Within the thread, posts that assumed “rent comes out of the ¥100,000–130,000” were mixed in with posts that accounted for the existence of housing and medical assistance, which was part of why the discussion kept talking past itself. The bar for a “cultured life” also varies widely from person to person — the gap between those citing ¥200,000 a month as a benchmark and those pointing to real examples of getting by on ¥50,000 comes down largely to differing views on what counts as a necessary expense. When comparing these benefit figures directly to take-home pay, it’s worth remembering that these institutional details are easy to overlook.

    *This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (News VIP) thread “Isn’t ¥100,000–130,000 in welfare benefits too little?.”

  • Hello! Project September Instagram Gains: Ebata Kisaki Tops Chart With Over 10,000 New Followers

    In the 5ch Hello! Project forum, the September 2026 Instagram follower gain/loss rankings became a hot topic. Juice=Juice’s Ebata Kisaki topped the list with a monthly gain of +10,595 followers, prompting comments like “This really is the Ebamifu era, in name and reality.” Meanwhile, members like Ishikawa Rika and Karin-chan who are struggling to grow also became a topic, and the thread split over whether follower growth reflects real popularity or just differences in when accounts were opened.

    1AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:02
    Ranked by change
    09/01/26 09/30/26 Change Posts
    *,105,772 *,116,367 +10,595 *6 Ebata Kisaki (Juice=Juice)
    5AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:05
    Is this truly the "Ebamifu" era, in name and reality? (Ebamifu = fan nickname for the Ebata/Miyazaki pairing)
    10AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:07
    It's touching that outside of Juice=Juice, Runo is working the hardest.
    11AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:10
    At this point, Ishiyama and Endo are suddenly starting to get noticed too.
    12AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:13
    Yumigeta and Goto are doing reasonably well too.
    62AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:36
    Re: #12
    That's just because their accounts are still new.
    13AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:13
    I heard on Ookami (a well-known idol fan board) that Miyamoto went viral and sold well, but she's actually down?
    19AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:18
    Re: #13
    Her otaku fans are so annoying, I bet that's making people dislike her, honestly.
    15AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:15
    Ishikawa Rika's at 130,000 lol
    59AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:11
    Re: #15
    She's not growing enough anymore for the "Ishikawa just started Instagram recently" excuse to hold up.
    17AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:17
    It's pretty rough that Yuka-nya is up while Karin-chan is down.
    She's just not liked, huh.
    18AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:17
    So the popularity order is JJ girls, Beyooooonds, Tsubaki Factory, ANGERME, OCHA NORMA.
    Roughly speaking, anyway.
    20AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:19
    At this rate, Inoue will become the first member to hit 200,000 followers since Makino, early next year.
    22AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:21
    Tsuji's 2.17 million is just insane.
    25AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:28
    I thought Karin-chan went viral off that AI thing…?
    26AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:29
    Feels like Inaba's "Morei Mi" boost has worn off too?
    27AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:31
    Rei-rei said at the start of the year that her goal was 150,000 followers by the end of 2026, but…
    28AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:35
    Ebamifu is strong.
    The future of Hello! Project rests on you two.
    29AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:40
    It's only a matter of time before Juice=Juice overtakes Morning Musume.
    30AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:42
    If Juice members, who already had more followers to begin with, are also gaining the most,
    that just means the gap with members of other groups keeps widening.
    32AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:48
    They're breaking out, so of course they are.
    33AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:49
    They haven't broken out (according to an ANGERME otaku's research).
    34AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:49
    No idol is breaking out harder than Juice=Juice right now.
    36AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:50
    Ebata opened her account in January last year, and didn't break 30,000 followers until November —
    and even that was about a month after "Morei Mi" was released.
    It really shows just how sharply her growth has kept accelerating.
    42AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:52
    ANGERME otaku probably don't want to admit it, but this is reality.
    43AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:53
    Even within Juice=Juice, why is Ebata growing the most?
    48AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:56
    Re: #43
    Because she's cute, posts often, and has a good eye for photos.
    50AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:56
    Re: #43
    Because she's photogenic.
    44AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:54
    In other words, if you don't get TV exposure, no member really changes all that much.
    47AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:55
    Re: #44
    Unfortunately, there's just no defending Shimoitani on this one.
    58AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:10
    Re: #44
    Even among those, some members grow and some don't, so in the end it comes down to whether you catch people's eye.
    51AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:57
    AKB48's center Ito Momoka, who's been all over TV lately, only gained +8,190, so Ebata is amazing.
    Her recent growth numbers are right up there with the ace of a major idol group.
    63AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:39
    Re: #51
    But flip it around — the AKB48 camp can generate this much buzz for Ito even though her real popularity has only grown that much.
    Compared to that, Up-Front is just terrible at marketing.
    53AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:57
    Yofu and Goto haven't even had Instagram for a year yet, so while their follower counts are low, their growth rate is big.
    66AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:41
    Re: #53
    Not even a year — it's only been 4 months!
    If she's not growing now, when would she?
    54AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:00
    Yofu Runo's recent posts
    https://www.instagram.com/runo_yofu.official/p/Dd34DFLmqEi/
    https://www.instagram.com/runo_yofu.official/p/Dd6FQZ3GjNX/
    This is gonna grow.
    60AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:13
    Re: #54
    The story too (disappears in 1 hour)
    https://www.instagram.com/stories/runo_yofu.official/3997648131495734875/
    https://instagram.fitm1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-15/828305592_18116648350918843_5887584322337689898_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_ohc=UfyqBwm9RXYQ7kNvwFjXSUq&_nc_oc=AdrHyGkfpBLLZauDS7jyMsgnfaWnEyWBjlhFUzgpYhAqBjXVuWsyvFf_T34xuDXaJ4Njnuz0VyfgL5vM7EQLBN9B&_nc_ht=scontent-nrt6-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_gid=ifMHPTo307XlDC-whPI49g&_nc_ss=7b6a8&oh=00_AQN0U09KkuQJaU1EJZiawMQaBb9aXWjelrhOm3wwYIhsGw&oe=6AC43682#.jpg
    67AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:42
    At a similar point from account launch, she's growing at roughly double Ebata's pace, so that's not bad at all.
    70AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:52
    Re: #67
    It's obvious that Yofu >>>> Ebata at this point.

