Did internet celebrity and influencer Ryuchell die in 2017? No, that's not true: The original post created in 2017 on the open question-and-answer website Chiebukuro is a baseless post that was most likely fabricated as a form of hate speech against the celebrity. The claim originally appeared on TikTok (archived here) on July 13, 2023. The video depicts a screenshot…

Did the Japan Meteorological Agency announce on TV that the May 5, 2023, Ishikawa (Noto Peninsula) earthquake and the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan (3.11) earthquake were artificial earthquakes? No, that's not true: The news report was edited to look like an artificial earthquake was the cause of major earthquakes that hit Japan in recent years. The claim appeared…

Did the former Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, say that Japan's population is effectively being reduced? No, that's not true: He misspoke; what he intended to say was that the number of COVID-19 infections were decreasing. The claim appeared on a TikTok video (archived here) on April 25, 2023, under the title "Our dear Suga, had a slip of the tongue…

Does Japan have the highest declining population rate? No, that's not true: According to the Statistic Bureau of Japan, the total population of Japan as of June 1, 2023, is 124.52 million people. This reflects a decrease of 580,000 individuals or -0.47% compared to the same month last year. According to the World Bank's data on population growth in 2022,…

Is it true that Japanese people continue to wear masks as a ploy by the government to gain financial profit? No, that's not true: Wearing masks is a matter of habit for many Japanese and even after the government lifted a COVID-19 pandemic mask mandate, many individuals and workers still opt to wear face masks in public. The claim initially…

Is it safe to add peppermint oil to your laundry, to "turn your clothes into a natural mosquito repellent?" No, it is not: Putting peppermint oil in your washing machine may pose a fire hazard. The claim appearead on TikTok (archived here) on June 24, 2023. The video shows a screenshot taken from Twitter that explains the alleged benefits of…

Is there an issue with the official cause of death, "loss of blood," attributed to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, considering he was not bleeding heavily when he was shot? No, there is nothing incorrect about the official cause of death. The presence of significant bleeding is not a prerequisite for the cause of death to be attributed to…

Does the Korean government uses the messenger app LINE to spy on Japanese citizens? No, that's not true: LINE is currently owned by a Japanese company, and highly private personal information, such as calls and texts, are kept in a Japanese data center. The claim appeared on TikTok (archived here) on June 21, 2023, by user @/omisochannel. Omisochannel is an…

Are electromagnetic waves "the most important thing to avoid," more than chemicals, pollution and radiation? No, that's not true: Japan has radio wave (electromagnetic waves) protection guidelines that are in line with the international recommendations of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection and the World Health Organization (WHO). The claim appeared in a TikTok video (archived here) posted on…

Will taking lactic acid bacteria (LAB) "promote cancer growth and mold growth in humans?" No, that's not true: On the contrary, research has pointed out that LAB could enhance immunity, improve gastrointestinal function, increase resistance to obesity and increase antioxidant abilities, as well as reduce blood glucose concentration and cholesterol. In addition, a number of studies are focusing on the…

Is it true that dead Ukrainian soldiers are used to supply organs to the black market? No, that's not true: The time-sensitive and highly strict protocols required to conduct organ transplants are impossible to enact in a war zone. The claim appeared on TikTok (archived here) on February 27, 2023, and has recirculated across social media. The caption reads (translated…

Does this video show that the members of the supposed Japan-U.S. Joint Committee are all American? No, that's not true: The footage used in the video comes from a Japan-U.S. security study group under the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, a nonprofit that has no consultative authority over Japan-U.S. relations. The claim appeared on TikTok (archived here) on June 14, 2023. The…

Is it true that taking more vitamin D will successfully prevent COVID-19 and Influenza? No, that's not true: The study used as evidence in this video only looks at COVID patients with vitamin D deficiency in Indonesia, not at the prospect of vitamin D as a cure for COVID. Furthermore, the study doesn't mention the possibility of curing Influenza anywhere…

Were the US intelligence and Gang of 8 group that includes the two top congressional leaders in each chamber- involved in the Wagner rebellion? No, that's not true: the US is not involved. It's part of the struggle within The Russian system, according to President Biden. The claim appeared on a TikTok video (archived here) where it was published on…

Is it true that the news coverage in Japan of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine differs from the news in other countries? No, that's not true: Coverage of the war has been relatively consistent with what's being shown in other news outlets. The claim appeared in a post on TikTok (archived here) on June 14, 2023. The speaker in…

Are green food dyes made of "silkworm poop"? No, that's not true: Green food coloring is made mainly from the alfalfa plant. The claim appeared on TikTok (archived here) on June 9, 2023. In the video, a woman in a lab coat explains that the dyes used in food such as matcha desserts and gum might be "silkworm poop." In…

Is it true that there are rubber masks made for human cloning? No, it's not true: Real Face sells rubber masks seen in the video commercially to support facial recognition and research and development. The claim appeared on TikTok (archived here) on June 3, 2023. In the video, a man can be seen shaping a rubber mask by hand while…

Is Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Chinese? No, that's not true: The evidence in the video uses Kanji characters (characters of Chinese origin) inaccurately. The claim appeared on a TikTok video (archived here) on June 2, 2023. The text over the video can be translated from the Japanese language as follows: Prime Minister Kishida is not Japanese. The name "Kishida"…

Is it true that the Japanese government has released a program that encourages euthanasia for those aged over 75? No, that's not true: This is a fictional plot point from a film called "Plan 75," released in 2022. The Japanese government does not have such a plan to tackle the aging population problem. The claim originally appeared on a TikTok…

Did the amount of heat strokes increase because the sugar contained in sports drinks depletes minerals from the body? No, that's not true: It is said that the primary factors contributing to this phenomenon are the rise in tropical nights and exceptionally hot days, alongside an aging population. According to Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, heat strokes occur when…