Sao Paulo beats Liverpool 1-0 in Yokohama to become world club champion
December 18, 2005YOKOHAMA -- Mineiro fired Sao Paulo to its third global title in a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the Club World Championship on Sunday.
Heavy snow kills at least three, disrupts transport services
December 18, 2005Heavy snow killed at least three people in Japan this weekend and forced airlines to cancel flights, police and media said Sunday, as forecasters warned the harsh conditions were set to continue.
Man kills teen stepdaughter after fight over friends
December 18, 2005ICHIHARA, Chiba -- A man who killed his stepdaughter by repeatedly stabbing her in a frenzy built up following an argument over her friends was arrested Sunday, police said.
Yazuka-linked kidnapper arrested after taking bound victim on 1,000-km trip
December 18, 2005HOFU, Yamaguchi -- A man has been arrested for stuffing a builder into the trunk of his car and driving 1,000 kilometers to Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture, where he kept him captive, police said.
Man's body found shoved into case
December 18, 2005CHIRYU, Aichi -- An adult male's body was found stuffed into a traveling case here Sunday, police said.
Olympic contenders -- minus Asada -- ready for Turin
December 18, 2005With the Grand Prix Final over, the world's top figure skaters now have their sights set on the Turin Games.
Latest radish discovery looks like a baby
December 18, 2005KOGA, Ibaraki -- A 68-year-old housewife was surprised to find that one of her garden radishes looks like a baby sitting up.
Ninja experts to offer 'sneak preview' of skills in Taiwan
December 18, 2005IGA, Mie -- Ninja experts from the Mie Prefecture city of Iga, an area famous for ninja art, are set to appear in a six-day event in the Taiwanese cities of Taipei and Gaoxiong next month, it has been learned.
Glass snowmen a hit with locals, tourists in Otaru
December 18, 2005OTARU, Hokkaido -- Glass dolls shaped like snowmen made by a glassware studio are gaining popularity among local residents as well as tourists.
Aso says Japan wants better ties with South Korea
December 18, 2005Japan is prepared to deal with issues from the past and work toward improving relations with neighbor South Korea where it has been criticized for failing to show remorse for past atrocities, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Sunday.
LDP's Nakagawa says consumption tax won't be raised in fiscal 2007
December 18, 2005Japan must overcome a decade of deflation and cut government spending, and will not raise the nation's consumption tax in fiscal 2007 from the current 5 percent, Hidenao Nakagawa, Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chairman, said Sunday.
Japanese officials inspect shipment of U.S. beef as import goes into full swing
December 18, 2005Customs and quarantine officials in Japan on Sunday inspected the first beef shipment from the U.S.