News On Japan

Man gets 17 years for child porn

Japan Times — 2012-05-16 22:02:37

The U.S. Federal District Court in Riverside, California, has sentenced a Japanese man to 17 years in prison and lifetime supervised release for conspiracy to advertise child pornography on the Internet, the Justice Department said Tuesday. (Japan Times)

Power saving reduced heat island effect

Yomiuri — 2012-05-16 21:55:42

Last summer's energy-saving drive alleviated the heat island effect in Tokyo, with the temperature difference between central and suburban areas in the capital shrinking by up to 0.67 C compared with the previous year, researchers have found. (Yomiuri)

Imperial couple set out for British queen's fete

Yomiuri — 2012-05-16 21:55:42

The Emperor and Empress departed for an official visit to Britain on Wednesday morning to attend events celebrating the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne. (Yomiuri)

DoCoMo to launch smart phones for elderly

AFP — 2012-05-16 21:51:23

Leading Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo on Wednesday unveiled its first smart phone specially designed for elderly users, as the company bids to tap into an ageing consumer population. (AFP)

Toyota rolls out redesigned Corolla

Wall Street Journal — 2012-05-16 21:50:03

For four guys going golfing in Japan's picturesque countryside over the weekend, there's slim pickings when it comes to small fuel-economy vehicles big enough to fit clubs and all passengers. (Wall Street Journal)

Japanese 'island' claims dismissed by UN

China Daily — 2012-05-16 21:44:35

Tokyo's bid to upgrade the status of a Pacific atoll into an island, and claim an exclusive economic zone around it, was dismissed by the United Nations. (China Daily)

Japanese lesbian can't wait for Disneyland 'wedding'

Reuters — 2012-05-16 21:43:58

Like many Japanese women, Koyuki Higashi adores Tokyo Disneyland. So it was only natural that she would want to hold her wedding there, as many other couples have done. (Reuters)

Nikkei falls 0.9 pct, deep in "oversold" territory

Reuters — 2012-05-16 21:41:53

Japan's Nikkei average fell 0.9 percent on Wednesday as investors cut exposure to risky assets after the failure of Greek politicians to form a government raised the prospect leftists opposed to bailout terms could win new elections. (Reuters)

Japan penguin escapee 'spotted' in Tokyo Bay

BBC — 2012-05-16 21:39:22

A penguin which escaped from Tokyo's Sea Life Park has reportedly been spotted swimming in waters around the Japanese capital. (BBC)

3-yr-old boy, left home alone, falls to death from 11th-floor balcony

Japan Today — 2012-05-16 06:49:57

A three-year-old boy fell to his death from the balcony of his 11th-floor apartment in Adachi Ward on Tuesday after his parents left him home alone. (Japan Today)

Okada bets to win with fine dining and casinos

Reuters — 2012-05-16 06:47:26

Kazuo Okada, the Japanese billionaire engaged in a fierce legal battle with Las Vegas casino tycoon Steve Wynn, is diversifying his pachinko company with a string of his own restaurants and is negotiating to build a casino resort in South Korea. (Reuters)

China, Japan, US to witness 'ring' solar eclipse

AFP — 2012-05-16 06:45:41

At sunrise in some parts of China and Japan and by sunset in the western United States, a partial solar eclipse is set to slink across a narrow swath of the Earth on May 20 and 21. (AFP)

BOJ misses JGB buying target for first time

Reuters — 2012-05-16 06:44:51

The Bank of Japan fell short of its target for buying government bonds on Wednesday for the first time since introducing an asset-buying scheme in 2010, the latest sign it is pumping more cash than markets can swallow. (Reuters)

Japan trading houses target assets to meet catalyst demand

Reuters — 2012-05-16 06:44:15

Japan's trading houses are targeting deals to secure platinum and palladium supplies to meet expected shortages later this decade, when tighter rules on auto pollutants and higher car sales boost demand for the metals used in autocatalysts. (Reuters)

Japan firms eye $4.4 billion stake in Australia LNG project

Reuters — 2012-05-16 06:41:15

A group of Japanese firms is in talks to pay $4.4 billion for a stake in Australia's Wheatstone gas field that had been set aside for bailed-out nuclear operator Tepco, as the country looks to shore up long-term energy supplies, the Nikkei business daily reported. (Reuters)

Self Defense Force members suspended for ironing subordinate's rear end

NewsOnJapan.com — 2012-05-15 21:12:30

Five members of the Japan Self Defense Force were disciplined for assaulting a subordinate by setting an iron to his rear end. (NewsOnJapan.com)

Residents ponder significance of Okinawa's reversion on 40th anniversary

Mainichi — 2012-05-15 21:04:19

Many Okinawa and mainland Japan residents pondered the significance of the return of Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty on May 15, the 40th anniversary of the reversion. (Mainichi)