    Juice=Juice fans ("汁" = slang for Juice=Juice) in tears lmaooo

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    Instagram follower changes across Hello! Project’s various groups are tracked closely enough that fans start a dedicated tally thread every month. This time, Ebata Kisaki stood alone at the top with a monthly gain of +10,595. The debate that split the thread was over whether this number truly reflects popularity — posters pointed out that newer accounts (like Ishiyama, and Yofu Goto/Runo) tend to show higher growth rates, and cited factors like TV exposure, posting frequency, and photo quality, while others compared the numbers to AKB48’s center to argue that Up-Front’s promotional strategy is weak. What’s easy for readers to misread is that follower gains don’t directly equal a ranking of popularity — differences in when an account was opened and in overall follower base make simple comparisons misleading.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “September 2026 Instagram Follower Change Ranking.”

  • Eiken Level 1-Certified NEET: ‘My Parents Are Worth ¥200 Million, Why Would I Work?’

    On 5ch’s Nandemo Jikkyo G board, a poster who holds Japan’s highest English certification, Eiken Level 1, but doesn’t work started an “Ask Me Anything” thread. According to the poster, they have no work history, and since their parents have assets worth over ¥200 million, they’ll never need to work in their life. They said that even though they haven’t used English in a long time, everyday conversation is still no problem, but admitted that passing Eiken Level 1 itself hasn’t really translated into anything useful in society. The thread split between those who accepted a lifestyle built on parental wealth and those who called it “just kicking the can down the road.”

    1AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:34
    By the way, I also have Level 2 in the Math Certification Test (Suken).
    2AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:35
    Your parents must be crying.
    5AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:36
    Re: #2
    They're not crying.
    I was raised being told money means I'd never have to work in my life.
    12AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:40
    Re: #5
    Sounds like your parents have given up on you.
    85AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:32
    Re: #5
    Don't blame your parents for this.
    4AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:36
    If you don't get a job and have no money, you're worse off than a convenience-store part-timer. But if you've got money, you win.
    6AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:37
    Re: #4
    No work history.
    Parents have money.
    Do have some part-time job experience, though.
    7AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:38
    Both math and English are basically obsolete thanks to AI now — how does that make you feel?
    9AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:39
    Re: #7
    Doesn't really bother me.
    8AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:38
    How much English can you actually speak these days?
    14AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:40
    Re: #8
    Haven't used English in a long time, but everyday conversation is still no problem. Once you've made it all the way to Eiken Level 1, the fundamentals are locked in solid.
    20AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:43
    Re: #14
    Sounds like if someone actually talked to you, only random words would come out.
    10AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:39
    Re: #6
    If your parents have over ¥200 million, you're in the clear. If it were only ¥100 million, inheritance tax would eat into it and you'd end up on the lonely-death-halfway-there route.
    15AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:41
    Re: #10
    It's over ¥200 million.
    11AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:40
    I'm an old geezer who dropped out of high school. What even is this 'Eiken' thing?
    16AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:42
    Re: #11
    It's an English proficiency certification. Level 1 is the top rank.
    13AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:40
    No way you actually have Level 1. Should've just said Pre-1 instead.
    19AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:43
    Re: #13
    It's true.
    Got Pre-1 in my third year of junior high.
    Got Level 1 in my sophomore year of university.
    24AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:45
    Re: #20
    No way.
    It's second nature to me by now.
    Everyday conversation is a breeze.
    29AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:47
    Re: #24
    Doesn't seem like it.
    Unlike TOEIC or TOEFL, it's a certification exam.
    28AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:46
    Just get a job to kill time, even if nothing else.
    31AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:49
    Re: #28
    Can't muster the motivation.
    Besides, why would I want to work when I already have money?
    36AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:53
    If you're not even putting your Eiken Level 1 to use, what was the point of getting it in the first place?
    38AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:54
    Re: #36
    I just wanted it as a credential.
    It did help boost my self-esteem, at least.
    45AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:58
    Re: #43
    I've got Level 2!
    47AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:00
    Re: #45
    I got Level 2 in my first year of junior high.
    49AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:01
    Re: #47
    Even having Eiken didn't do me any good…
    89AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:34
    Someone with Eiken Level 1 and a 940 on the TOEIC just sitting around as a NEET? That's a loss for the whole country.
    96AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:39
    Re: #89
    At the end of the day, I'm just good at English.
    There are plenty of NEETs out there more capable than me.
    100AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:44
    Re: #96
    Honestly, the only one more impressive than you is probably Moritetsu (a well-known figure in Japanese NEET/hikikomori online culture).
    91AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:35
    Re: #85
    It's nobody's fault.
    92AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:36
    Re: #91
    It's your fault for not working.
    97AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:39
    Re: #91
    If that's what you think, why don't you go get a job yourself?
    98AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:41
    Re: #97
    I've got money, so I'm fine.
    101AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:45
    Re: #98
    You're just kicking the can down the road.
    103AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:48
    Re: #102
    I can live off it for the rest of my life, so there's no 'kicking the can' about it.
    104AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:49
    Re: #102
    I'm not OP.

