Mainichi Daily News - All Stories
All the stories published by the Mainichi Daily News, the number one source of news on Japan in English.



2 taxi drivers attacked in Osaka (Jan 6)
OSAKA -- A taxi driver was slashed in the neck in an attack in the Osaka Prefecture city of Takatsuki in the predawn hours of Tuesday, hours after a similar attack in the neighboring city of Neyagawa, police said.


871 expected to run in the Lower House election (Jan 6)
A total of 871 people are expected to run in the next general election for the House of Representatives, which will be called by around September, a Mainichi survey has shown.


Department stores see drop in New Year's sales figures (Jan 6)
Japan's major department stores saw a substantial drop in their New Year's sales figures when they reopened for business on Jan.


Researchers successfully simulate typhoon using weather data (Jan 6)
A Japanese-American research team successfully simulated the emergence of a typhoon using a new weather model.


LDP lawmaker apologizes for hinting 'tent village' residents don't want to work (Jan 6)
Parliamentary Secretary for Internal Affairs and Communications Tetsushi Sakamoto on Tuesday retracted his controversial comments questioning whether unemployed people who took shelter in Tokyo's Hibiya Park over the New Year period seriously possess the will to work.


LDP and DPJ candidates share similar policies ahead of election (Jan 6)
Many members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) who intend to run in the next House of Representatives election share basic policies with each other, a Mainichi survey has shown.


Father of murdered Briton appeals for information as fugitive suspect turns 30 (Jan 6)
The father of a British woman who was murdered in Japan in 2007 appealed for information from the public on Monday, the 30th birthday of the suspect wanted by police.


Server administrator arrested over child pornography (Jan 6)
Police on Tuesday arrested a server administrator in Aichi Prefecture on suspicion of possessing child pornography videos with intent to distribute them through a file-sharing program.


Japanese astronaut Furukawa excited about first trip to space (Jan 6)
Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, 44, who will stay on the International Space Station (ISS) for six months from spring 2011, expressed excitement about his first space flight at a press conference on Monday.


Mountaineer Ken Noguchi announces plans to build school in Nepal (Jan 6)
KATHMANDU, Nepal -- Mountain climber and environmental activist Ken Noguchi has announced plans to start building a school in a village at the base of Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world.


'Tent village' for temp workers dismantled in Hibiya Park (Jan 5)
A "tent village" in Hibiya Park set up for temporary workers who have lost their jobs and housing was dismantled on Monday morning.


Statute of limitations on murder cases may be extended (Jan 5)
The Ministry of Justice plans to set up a study panel as early as this month to consider reviewing the statute of limitations on criminal cases, it has been learned.


Tokyo company shoots pic of meteor shower against aurora in Alaska (Jan 5)
A Tokyo company has successfully photographed the Quadrantid meteor shower occurring at the same time as an aurora in Alaska.


Japan files protest with China over development of gas field in East China Sea (Jan 5)
Japan has filed a protest with China over its development of a gas field in the East China Sea, arguing that unilateral development during ongoing consultations violates an agreement between the two countries, government officials said.


Tuna sells for 9.63 million yen at year's first auction at Tsukiji market (Jan 5)
A tuna caught off Oma, Aomori Prefecture, was sold for 9.63 million yen at Tsukiji fish market's first auction of the year in Tokyo on Monday.


Trouble erupts after people's photos in CD collection appear in ads (Jan 5)
Trouble has erupted between people whose photographs appeared in CDs sold by a Tokyo company and advertisers who used the pictures, with reports that photographs were altered and used for groundless advertisements.


BOJ to revise GDP forecast to negative growth in 2009 (Jan 5)
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is set to revise its forecast to negative growth for Japan's real-term gross domestic product (GDP) in fiscal 2009, central bank sources said.


Sumitomo Mitsui Bank worker illicitly approved 100 million yen brokered loan (Jan 5)
A bank worker at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.


Jan. 7, 2009 - Haiku in English (Jan 6)
beads of dewthrobbing in the lightspring morning--Keith A. Simmonds (Tunapuna, Trinidad & Tobago)


Jan. 6, 2009 - Haiku in English (Jan 5)
kitten pawsand pauses --first snow--J. D. Heskin (Duluth, MN, USA)