Aftershocks along Fukushima, Ibaraki borders may take over 100 years to subside

Mainichi — 2012-05-15 21:00:11

It may take at least 100 years before aftershocks from the March 11, 2011 quake along the boundaries of Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures subside, a recent study reveals. (Mainichi)

Woman in consultation with Sapporo police over stalking abducted and molested

Mainichi — 2012-05-15 21:00:11

A woman who was in consultation with police over a stalking case was abducted and molested by an unknown suspect, it has been learned. (Mainichi)

Eatery's buoy washes up in Alaska

Japan Times — 2012-05-15 20:58:45

A spherical buoy found on the coast of Middleton Island in the Gulf of Alaska after apparently being swept away in the March 2011 tsunami was one of several used for the sign of a restaurant in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, 5,000 km away. (Japan Times)

Meeting between Yonekura, Chinese minister canceled

Yomiuri — 2012-05-15 20:42:56

A planned meeting between Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) leader Hiromasa Yonekura and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has been canceled, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday. (Yomiuri)

Promoting computer literacy in Japan's disaster-stricken areas

Channel NewsAsia — 2012-05-15 20:39:03

Eighty per cent of businesses in Kamaishi city in Iwate Prefecture are believed to have resumed operations, some in temporary facilities. It is one of the coastal areas damaged by last year's earthquake and tsunami that is now showing signs of recovery. (Channel NewsAsia)

Mickey Mouse hosts gay weddings in Japan

AFP — 2012-05-15 20:37:23

Just days after US President Barack Obama came out in favour of gay marriage, another supporter of homosexual unions emerged in Japan: Mickey Mouse. Despite their having no legal status, same sex couples are able to hold fairytale wedding ceremonies at hotels inside the popular Tokyo Disney Resort, including at the Cinderella Castle, a company spokeswoman said Tuesday. (AFP)

Japan's loo with a view is world's largest too

telegraph.co.uk — 2012-05-15 20:36:44

A Japanese town has opened what is claims is the world's largest public lavatory - a single toilet in a glass cubicle surrounded by more than 2,150 square feet of carefully tended gardens. (telegraph.co.uk)

Cherry blossoms in Fukushima

New York Times — 2012-05-15 20:35:58

The Hideyo Noguchi Memorial, a small brick building nestled by the limpid waters of Inawashiro Lake in central Fukushima prefecture, is dedicated to the extraordinary life and achievements of the region's most revered son. (New York Times)

Japan unlikely to land Watson despite arrest in Germany

Japan Times — 2012-05-15 20:33:37

The arrest of Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson in Frankfurt on Sunday is unlikely to lead to his arrest by Japan for a combination of reasons, one being that Tokyo does not have an extradition treaty with Berlin, according to Toru Chochi, a Japan Coast Guard official. (Japan Times)

The decline of Japan, Inc.

dailyfinance.com — 2012-05-15 20:32:38

There are numerous examples of American companies performing badly this earnings season (hello, JPMorgan Chase!). But at least they're not doing as poorly as several formerly world-beating Japanese companies. (dailyfinance.com)

Nikkei falls to 3-1/2 month closing low

Reuters — 2012-05-15 20:31:38

Japan's Nikkei share average fell 0.8 percent to a 3-1/2 month closing low on Tuesday, weighed by exporters with exposure to Europe after Greece struggled to form a coalition government, raising fears that it may exit the euro zone. (Reuters)

Shops selling legal drugs have now spread to 29 prefectures

NewsOnJapan.com — 2012-05-15 07:38:32

Places selling legal herbs which have similar halucinagenic properties to marijuana have increased to 29 prefectures in Japan as of March, which is a much wider spread of an area in comparison to last January. (NewsOnJapan.com)

6-yr-old girl dies after car plows into schoolchildren in Osaka

Japan Today — 2012-05-15 07:18:04

Police said Tuesday they have arrested the driver of a car that plowed into a group of elementary school children, killing one girl, as they crossed a road in Osaka on Monday.

(Japan Today)

Sony, Panasonic eye next generation TV tie-up

Japan Today — 2012-05-15 07:16:52

Japan's cash-bleeding electronics giants Sony and Panasonic are looking to join forces to produce next generation televisions in a bid to claw back market from South Korean rivals, a report said Tuesday. (Japan Today)

Honda shows robotics for handsfree unicycle

Jakarta Post — 2012-05-15 07:12:42

Look, no hands. Scooting about in a unicycle is no sweat with Honda's new robotics technology.