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    Eiken Level 1 is considered the toughest rank within the Eiken system, with a pass rate that typically hovers around 10% each year. The poster says they earned Pre-1 in their third year of junior high and Level 1 in their sophomore year of university — the timing itself isn’t especially precocious, but the thread’s central debate centered on the fact that they’ve continued living as a NEET without ever putting the credential to use in a career. A rough calculation floated in the thread suggested that “if your assets exceed ¥200 million, you can still live comfortably even after inheritance tax eats into it,” but this is based solely on the poster’s self-reported claims — the actual size of their assets and the applicable inheritance tax rate could not be verified. Opinions in the thread were also divided on how much Eiken Level 1 really guarantees practical English ability, which is worth noting for readers, since the value of a certification and real-world proficiency are separate matters that are easy to conflate. Commenters split between those who defended this way of life and those who criticized it as “just kicking the can down the road,” but it’s worth remembering that all of this rests on nothing more than the poster’s own unverified account.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyo G) thread “I’m a highly educated NEET with Eiken Level 1 — ask me anything?.”

  • Credit Card Flex-Off: 5ch Thread Reveals Combined Limits Would Hit ¥15 Million

    A thread titled “Tell me what credit cards you guys use” popped up on 5ch’s “Whatever Live” board (なんでも実況G), and it turned into everyone showing off their favorite cards. Staple cards like Rakuten, Mercari’s “Mercard,” the Mitsui Sumitomo Card (NL) Gold, and the JCB W came up one after another, while someone pointed out that if you added up the credit limits several posters had revealed, the total came to around ¥15 million — sparking a side debate about which card companies hand out credit the most easily. The thread mixed practical talk about picking a no-annual-fee, high-cashback card with what amounted to a bragging contest over who’s holding what.

    1AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:35
    If possible I want to get a card with no annual fee and a high cashback rate
    6AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:38
    Rakuten, Mercard, Pia Card, Bic Camera, Suica auto-charge card, Amazon Card, TOHO Card, Mitsui VISA
    Used to have a bunch of these
    If it's about points, Rakuten's the only real choice
    7AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:39
    Re: #6
    If a guy like this added up all his limits, wouldn't it come to like ¥15 million?
    14AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:40
    Re: #7
    I keep turning down all the invitations, and mine are mostly capped around ¥200k
    Tried applying for the Mitsubishi UFJ Platinum just to see, and got approved instantly lol
    79AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:33
    Re: #7
    Mine are all trash cards anyway
    Add it all up and it's like ¥3 million
    9AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:39
    Tried all sorts of things but it got annoying, so I settled on just holding two free Mitsui Sumitomo NL cards
    13AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:40
    Re: #9
    How do you split usage between them?
    15AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:41
    Re: #13
    Once I spend ¥1 million on one and lock in the 10,000 points, I switch to the other and rack up another 10,000 points
    32AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:46
    Re: #15
    Ah I see
    So it works out to an effective 1.5% back or something like that?
    17AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:41
    What about the Epos Card?
    62AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:05
    Re: #17
    Epos is done for now. Back when it supported Suica, it was the strongest sub-card for gas, electricity, and Suica top-ups
    80AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:34
    Re: #17
    Yeah, they hit it with a big nerf
    19AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:41
    Re: #14
    My mistake, I meant add up ALL the limits
    Wouldn't that come to around ¥15 million?
    22AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:42
    Re: #19
    Yeah, probably would
    24AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:43
    Mercard's pretty usable except the credit limit swings up and down like crazy
    30AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:45
    Re: #24
    Mine's never swung around like that
    26AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:43
    Re: #22
    That's insane…
    Way too rich…
    37AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:46
    Re: #26
    If you own a detached house in Tokyo, any card will approve you. I made separate cards for work, leisure, transit, Amazon, movies, Mercari, etc. to make things easier for my accountant, and it just ended up like this
    43AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:50
    Re: #37
    Aren't you like a construction-company exec or something?
    28AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:44
    Mercard: ¥1.5M
    SAISON VISA: ¥2M
    Amex: ¥2M
    Amazon Mastercard: ¥1.5M
    Rakuten VISA: ¥2M
    Rakuten Mastercard: ¥2M

