In this week’s news, we report on Masahide Kanayama, extradited from the US after splashing oil on shrines and temples a decade ago. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemns Iranian attacks on civilian facilities while denying involvement in the “Sanae Token” meme coin. Several high-profile artists leave the Manga One app following a sex offender scandal, the secret of One Piece remains hidden at sea and Japan’s most decorated Winter Olympian announces her retirement from speed skating.
Masahide Kanayama Extradited to Japan Over Shrine Vandalism
More than a decade after oil was splashed on several shrines and temples across Japan, Masahide Kanayama, a doctor and religious founder, has returned from the United States to face charges for the vandalism spree. In March 2015, he allegedly splashed oil on buildings at the historic Katori Jingu Shrine in Chiba Prefecture, damaging structures considered cultural assets. Police also obtained a warrant for Kanayama for defacing another holy site in Chiba: Naritasan Shinshoji. In total, oily stains were found at almost 50 shrines and temples across 16 prefectures in Japan.
Kanayama, 64, is an obstetrician and gynecologist who practiced in the US for many years, treating patients while also engaging in religious activities. He was arrested on board a plane to Japan on Tuesday. Admitting to the allegations, he reportedly told police that he smeared oil on shrines and temples as a form of “anointing,” believing the sites contained evil spirits. Kanayama identifies as a Christian with evangelical-style beliefs. Court documents show he founded a small religious organization called International Marketplace Ministry, through which he promotes Christian teachings and carries out missionary work.
Japan Offers Cautious Reply to Escalating Iran Conflict
On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against multiple targets across Iran, marking a major escalation in Middle East tensions. Iranian state media confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several members of his family were killed in the initial wave of attacks. Iran responded swiftly by firing drones and ballistic missiles at Israeli territory and US military bases across the Gulf, including in Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE. The developments have prompted cautious responses worldwide, including in Japan, where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration has taken a measured approach.
The government here hasn’t expressed support for or criticized the coordinated attack on Iran by the US and Israel. It has reiterated its longstanding position that Iran’s development of nuclear weapons must not be allowed, consistent with its long-standing commitment to nonproliferation. However, officials have framed this in diplomatic terms rather than as an endorsement of the strikes. On Thursday, though, Takaichi condemned Iran’s attacks on civilian facilities in nearby nations during talks with Sultan Al Jaber, the minister of industry and advanced technology of the United Arab Emirates.
Image of “Sanae Coin” via X (@sanae_coin) | Background edits TW
‘Sanae Token’ Meme Coin To Be Renamed After Takaichi Denies Involvement
On Wednesday, the official X account of “NoBorder,” a political YouTube channel run by entrepreneur Yuji Mizoguchi, announced that the cryptocurrency “Sanae Token,” named after Prime Minister Takaichi, will be renamed. The channel said it will compensate holders and establish a verification committee to investigate this matter. “This project began with the earnest desire to ‘deliver the voices of the people to Prime Minister Takaichi.’ However, contrary to that intention, it ended up causing trouble for her and all related parties, a fact we take with the utmost gravity,” the company wrote on X.
Earlier in the week, Takaichi denied any involvement in the cryptocurrency. In a post on X on Monday, she wrote: “Due to the name, it seems there are various misunderstandings, but regarding this token, I have absolutely no knowledge of it, nor has my office been informed about what this token entails. We have not given any approval whatsoever in this matter.” The prime minister added that she was issuing the statement “to ensure that the public does not labor under any misapprehensions.” The post has garnered more than 68 million views at the time of writing.
Inuyasha and One Punch Man Artists Leave Manga One App Amid Sex Offender Scandal
Shogakukan’s Manga One App is facing scrutiny after an author with a prior sex crime conviction was allowed to publish works under a pseudonym. In response, several prominent manga creators have pulled their works from the platform, including Inuyasha creator Rumiko Takahashi and One, the author of One Punch Man. The controversy centers around Kazuaki Kurita. On February 20, 2026, he was ordered to pay ¥11 million in compensation after being found guilty of grooming and sexually abusing a female student, identified only as “A.” This reportedly began in 2016 when she was just 15 years old.
In 2020, Kurita was fined ¥300,000 for creating and possessing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Shogakukan subsequently suspended his manga, Daten Sakusen. While the publisher stated that ties with Kurita had been severed, it has since been learned that he continued to work with Manga One under the pseudonym Ichiro Hajime, penning the original story Joujin Kamen. It has also been disclosed that an editor at Manga One, believed to be Takuya Narita, mediated between Kurita and his victim in May 2021. Narita suggested a payout of ¥1.5 million in exchange for the victim’s silence. She refused.
The Secret of One Piece Has Finally Been Written… But Remains Hidden at Sea
On Wednesday, the latest installment of the hugely popular series One Piece hit shelves. With the release of Volume 114, titled “The God Valley Incident,” the long-running epic surpassed 600 million copies in circulation worldwide, cementing its status as the best-selling manga of all time. Creator Eiichiro Oda marked the milestone in typical fashion, blending mystery with lore. For the first time ever, he put to page the long-speculated secret of the One Piece — the legendary treasure discovered and left behind by Gol D. Roger on the final island, Laugh Tale.
An official video released on March 4 opens with a stark question: “What is the One Piece?” The answer, viewers are told, has been determined since the very beginning — a secret never written down, kept solely in Oda’s mind. “At long last,” the video declares, “it has been inscribed on paper.” Encased in a pressure-resistant glass orb, the paper is carried to the sea, where it is dropped overboard. “Until the whole story is revealed, the truth will rest far beyond anyone’s reach… at the bottom of the ocean,” says the narrator.
Takagi receiving a gold medal in Beijing 2022
Miho Takagi Announces Retirement
Japan’s most decorated Winter Olympian is set to retire. On Wednesday, Miho Takagi announced via Instagram that she will “draw a line” under her stellar speed skating career after the World Championships taking place in Heerenveen, in the Netherlands, until Sunday. “I will miss you all,” Takagi posted. “But also it’s amazing to skate the last race in this situation. I’d like to say ‘thank you’ and ‘goodbye’ to everyone.” The 10-time Olympic medalist added, “I will enjoy every moment and fight hard until crossing the finishing line.”
At the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Takagi added another three medals to the seven she won at previous Games. She made her debut at the event in 2010 in Vancouver at the age of just 15. After failing to qualify for the 2014 Sochi Games, she picked up three medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, including gold as a member of the women’s team pursuit, silver in the 1,500 meters and bronze in the 1,000 meters. Four years later, Takagi won her first individual gold in the 1,000 meters with an Olympic record time of 1:13.19.
