News On Japan

55-year-old man arrested over Odawara murder

Yomiuri — 2009-07-04 00:59:33

A 55-year-old man was arrested Friday on suspicion of murdering a man in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, police said. According to the police, Yoichi Umino, a construction worker residing in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, allegedly killed 60-year-old Norio Inage in mid-January by stabbing him in multiple places, including his back and chest. Umino reportedly denied the allegation. (Yomiuri)

High school student arrested over classmate's stabbing death

AP — 2009-07-04 07:21:49

A high school student was arrested Saturday over the death of his classmate in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, after admitting to stabbing him, police said. The 17-year-old senior was apprehended at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder as he admitted to stabbing Tomoya Hamada, 18, on his abdomen and back at a train station shortly after 8 a.m., they said. Hamada was brought to a nearby hospital, at which he was pronounced dead around 90 minutes later. (AP)

Chinese with annual income over 250,000 yuan can tour Japan

People's Daily — 2009-07-04 07:29:15

Starting in July, Japan will issue tourist visas to Chinese individual tourists who meet specified conditions. Chinese tourists can enjoy "freely touring Japan" as early as July 8. The policy will initially be implemented in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, then following a one-year pilot implementation period it will expand throughout Chinese mainland. (People's Daily)

Knife law tough shuck for oysters

Japan Times — 2009-07-02 23:22:18

Be careful next time you're about to shuck a fresh oyster at a restaurant - you may be using a knife considered illegal under the Firearm and Sword Control Law. Possessing certain types of oyster knives will be punishable from Sunday, after the moratorium expires on a revision to the law that was implemented in January. (Japan Times)

Japan was Jackson's other Neverland

Japan Times — 2009-07-02 23:22:18

Much has been made of the fact that Jackson chose Japan to make his first public appearance following the trial, which, despite the acquittal, effectively ruined what was left of his reputation in America and Europe. It was certainly clever of MTV Japan to offer him its Legend Award at that particular time. (Japan Times)

Young adults turn to home sharing

Yomiuri — 2009-07-02 23:22:18

Rather than forking out money to rent their own apartments, young people struggling during the economic downturn are increasingly moving in with friends or acquaintances as they try to make ends meet. Many of these young adults used to place priority on having a good time, but are now unemployed or working in low-paying jobs. They appear to be moving toward cheaper, shared accommodation, and with it, finding emotional support in these bleak times. (Yomiuri)

Firefighters penalized for hazing recruits

Yomiuri — 2009-07-02 23:22:18

Eleven senior firefighters have been punished for hazing new recruits by making them perform 10,000 pushups, among other abuses, the Matsudo Fire Department said Wednesday. The action taken against those disciplined included cuts in their salaries. Five of the 10 new recruits who participated in the harsh training quit after the incident. (Yomiuri)

Bagelheads the latest fad for Japanese teens

nj.com — 2009-07-03 13:30:17

Have you seen the latest fad for teens in Japan? They are called bagelheads. Teens in Japan are injecting themselves with saline, which causes bumps in their heads. (nj.com)

Wider range of pet funeral services gain popularity

Yomiuri — 2009-07-02 02:37:29

With an increasing number of distraught pet lovers seeking to mark the passing of their cherished animal friends with a funeral service, the range of relevant services on offer has grown considerably. (Yomiuri)

Govts lift ban on riding bicycles with 2 kids

Yomiuri — 2009-07-02 02:37:29

People who ride with two children on bicycles that do not meet the standards will be fined up to 20,000 yen for violating the Road Traffic Law. (Yomiuri)

Whether to come out at the office

Japan Times — 2009-07-02 02:57:45

'Do you live on your own?' It's a perfectly casual question at work, one that would naturally arise in conversations. For many gays and lesbians, however, if they happen to live with their partner, queries such as this often become the moment of truth - or the moment of avoiding the truth. (Japan Times)

Amuro survives a hard life with limitless talent

China.org.cn — 2009-07-02 03:21:38

In a life of ups and downs the popular Japanese pop singer Amuro Namie is heading for one of her happier up moments. On July 11-12, Amuro will perform on the Shanghai Grand Stage. It will be her first solo concert in Chinese mainland, granting at long last her Chinese mainland fans an opportunity to watch their idol live. (China.org.cn)

Shimbashi cafe booms as oasis for smokers

AP — 2009-07-02 06:54:24

Salaried workers feeling cornered by the growing smoking ban in the city can take a breather at a "tobacco cafe" that recently opened in Tokyo's Shimbashi district, becoming an oasis for smokers. Suitably named Cafe Tobacco, smoking is allowed in all of its three- story premises with 44 seats. The cafe also offers original blend coffee with a bitter taste, which is believed to go well with cigarettes. (AP)

