Police Officer Arrested for Stealing Money from Elderly Woman at Police Station

This is a sad story. If this police officer is convicted, I hope he is punished to the full extent of the law. 

Hiroshima prefectural police arrested 31 year old police sergeant Shinya Masumoto on suspicion of stealing 10,000 yen in cash from a 78 year old woman who was at the police station to renew her driver’s license. Police report that this took place at 9:55 am on June 23 at the Takehara City Station. Sergeant Masumoto is accused of stealing the money from the woman’s handbag while he was testing her eyes. After the eye test, she realized she didn’t have the money when it was time to pay the fee. She notified the police at the time, but then thought she might have been mistaken about having the money in her bag and left.

Masumoto’s colleague was suspicious and discussed the matter with his superior. After being questioned, Masumoto admitted to the allegation. Chief Inspector Keiji Norimune said the act was unacceptable for a police officer and offered apologies to the victim and the people of the prefecture. 

What a sad situation! Ten thousand yen is only about $68 USD.

Zenryu-ji Temple - Nagoya

This temple was established in 1607, and is of the Rinza Sect, Myoshi School.

Friday Finish - Red on Blue Sashiko

The side table with the finished sashiko. It is a simple project that makes me very happy.

Kenchu-ji Temple - Nagoya

From the internet:

Kenchuji is a temple belonging to the Jodoshu sect of Buddism and was established by the 2nd lord of Owari-han, Tokugawa Mitsutomo, in 1651 to pray for the soul of his late father, Yoshinao. Since its establishment, this temple has been the family temple of the Owari Tokugawa Family. There is a Gongen style mausoleum which is registered as prefectural cultural property at the back of the main building and ancestral memorial tablets of successive lords are enshrined in it. The temple's gate which was built in 1652 is the tower gate of sangen-ikko style (a 3x2-bay gate).

This is a gorgeous open temple and there was no one else around. I had the place to myself.

On a different topic - a big thank you to everyone who reads my blog. When I looked at my stats yesterday morning, I was surprised to see my blog has had over three million views. I appreciate you all so very much!

Work In Progress Wednesday

Red on Blue Sashiko progress - I hope to have it finish finished soon.

Blackwork progress

Kinryuzan Temple - Nagoya

This small temple isn’t even on the map. Sometimes I can figure things out with google translate, but it didn’t help here. It’s small and nothing fancy, but clean and well kept. The mystery of these neighborhood temples make me more interested in them.

Monday Morning Star Count

Today is a national holiday in Japan - Respect for the Aged Day. It has been a holiday since 1966, originally held every September 15th, then in 2003 changed to the third Monday in September due to the Happy Monday holiday system. It is a day to honor the elderly and to be grateful for their wisdom and knowledge.

House Quilt progress - I finished quilting the braid border with the little hexagons in the corners. I think I will finish this before winter!

Professional Go Player Retires at 98

Ninety-eight year old Kazuko Sugiuchi, Japan’s oldest professional player of the board game Go has retired, saying she can no longer handle “six hours without a break.”  

Go is an especially popular strategy game played in Japan, South Korea, and China and is considered more complex than chess. It involves players placing black and white stones on a square wooden table. (Example picture from internet).

Kazuko Sugiuchi learned Go from her father Eizo, a retired naval captain, beginning when she was six years old and is the oldest of three professional Go-playing sisters. Kazuko turned professional in 1948 and won her first title eleven years later. She then went on to win the prestigious Women’s Meijin Championship four times in a row. She became Japan’s oldest professional player in April 2024, breaking the record held by her late husband Masao. They married in 1954, and were married 63 years until his death in 2017.

She will be promoted to the rank of ninth dan after retiring, becoming the first woman to reach that level. I hope she enjoys her retirement!