    What's the vibe?
    91AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:57
    Re: #28
    A squad of total bottom-tier cards
    31AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:46
    Amex Gold Preferred
    I always make sure to say "I'll pay with American Express" at checkout
    45AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:51
    Re: #31
    You gotta say "I'll pay with Gold Preferred," properly
    34AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:46
    Right now the strongest option for us old-timers (古事記, a pun on "old-timer") is the no-annual-fee Mercard Gold — 2% cashback
    38AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:46
    Re: #34
    Though Mercard Gold does charge you a ¥5,000 fee in the first year
    40AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:48
    A credit card from the university I graduated from
    41AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:49
    Re: #40
    Jealous of Oka's Waseda card, CIC flex 💳 (CIC = Japan's major credit bureau)
    42AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:50
    Handed out way too many + nerfed over and over — worthless now
    44AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:51
    If you're only getting one card, go with the Mitsui Sumitomo NL Gold or the JCB W
    The Mitsui Sumitomo Gold NL has an annual fee, but if you spend ¥1 million in a single year even once, the fee's waived for life after that


    Here's roughly where each one gives high cashback, there's more too
    Mitsui Sumitomo NL

    JCB W
    95AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:01
    Re: #44
    The JCB W is like the worst card for suckers lmaooo
    It gets advertised all over the place, but anyone who actually knows what they're doing would never touch it lmaooo
    46AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:51
    Re: #43
    Oh, that's so G-board of you
    Yeah, I'm in construction too — though specifically scaffolding work
    48AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:53
    Re: #46
    "To make things easier for my accountant"

    Wait, doesn't that mean YOU'RE the accountant?
    I couldn't parse that sentence at all
    55AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:57
    I used to mess around with stuff like the Olive Platinum Preferred, the Rakuten Black Card, various investment auto-deposits, but once the Mizuho Rakuten Card came out, all that became pointless. The whole "spend ¥1 million and get 2%" thing just feels silly now
    59AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:02
    Re: #55
    lol
    You don't even need to experiment with it — unbeatable cost and time efficiency
    104AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:07
    Re: #55
    If you're really into doing all that fiddling, use the NL Gold — you could get up to like 5% back
    70AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:16
    I want to get a credit card but I don't know which one to pick
    Is there anything I should think about when choosing one?
    I don't want to end up with a bunch of cards I don't need
    71AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:19
    Re: #70
    Just apply for Rakuten for now. Canceling is just one phone call, so don't overthink it
    More important than that is building up your credit history
    74AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:21
    Re: #70
    Shop at your local AEON a lot → AEON Card
    Always at convenience stores → Mitsui Sumitomo
    Drive the highways constantly → NEXCO card
    Fly a lot → a mileage card

    That's how it used to be, but these days you can just get the Mizuho Rakuten Card and call it done
    86AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:46
    108AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:11
    Re: #86
    This is seriously tacky
    Looks like something a delinquent driving a slammed car out in the countryside would pick
    106AnonymousOct 1, 2026 23:08
    The set-meal place near me doesn't take VISA or Mastercard, so I'm debating whether to get a JCB
    What even is this lineup

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    In the ongoing competition among credit card cashback rates, companies have repeatedly rolled out benefit downgrades in recent years, and the thread touched on both the Epos Card’s changes and the fluctuating credit limits on Mercard. Schemes like the Mitsui Sumitomo Card (NL) Gold’s offer — where spending ¥1 million in a year gets your annual fee waived for life from the following year on — are a classic tactic companies use to lock in loyal customers, and the thread got lively calculating the “effective cashback rate” under that kind of deal. At one point, posters added up the credit limits they’d shared with each other and were stunned to hit roughly ¥15 million combined, but a large credit limit doesn’t necessarily track with someone’s assets or income — as one poster in the thread pointed out, “building your credit history matters more,” since it largely comes down to each company’s underwriting policy and a track record built up over time.