Aussies embrace their inner Japanese superhero

thewest.com.au — 2009-07-02 07:16:18

In bedrooms and living rooms across Australia, hardcore lovers of Japanese animation are busy sewing and stitching, gluing and bejewelling, in hope of becoming a champion. These role play aficionados put hours of sweat and blood into constructing a costume that will transform them into their chosen manga superhero. (thewest.com.au)

Visa overstayers given too many breaks: rightist

Japan Times — 2009-07-01 00:26:42

Daisuke Arikado believes the government is too easy on foreigners overstaying their visa and this frustrates him. Arikado is a former member of an ultra-rightist group who founded and heads the 30-strong nonprofit organization Movement to Eradicate Crimes by Foreigners. (Japan Times)

Law enacted to support reclusive youngsters

AP — 2009-07-01 04:23:06

The Japanese parliament enacted a law Wednesday to help young people who have withdrawn from society to stand on their own feet, approving it unanimously at a House of Councillors plenary session. The growing presence of socially withdrawn juveniles and those not in education, employment or training, dubbed NEETs, has become a social issue in recent years. Prime Minister Taro Aso called for legislation to support such people in his policy speech last September. (AP)

British followers of Japanese fashion

BBC — 2009-07-01 04:28:15

An underground youth culture in Japan with distinctive music, fashion and make-up, where the skin is darkened using tanning products is spreading worldwide. Young people in the UK have been learning about the intricacies of 'manba' by making friends on the other side of the world using social networking sites and learning how to re-create the style through videos on YouTube. (BBC)

2 men busted over disguised yakuza end-of-year hotel party

Mainichi — 2009-07-01 11:47:32

Two men were arrested Tuesday in connection with a yakuza end-of-year party at a hotel here, police have announced. Arrested were 47-year-old Hidetsugu Sato, a top member of a recognized yakuza group, and 47-year-old Hideo Koike, a company worker, on suspicion of fraud, obstructing a business, and misrepresentation causing reputation damage. (Mainichi)

'Reefer madness' hits Japan's shores

Japan Times — 2009-06-29 23:56:57

To the Japanese government and law enforcement authorities, there has been a lot of discussion about marijuana in Japan recently. Some people have gone as far as to call it the start of a panic. (Japan Times)

Police find 398 baseball caps in suspects' Saga homes

Yomiuri — 2009-06-30 00:08:01

The arrest of two young men in Ureshino, Saga Prefecture, last weekend led to an unusual discovery at their homes--398 baseball caps that may have been stolen from more than 20 different high schools, police announced Sunday. (Yomiuri)

Teacher, wife held over secretly filming in toilet

Yomiuri — 2009-06-30 00:08:01

A primary school teacher and his wife were arrested on suspicion of using a hidden video camera to secretly film people inside a women's toilet at a public park in Yokohama on Sunday, police said. (Yomiuri)

Nara, Japan's 1300th anniversary celebration in 2010

examiner.com — 2009-06-30 00:15:52

2010 will mark the 1300th anniversary of the construction of Heijo Palace and Nara becoming the capital of ancient Japan. With the help of the celebrations mascots Sento-kun and Manto-kun, festivities will be held through out the year in Nara city and surrounding areas. (examiner.com)

Japanese TV dusts off the competition with Maid Detective

inventorspot.com — 2009-06-30 04:08:40

Japan's TV Asahi has a new show that features a maid who works undercover as a detective. Featuring upcoming actress and singer Saki Fukuda, 18, Maid Detective is the story of a maid named Aoi Wakatsuki works for Toshiaki Kaido, a detective for the Kyoto Prefectural Police. Kaido asks his maid to infiltrate stately mansions to conduct investigations, since for one reason or another the police can't operate in the open. (inventorspot.com)

Woman found stabbed to death in apartment, man's body washed up at nearby river

Mainichi — 2009-06-30 12:40:20

A woman was found dead with stab wounds in an apartment here on early Tuesday, police said. Police received an emergency call at around 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday from a woman living in another room of the Matsue Heights apartment building, saying that she had discovered a woman lying in a pool of blood in a room on the second floor. (Mainichi)

Former yakuza boss, already sentenced to death, given moot 20 year sentence

Mainichi — 2009-06-30 12:40:20

A former yakuza boss was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Mito District Court on Tuesday for the murder of a curtain shop owner. The defendant, 50-year-old Ryoji Goto, was sentenced to death in 2007 for the assault and murder of five people in Mito and Utsunomiya, making the sentence handed down Tuesday essentially moot. (Mainichi)