Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden 2004 creator Tomonobu Itagaki

In this week’s news roundup, we present dead or alive creator Itagaki Tomanobu passed away at the age of 58. In 2023, Masanori Aoki from Nagano Prefecture was sentenced to death for killing four people. Foreign tourists in Japan continue to surge. Expo 2025 Osaka has concluded successfully. For the first time since 1991, the official Grand Sumo Championship is held at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Samurai Blue came from behind to beat Brazil 3-2 in Tokyo.

Itagaki Tomanobu’s last message on social media

On Thursday, Team Ninja announced the death of video game designer Tomonobu Itagaki. He was 58 years old. the studio wrote on its website X The page reads that it “will carry forward the philosophy and creativity that Mr. Itagaki started and continue to create games that many gamers will enjoy.” Itagaki is best known for creating dead or alive series and for revival Ninja Gaiden Franchise. In 2009, IGN named him one of the 100 best game creators of all time.

Itagaki asked a friend to post a “last words” message on his website Facebook Page after his death. It went live shortly before news of his death was announced. He first said: “The light of my life has finally dimmed. The release of this news means that this moment has finally arrived. I am no longer in this world.” He went on to say that he followed his beliefs and fought to the end.

Man who killed four people in Nagano sentenced to death

On Tuesday, 34-year-old Masanori Aoki was sentenced to death for killing four people in 2023. In May of that year, he stabbed two women to death in Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, and then shot two police officers. The trial focused on his degree of criminal responsibility. The defense argued that a life sentence was appropriate because he was mentally incapacitated at the time. While prosecutors agreed he suffered from delusions, they argued he was able to tell right from wrong.

Aoki chased Yukie Murakami, 66, and Yasuko Takeuchi, 70, before stabbing them to death because he thought they were speaking ill of him using words such as “lonely” and “creepy”. When police arrived on scene, the suspect fired a shotgun. Takuo Ikeuchi, 61, and Yoshiki Tamai, 46, were killed in the attack. “This was a brutal crime in which four precious lives were taken with overwhelming intent to kill,” explain Presiding Judge Masashi Sakata.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Foreign tourists visiting Japan will exceed 30 million in the first nine months of 2025

In the first nine months of this year, the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan exceeded 30 million for the first time in history. Data released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (NTO) on Wednesday showed that Japan received 31.65 million overseas tourists from January to September. An increase of 17.7% compared with the same period last year. At the current pace, annual numbers are expected to cross the 40 million mark for the first time.

The total consumption of foreign tourists in the first nine months of 2025 also hit a record high of 6.9 trillion yen. Between July and September, their spending was estimated at 2.13 trillion yen, an increase of 11.1% year-on-year and the highest figure for the period. Mainland China tourists spent the most, reaching 590.1 billion yuan, Taiwanese tourists spent 302 billion yuan, and American tourists spent 221.5 billion yuan.

Despite slow start, Expo Osaka ends with ‘huge success’

After 184 days of exhibitions and immersive experiences showcasing some of the most incredible innovations from around the world, Expo 2025 Osaka concluded on Monday with a grand closing ceremony that included drone and water displays, fireworks, various cultural performances and parades from more than 150 participating countries and regions. Present on the last day of the event were Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Noriko, as well as outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

“There had been some negative comments about Expo Osaka, but this event overcame these criticisms and became a huge success,” explain Shiba. As of Sunday, the total number of ordinary tourists to the Mengdao artificial island initially reached 25.29 million. While that’s below the organizers’ initial target of 28 million, the event’s operating expenses surpassed its break-even point of 116 billion yen in August. It also produced billions of economic effects

Sumo wrestlers walking through the Abbey Road Studio Crossing | Photo by hoshi_sumo on X, TW editor (Victoria Bennett)

Sumo wrestlers enjoy London scenery ahead of Royal Albert Hall Championships

This week, the official Grand Sumo Championship will be held outside Japan for the first time in 20 years. London’s Royal Albert Hall is the venue for the highly anticipated five-day event, which begins on Wednesday. This is the second time the iconic 154-year-old Kensington venue has hosted sumo. Forty wrestlers have flown to the UK to compete and judging by their photos, they appear to be making the most of the trip.

They are hard to miss and can be spotted by Londoners across the city, including at the National History Museum, shopping in Marks & Spencer, holding up the famous trolley in front of Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross station, and squeezing into a red phone box. They also stopped to take photos with locals while visiting some of London’s most famous sights, such as Buckingham Palace, the Abbey Road zebra crossing, the Elizabeth Tower with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu | Picture from FEELPHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK

Japan’s senior men’s football team defeats Brazil for first time

On Tuesday, Japan’s men’s senior soccer team defeated Brazil for the first time ever. Hajime Moriho’s side came from 2-0 down to defeat the five-time World Cup winners 3-2 at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium. Paulo Enrique and Gabriel Martinelli scored for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the first half. However, Samurai Blue turned things around after the break, with Minamino Takumi, Nakamura Kei and Ueda Ayase scoring for the Asian side in a brilliant 19 minutes.

“Beating a top team like Brazil in official competition requires progress and caution and I hope the players can take confidence from today’s result.” explain Keep safe. While he encouraged his players to celebrate the result, he warned them that strong teams will pay more attention to Japan “from now on”. At the same time, Ancelotti said that “the Brazilian team had no attitude in the second half to prevent the Japanese team’s reaction.” Both Brazil and Japan have qualified for next summer’s World Cup.

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Updated on October 17, 2025