    ※This article is adapted and summarized from the 5ch (Whatever Live) thread “Tell me what credit cards you guys use.”

  • 5ch Users Keep Questioning Why Nobody Notices Detective Conan’s Shinichi Kudo Has ‘Vanished’

    On a 5ch forum thread, a lively debate broke out over a long-standing plot hole in Detective Conan. It started with someone pointing out how strange it is that nobody questions the sudden disappearance of Shinichi Kudo, the series’ famous teen detective. From there, the discussion expanded to other timeline inconsistencies that come with such a long-running series — like the fact that, based on calculations from volume 99, only about six months have passed in-story, yet every seasonal event seems to have been covered, or how the crime-ridden Beika Town never seems to get any safer despite the constant murders. Someone also pointed out that Shinichi tells Ran he can’t come home because he’s “chasing a troublesome case,” and the back-and-forth over these small inconsistencies in the setting continued from there.

    1AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:09
    Shinichi Kudo isn't just some random guy — he's a pretty famous high school detective. If a guy like that just vanished without explanation, you'd think someone would say 'hey, that's weird.'
    5AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:13
    The fact that crime-ridden Beika Town's public safety is left unaddressed is on the Metropolitan Police for being lazy.
    8AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:15
    Re: #5
    Other towns might be just as dangerous, who knows?
    6AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:13
    What even counts as a 'famous detective' anyway? In our actual world, if you asked people to name one, how many could actually answer?
    22AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:22
    Re: #6
    Isn't there a real detective out there somewhere like L from Death Note?
    7AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:15
    He does call sometimes, and he occasionally shows his face too.
    9AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:16
    His parents probably know what's really going on, right? If so, who knows what they actually tell people, but something like 'studying abroad' could cover for it well enough.
    10AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:17
    He's told Ran it's because he's "chasing an incredibly troublesome case" and can't come home.
    11AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:18
    Are Kaito Kid and Kudo really total strangers? He's the only person who can impersonate Kudo perfectly without even needing a disguise.
    24AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:23
    Re: #11
    I think they recently added a setting where Shinichi's dad and Kid's dad are twin brothers.
    12AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:18
    The setting is that not much time has passed since he became a kid, but there are plenty of episodes where the drug wears off and he turns back into Shinichi, so it feels like he's switching back about once a week.
    14AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:19
    Re: #12
    Isn't it that he can't see her because it'd be dangerous if people found out Shinichi Kudo is still alive?
    13AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:18
    There are just so many incidents in this series that nobody even questions it when someone says 'he's investigating some mysterious case.'
    15AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:20
    So does that mean he just stopped going to high school entirely one day?
    20AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:21
    Re: #15
    He's gone to school a few times whenever he's turned back.
    17AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:20
    How many hundreds of murder cases has he solved by now, seriously?
    18AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:20
    Re: #14
    They do meet. He just says, 'Don't tell anyone I'm back,' every time.
    21AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:22
    The Black Organization is so sloppy it's been infiltrated by a surprising number of people.
    23AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:22
    That kid gang he's always hanging around with must be dozens of bodies deep by now — they've surely gotten used to seeing corpses.
    25AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:24
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wMLeVIN2P8g
    Detective Conan Special feat. Sakura Oda, Ayumi Ishida, Reina Ichioka, Juju Asakura — Song: 'Kimi ga Ireba' ('If You Were Here') / Iori 【Hello! Anisong Club #43】
    26AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:24
    Re: #24
    Wait, so does that mean the original Kaito Kid really was alive after all?
    30AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:29
    How many years have passed in the story since he disappeared?
    32AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:32
    Re: #30
    It's been six months since the disappearance, and Shinichi and Ran just recently started dating.
    38AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:36
    What month did he even disappear in? There was a Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day) episode pretty early on, but there's been no sign of anyone moving up a grade since then.
    41AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:37
    Re: #38
    January. The newspaper shown that day has 'January' printed on it.
    64AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:55
    I always figured they were just looping through the same first-grade year over and over.
    66AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:55
    Re: #64
    Volume 99 confirmed it's only been six months lol
    67AnonymousOct 1, 2026 19:57
    The twist is probably going to be that it's all a dream Shinichi Kudo is having while lying in a hospital bed in a vegetative state.
    91AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:40
    Re: #67
    Sounds like one of those fake 'Doraemon final episode' urban legends.
    73AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:03
    It's a classic long-running-manga thing — volume 1 has characters calling each other on old black rotary phones, and by the latest volume everyone's on smartphones.
    75AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:04
    Re: #73
    Like Kochikame, for instance.
    76AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:04
    Was Rekka no Honoo basically told to just go draw YuYu Hakusho?
    77AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:05
    Re: #76
    Yeah, pretty much. Though YuYu Hakusho itself ripped off stuff like Ushio and Tora and Parasyte, so it's getting some payback.
    81AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:08
    Back when Rokudenashi Blues was popular —

