'Horiemon' seen as 'negative example' by Univ. of Tokyo students
January 30, 2006Former Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie rapidly expanded his business as one of Japan's winning group of entrepreneurs after dropping out of the prestigious University of Tokyo and abruptly fell in disgrace -- a way of life current students at the university sees as an ''example of how not to behave.'' Horie and three other Livedoor group executives were arrested earlier this month allegedly disclosing falsified information on a takeover of a publisher and manipulating the group's financial figures in 2004. Horie stepped down completely from the management of the Livedoor group last week.
S. Korea voices 'deep regret' over Aso's Yasukuni remarks
January 30, 2006South Korea's foreign ministry on Monday expressed ''deep regret'' over Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso's call for Japanese Emperor Akihito to visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine and urged him to ''immediately withdraw'' that remark. ''We urge the Japanese foreign minister to immediately withdraw the remark that shuns neighboring nations,'' the ministry said in a statement.
Softbank to establish 'cyber college' in Fukuoka
January 30, 2006Softbank Corp. plans to open a ''cyber college'' that would offer all lectures via the Internet for undergraduates studying for a degree, it announced Monday. The parent of Yahoo Japan Corp. aims to launch the college, the first of its kind in Japan, in April next year in the city of Fukuoka after gaining the approval of the education ministry, it said.
Senior defense official arrested over suspected bid rigging
January 30, 2006Prosecutors on Monday arrested Takayoshi Kawano, 57, a top official at the Defense Facilities Administration Agency, and two others on suspicion of leading bid rigging for projects ordered by the agency. The two others are Takashige Matsuda, 52, an official at the agency's general affairs department, and Mamoru Ikezawa, 57, the agency's former technical councilor, according to sources at the special investigation department at the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office.
Abe downplays Aso's call for emperor to visit to Yasukuni Shine
January 30, 2006Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said Monday he thinks Foreign Minister Taro Aso's recent call for the emperor to visit Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine was his personal view. The Japanese government's top spokesman said at a news conference that whether the emperor visits the shrine is a matter that should be regarded as his personal affair and the Imperial Household Agency is dealing with it in view of the emperor's ''special status'' and social circumstances.