Swaying your body from side to side is all you need to do to turn, rotate full circle and zip around on the Uni-Cub, which looks a bit like a floating car seat. (Jakarta Post)

Okinawa marks 40 years since return to Japan

Japan Today — 2012-05-15 07:09:11

The tropical island chain of Okinawa on Tuesday marked 40 years since U.S. occupying forces returned it to Japan, as locals readied to protest against the continued American military presence there. (Japan Today)

Panasonic quarterly loss balloons 10-fold to complete year of record red ink

Washington Post — 2012-05-15 07:06:42

Panasonic's January-March losses ballooned 10-fold to 438 billion yen ($5 billion), completing a year of record red ink at the Japanese electronics maker battered by natural disasters and an ailing TV business. (Washington Post)

Mixi mulls putting itself up for sale

MarketWatch — 2012-05-15 07:06:06

Japanese social networking company mixi Inc. is considering putting itself up for sale as its users defect to increasingly popular U.S. rival Facebook Inc., Nikkei Business Online reported Tuesday. (MarketWatch)

4 Japanese real estate brokers report sales drops on disaster

Mainichi — 2012-05-15 07:04:45

Four of Japan's five major real estate brokers reported sales declines for the past year as the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan forced them to delay and reduce condominium sales. (Mainichi)

Japan to launch 4 satellites Friday, 1 for SKorea

2012-05-15 07:02:28

Japan plans to launch four satellites into space this week, including a South Korean one that is its first payload for a foreign customer. ()

Protest over Tokyo Uygur gathering

China Daily — 2012-05-15 06:59:54

Beijing on Monday lodged strong protest over Tokyo's permission for the separatist World Uygur Congress meeting to be held in Japan, and slammed Uygur separatist Rebiya Kadeer's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine. (China Daily)

Sumo: Hakuho defeated again; Kisenosato shares lead

Japan Times — 2012-05-14 21:38:57

Kisenosato lost his cool but still emerged the winner in a heated bout against rival ozeki Kotoshogiku, retaining his share of the lead with rank-and-filer Tochiozan on the ninth day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday. (Japan Times)

Japan assembly agrees to restart reactors, hurdles remain

Reuters — 2012-05-14 21:35:03

The local assembly in a Japanese town that hosts a nuclear plant agreed on Monday it was necessary to restart two off-line reactors, its chairman said, the first such nod since all the country's stations were halted after the Fukushima crisis. (Reuters)

Gov't to accept price hike for F-35; each jet to cost over 10 billion yen

Mainichi — 2012-05-14 21:27:27

The Japanese government agreed May 14 on plans to accept a price hike on Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth jets that it will buy from the U.S. as next-generation fighters. (Mainichi)

Olympics: Japan pins judo hopes on young blood

Reuters — 2012-05-14 21:21:18

Japanese judo has been in a state of decline in recent years but the country is pinning its hopes on an infusion of new blood at the London Olympics. (Reuters)

Nikkei inches up, helped by China easing

Reuters — 2012-05-14 21:19:55

Japan's Nikkei share average inched higher on Monday to end a three-day losing streak as China's monetary easing countered unease ahead of Greece's last-ditch attempt to form a coalition government later in the day. (Reuters)

Japan Airlines reports $2.3b profit

ninemsn.com.au — 2012-05-14 21:07:40

Japan Airlines has reported an annual net profit of $2.33 billion, thanks to cost cutting efforts. (ninemsn.com.au)

Japan to experience power shortages this summer

Bloomberg — 2012-05-14 06:00:44

Kansai Electric Power Co. (9503) and two other Japanese utilities may have power shortages this summer without supplies from nuclear reactors, a government panel said. (Bloomberg)

Japan's new smart city

Bangkok Post — 2012-05-14 05:51:15

A display in Kitakyushu shows some of the products made from the materials recovered after a car is broken down bit by bit and everything totally recycled. The concept of the smart community is nothing new to Kitakyushu, but after years of small-scale innovations, the city is ready to test the concept on a large scale, developing 2,600 houses and apartments on government land. (Bangkok Post)

Japan's first police cat rats out criminals

inventorspot.com — 2012-05-14 05:50:04

In Kyoto, Japan, the long arm of the law ends in a paw! Meet Iemon (Ee-eh-mon), Japan's first police cat, an abandoned stray who unofficially joined the force at the tender age of two weeks. He now spends much of his time atop the service counter at Yoro Station, adding a kinder, gentler, dare we say "human" touch to the local cop shop. (inventorspot.com)

Hokkaido restarts coal-fired unit as planned

Reuters — 2012-05-14 05:46:59

Japanese utility Hokkaido Electric Power Co said it resumed operations of the 175-megawatt coal-fired No.1 unit at its Naie plant on Sunday morning following unplanned repair work. (Reuters)

50 Osaka city bureau officials sport tattoos despite ethics code

Yomiuri — 2012-05-13 21:17:02

About 50 employees in the Osaka city government's Environment Bureau said in a survey they have tattoos, despite an ethics code that frowns on such body decorations, according to sources. (Yomiuri)

Ozawa speaks against consumption tax hike

Yomiuri — 2012-05-13 21:15:44

Ichiro Ozawa, former president of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, has stressed anew his opposition to the government's plan to raise the consumption tax rate. (Yomiuri)