    Sunday's Tokyo Banchō
    92AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:43
    It's been running for over 30 years, but only a few months have passed within the story.
    98AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:07
    Re: #92
    Way too many people have died for that timeline to hold up.
    94AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:53
    Why do a full year's worth of seasonal events show up when only six months have passed?
    97AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:04
    Re: #94
    They're drawing future events ahead of time.
    99AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:09
    You can't take a manga that seriously — by that logic, those guys are getting caught up in a murder every single day.
    100AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:11
    Re: #99
    Early on, Inspector Megure even tells the old man (Kogoro), 'You're the suspicious one, since you're at every murder scene.'

    Background and key points of this topic

    The inconsistency that “a full cycle of seasonal events gets shown even though only six months have passed since the disappearance” is a classic case of the “time lag” problem that comes with any long-running manga. In Detective Conan, fans have long worked out — based on references in volume 99 — that roughly six months have passed in-story, and this has been a recurring topic of discussion. What split opinion in the thread was whether to simply laugh off the inconsistency as creative convenience, or to accept it as “consistent within the story” on the grounds that Shinichi Kudo does explain the situation to Ran. Commenters also drew comparisons to other long-running series like Kochikame and YuYu Hakusho, framing it as a structural issue common to any manga that runs long enough. Worth noting: this is all based on fan calculation and speculation, not an official timeline or any statement from the author.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “Doesn’t anyone in Conan’s world find it strange that Shinichi Kudo suddenly vanished?“

  • VIP board’s first thread of October lights up with autumn flavors and horse-racing talk — 5ch: ‘The sweet potato I worked so hard to grow… rotted’

    On the night of October 1, a casual chat thread popped up on 5channel’s Newsoku VIP board, opening with a string of emoticons and emoji. The thread’s creator invited everyone to enjoy the autumn flavors, the Grade 1 horse races, and some camping, and from there a regular known as “Mambo-kun” (ID: OTPWxS6F0) carried the thread along, chiming in with a reply to almost every single post. Talk of discounted saury, horse-racing results, a report that someone’s homegrown sweet potatoes had rotted, a typhoon approaching the Kanto region, and the lingering late-summer heat all got mentioned one after another as the day’s events — with no real disagreement or debate breaking out over anything.

    1AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:26
    (´・ω・`)Gonna enjoy the autumn flavors, the Grade 1 races, and camping to the max!
    つ🍠🏇⛺と
    2AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:26
    (´・ω・`)Appetite season has arrived, I reckon
    つ🍚🍄🍠と
    10AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:37
    Re: #2
    (´・ω,・`)Let's eat up heartily!
    つ🍠と
    4AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:27
    ₍₍ (ं´・∣・｀)व ₎₎Still a single-digit reply on a Thursday night, easy (early-poster brag)
    14AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:37
    Re: #4
    (´・ω・`)This one's a fake
    19AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:39
    Re: #14
    　　ヽ( ·ᶇ ∣ ·ᶆ )~ﾉ　
    　　　 (へ　 ) 　　　　　ahe ahe aheee　　
    　 　 　　 　 >
    60AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:03
    Re: #14
    (´・∣・｀)Well that's an unexpected reply-jacking
    5AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:28
    (´・ω・`)You're always the Great Chikuwa Deity, aren't you (a running gag on this thread)
    15AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:38
    Re: #5
    (´・ω・三´・ω・`)What on earth was that
    6AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:28
    What's Mambo-kun's goal for October?
    17AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:38
    Re: #6
    (´・ω・`)Landing one huge winning bet, obviously
    つ🎫と
    33AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:45
    Re: #17
    ┣"A big… KABOOM? ʕ⭄ᶄω⭅ᶅʕ
    7AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:34
    The Marine Cup results were dead boring
    18AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:39
    Re: #7
    (´・ω・`)It's only just getting started
    8AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:34
    (´・ω・`)🏍🍁Only two months left till the snow falls, gonna make the most of it
    20AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:39
    Re: #8
    (´・ω・`)Do you live somewhere snowy?
    9AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:36
    That's right! With all this freak weather going on, let it snow in Kanto too!!!
    21AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:39
    Re: #9
    (´・ω・`)Oh, so snow is fine by you, huh
    11AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:37
    (´・ω・`)Was the chapati good?
    22AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:40
    Re: #11
    (´・ω・`)Honestly, the chapati part was just okay
    13AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:37
    (ꚦ·ᶅṢ·ᶄꚦ )Wait, what?! A konjac yam?!
    24AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:40
    Re: #13
    (´・ω・`)You eat it then
    16AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:38
    (´・ω・`)Saury sashimi was just 298 yen
    25AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:40
    Re: #16
    (´・ω・`)Nice, what a steal!
    28AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:41
    Re: #22
    (´・ω・`)At that shop, the triangle-shaped one is actually the tastier pick (likely a rice ball)
    37AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:47
    Re: #28
    (´・ω・`)That one's good too, isn't it
    29AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:42
    The last race at Monbetsu had a hilariously wild result, but there's no way I could've called that
    I only bet on Ishikawa (the jockey)
    38AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:48
    Re: #29
    (´・ω・`)There's always tomorrow
    35AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:46
    The sweet potato I worked so hard to grow… rotted
    36AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:47
    Re: #35
    Evening there, Rice-Cooker-kun
    45AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:50
    Re: #35
    (´・ω・`)So sad
    50AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:56
    By the way, it was hot today here in Kanagawa ʕ⭄ᶄω⭅ᶅʕ
    How was it your way?
    52AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:57
    Re: #50
    (´・ω・`)Pretty warm here too, for the first time in a while
    53AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:59
    Re: #52
    Apparently it's hitting 29°C again next week… and there's a typhoon coming too
    61AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:04
    Re: #53
    (´・ω・`)Kanto just can't seem to escape the rain
    57AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:00
    (ꚦ·ᶅṢ·ᶄꚦ )Somebody do something about this typhoon
    58AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:01
    Re: #57
    Go hit that typhoon with a Bikkie Punch (reference to a character's signature attack)
    67AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:06
    Re: #57
    (´・ω・`)Jump in the ocean and stop it yourself
    136AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:40
    ( `・Δ・´)So what's today's haul, I wonder
    143AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:45
    Re: #136
    (´・ω・`)Today the deli dishes and grilled fish were both wiped out, so it's tomato and salad chicken for me
    146AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:46
    Re: #143
    Mambo-kun's going to waste away to nothing at this rate
    152AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:48
    Re: #143
    ( `・Δ・´)It's healthy though

