Moderate on U.S. air station relocation plan wins in Nago election
January 22, 2006A candidate who is more flexible than two other aspirants on their opposition to a government plan to relocate a U.S. military airport to their city won in Sunday's mayoral election in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, according to a local election board. Yoshikazu Shimabukuro, 59, former chairman of the city assembly, said following his victory that he opposes the plan but is ''ready to hold talks'' with the central government if the state makes modifications to the plan in a way to receive local support for it.
Snowfall disrupts traffic in Tokyo, Kanto region
January 22, 2006The first snowfall of the season for Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto region, experienced by the area Saturday, continued to disrupt air, railroad and expressway traffic Sunday. More than 50 international and domestic flights operated by Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways were canceled Sunday due to snow-caused disruptions in flight schedule on Saturday.
Livedoor's Horie denies own involvement in scandal in blog message
January 22, 2006Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie, at the center of a high-profile probe over alleged securities law violations, denied his own involvement in the scandal in the latest message posted Sunday on his blog site. ''Concerning the matter that is suspected, I do not think I have done anything,'' he writes in the first public denial of his involvement in the allegations, including one that a Livedoor group firm disclosed falsified financial information to deceive investors.
Livedoor share-split scheme handed down from parent to subsidiary
January 22, 2006Livedoor Co. split its stock four times since 2001 in order to boost its share price, before one of its subsidiaries -- now a subject of alleged securities law violations -- followed suit, sources close to the matter said Sunday. Livedoor is believed to have let the subsidiary use the parent company's method after finding it difficult to raise its own stock price further, according to the sources.
Japan makes final preparations for Monday's satellite launch
January 22, 2006The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency made final preparations Sunday for the scheduled launch Monday of a land-observation satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. The No. 8 version of the H-2A rocket carrying the Advanced Land Observing Satellite, nicknamed ''Daichi,'' is set to be launched at 10:33 a.m. Monday, according to agency officials.
Moderate on U.S. air station relocation plan winning in Nago election
January 22, 2006A candidate who is more flexible than two other aspirants on their opposition to a government plan to relocate a U.S. military airport to their city is heading for victory in Sunday's mayoral election in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, according to Kyodo News projections. Yoshikazu Shimabukuro, 59, former chairman of the city assembly, opposes the plan but has indicated a readiness to hold talks with the central government, depending on how it is modified.
Golf: Title hopes fading for Japan pair at Women's World Cup
January 22, 2006Japan's hopes of winning a second straight title at the Women's World Cup of Golf faded Saturday after Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine fell 13 shots off the lead after shooting a 2-over-par 74 in the alternate-shot foursomes. Miyazato and Yokomine, who began the day tied for last in the 20-team field at eight strokes off co-leaders Sweden and South Korea, failed to make up momentum in a round that featured four birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys and moved to a 3-over 147 for a tie at 14th place with one day left in the tournament at Gary Player Country Club.