Jiji Press -- Jun 28
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party said Saturday that it has dismissed its Youth Division chief, Minoru Kihara, and banned him from holding party posts for one year amid controversy over media-suppressing remarks by some at a meeting of a party group headed by him.
The LDP also reprimanded party lawmakers Hideo Onishi, Takashi Nagao and Takahiro Inoue for making controversial remarks at the meeting, which sparked criticism from both inside and outside the party.
At the meeting, there were remarks that appeared to disregard freedom of the press and speech and ruin the party's efforts to be considerate of Okinawa people's feelings, LDP Secretary-General Sadakazu Tanigaki said at a press conference. They are damaging to public trust in the party and cannot be condoned, he said.
自民党の若手議員の勉強会で、報道機関への批判が相次いだ問題で、自民党の谷垣幹事長は、27日夜、勉強会の代表を務める木原 稔青年局長を、1年間の役職停止処分にしたと発表し、更迭することを明らかにした。
News sources: Jiji Press, FNNnewsCH
Jan 13
Police in Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, have arrested a couple on suspicion of abandoning responsibility for Fujimoto's 3-year-old daughter, whose body was found with burn marks on her face. Police believe the girl's death may have been the result of recurring domestic abuse. (Japan Today) Jan 13
Twelve skiers who were stranded on mountains in Nagano and Fukushima prefectures have all been brought to safety.
(NHK) Jan 12
Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 31-year-old man who ran a prostitution ring featuring underage school girls, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Jan. 12). (Tokyo Reporter) Jan 12
Snow fell for the first time this season in parts of Tokyo and Yokohama on Jan. 12, with more expected as a low pressure system approaches the Pacific coast. (Asahi) Jan 12
Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a door-to-door salesman for allegedly fondling the body of a girl in Akishima City, reports Nippon News Network (Jan. 12). (Tokyo Reporter) Jan 12
An announcer of public broadcaster NHK was arrested Sunday for allegedly possessing so-called "dangerous drugs" in violation of the law governing medicinal chemicals, the health ministry's drug control division said Monday.
(Japan Today) Jan 11
Monday marked Coming-of-Age Day, bringing with it the usual festivities that saw Japan's 20-year-olds celebrate their newfound adulthood - each in their own way. (Japan Times) Jan 11
Police in Yokohama on Sunday arrested a 93-year-old man on suspicion of strangling his 93-year-old wife to death in the nursing facility where they both lived. (Japan Today) Jan 11
Japan's Defense Minister says his ministry is carefully examining a North Korean video that appears to show a submarine-based ballistic missile test. (NHK ) Jan 11
A fire broke out at a love hotel in the Kabukicho red-light district on Saturday, two days after a blaze at another inn in the area left one woman dead, reports NHK (Jan. 9). (Tokyo Reporter)