    Background and key points of this topic

    Threads like this on the VIP board follow a familiar formula: the thread starter opens with a seasonal greeting rendered in ASCII art and emoji, and a regular poster nicknamed “Mambo-kun” (ID: OTPWxS6F0) replies to almost every single post with a stock, template-style response. This thread was no exception — posts about discounted saury, a report that someone’s homegrown sweet potatoes had rotted, and grumbling about an approaching typhoon and lingering summer heat in the Kanto region were simply piled up one after another, with no real argument or disagreement emerging. The horse racing mentioned (the Marine Cup and the Monbetsu races) comes up as casual small talk rather than live commentary or predictions — no specific race details or finishing order appear in the thread itself. Likewise, the weather chat reflects personal impressions rather than an official Japan Meteorological Agency forecast, which is worth keeping in mind.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Newsoku VIP) thread “⁽⁽ ᨣ(´・ω・`)อ⦄ ⁾⁾Konchikuwa, it’s October now, konchikuwa.”

  • Hiroshima’s Kaito Kozono Denies Allegations After Contract Non-Renewal — 5ch: “Can’t Trust Him”

    After Hiroshima Toyo Carp infielder Kaito Kozono’s contract was not renewed (effectively cutting him from the roster), he once again denied the allegations against him, stating “I have never once used ‘zombie cigarettes’ (a synthetic drug-laced cigarette)” and “I have no ties to anti-social forces (organized crime).” The team has only explained that it decided not to extend his contract because “trust had been damaged,” and no criminal charges or referral to prosecutors have been made. On 5ch, opinions split between those who see the non-renewal as a legitimate exercise of the team’s rights rather than a dismissal, and those uneasy that his future was decided while the allegations remain unresolved.

    To all 11 other teams: feel free to sign him, no worries.

    Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

    2AnonymousOct 1, 2026 20:59
    Didn't your parents or teachers ever tell you not to do things that make you look suspicious?
    7AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:02
    Re: #2
    Innocent until proven guilty is common sense in a rule-of-law country.
    10AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:03
    Re: #7
    They just didn't renew the contract of someone under suspicion — they didn't terminate it early or demand any penalty money.
    12AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:05
    Re: #7
    They're just not renewing the contract once it expires. It's not like he's been blacklisted from ever working again — he's free to negotiate with other teams. Going to the Giants, or even to the majors, would be totally fine.
    4AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:00
    Can't trust him.
    13AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:05
    Re: #4
    What's your basis for saying he can't be trusted?
    52AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:22
    Re: #13
    Even the team doesn't trust him. If you're the only one who believes in him, go invite him to a game of sandlot ball yourself (lol) ("yakyuu" here is 5ch meme-speak for "baseball," used mockingly).
    16AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:06
    If this were normal, he'd be furious about wrongful dismissal — so why's he so calm about it?
    33AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:12
    Re: #16
    It's not a dismissal — they just didn't extend his contract.
    28AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:10
    Is the reason he got cut because of the 'zombie cigarettes'?
    30AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:11
    Re: #28
    The official reason is "damaged trust." Since they're not even citing the zombie cigarettes themselves — which are legally considered "clean" — it'll be hard for the players' union to step in.
    37AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:15
    A player earning over 100 million yen gets cut over "trust" issues
    ↓
    "They said there's no trust, so it can't be helped"

    If he were really innocent, would he just let it go at that?
    43AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:16
    Re: #37
    Not extending a contract and being fired aren't the same thing. "Fired" is what happened to guys like Kiyota (the Giants outfielder cut over a scandal).
    50AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:21
    Re: #37
    True enough ("tashikani" said in 5ch meme-speak) — if he'd been falsely accused, he'd fight it tooth and nail, and the team should be pressing hard too. The fact that neither side is doing that makes it pretty obvious both sides are quietly agreeing to let this end in a gray area.
    103AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:44
    Re: #37
    As long as he can still transfer to another team, that's fine by me.
    78AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:33
    I figured if there were decisive evidence instead of just suspicion, he'd have been arrested by now — but there was a fairly long gap between Hazuki's arrest and the house searches on some of the others, so I guess it's not impossible something still comes out later.
    83AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:34
    Re: #78
    Once a case has already been referred to prosecutors, nothing new is coming out — it's out of the police's hands at that point.
    84AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:36
    Re: #74
    There's plenty of precedent — guys like Yamakawa and Tatsunori Hara.
    88AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:38
    Re: #84
    Yamakawa won his case completely in court, so he's actually the victim — the victim of a honeypot scam.
    92AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:39
    Re: #84
    Unless there's some extraordinary reason… can't you read? I went out of my way to spell it out and you still come back with that. There's a huge gap in legend status between him and those guys.
    85AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:38
    He swears he never did it, and the team itself is saying it's "white" if it has to be black-or-white — is this really okay? Surely the players' union will step in.
    91AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:39
    Re: #85
    They're too busy obsessing over free agency for that.
    93AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:39
    Re: #85
    It's just a contract expiring, so there's nothing for the union to act on.
    95AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:40
    Re: #85
    They just notified him during the roster-cut notification period that they won't sign him for next year — there's nothing the union can really do about that.
    99AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:42
    Even though the players' union complains about everything under the sun, how could they possibly object to "we're not renewing his contract next year, so feel free to sign with another team"?
    105AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:44
    Re: #99
    "Stop the fire sale" is more a line the league office would say, not the union.
    106AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:44
    At the end of the day, whether he paid money to organized crime, hit a woman, or hung around gangster circles and got the police involved, it just adds a negative image — a liability. The team simply judges whether employing him is still worth it despite that negative image. If his skill or popularity outweighs it, he'll get signed again. If not, he won't. That's all there is to it.
    112AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:49
    Re: #106
    It's not "employment" (in the legal sense — he's a contracted athlete, not an employee).
    111AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:48
    But surely there's a team out there that wants a shortstop who can actually hit?
    123AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:55
    Re: #111
    He's not even that good a hitter, honestly.
    116AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:51
    Some team will probably pick Kozono up. He hasn't even been referred to prosecutors, and the reason he got cut — "can't be trusted" — is really just the team's own internal call. There's bound to be at least one team that decides there's no problem signing him.
    125AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:56
    Re: #116
    You think any team would take him after seeing that press conference? lol
    127AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:57
    No way a team signs someone tied to organized crime. How naive are you guys?
    131AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:58
    Re: #127
    He flat-out said he has no ties to them, though.
    134AnonymousOct 1, 2026 21:59
    Re: #131
    Oh, so no ties then, huh? (sarcastic)
    138AnonymousOct 1, 2026 22:00
    Re: #131
    You think that alone is grounds for the team to sign a written pledge to every sponsor saying "our club has no ties to organized crime"?

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    The backdrop here is a string of incidents within the Hiroshima Carp involving the quasi-synthetic drug known as “zombie cigarettes,” including the arrest of teammate Hazuki. Kozono himself has not faced any legal action such as referral to prosecutors, and since the team framed this simply as “not extending his contract,” it differs legally from a criminal penalty or disciplinary dismissal. What split the thread wasn’t so much whether to believe his denial, but whether it was fair for the team to effectively end his contract before any charges were ever filed. Two points readers might easily get wrong — both raised in the thread but worth keeping in mind as background — are that a “contract expiration” is a different procedure from a dismissal the players’ union could intervene in, and that “zombie cigarettes” themselves are, under current law, treated as a legal product.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyo G) thread “[Good News] Kaito Kozono Declares Clearly: “Never Used Zombie Cigarettes, No Ties to Anti-Social Forces”.”