Former wrestler rumored to run for Nagasaki governor
December 22, 2005NAGASAKI -- A secretary to wrestler-turned legislator Atsushi Onita attended an explanatory meeting Thursday for candidates in the upcoming Nagasaki gubernatorial election, raising speculations among local politicians about whether the legislator is intending to run for governor.
Tamao takes Xbox 360 for a spin online
December 22, 2005TV entertainer Tamao Sato had a thrilling online experience when she appeared in an event promoting Microsoft Corp.'s new Xbox 360 video game console.
Gov't urged to force condo chief to testify over fake quake data
December 22, 2005The ruling coalition is set to agree to summon the president of a condominium developer to testify as a sworn witness over his alleged involvement in the falsification of quake-resistance data for condominiums it developed, coalition officials said.
Seaman smitten with schoolgirl set to abandon ship
December 22, 2005FUKUOKA -- A fisheries high school technician who has been punished for sexually harassing a girl on a school training ship while it was sailing off Hawaii in June is poised to resign, school board officials said.
Japan's top 2005 stories: IT firms make waves with tie-up bids with broadcasters
December 22, 2005Two ambitious Internet-related businesses, Rakuten Inc.
Japanese people spend the least on Christmas gifts
December 22, 2005Japanese people spend the least amount of money on Christmas gifts among people in 11 countries and areas surveyed by a Paris-based life insurer.
Heavy snowfalls cause power outages, chaos in wide areas of Niigata, Kansai
December 22, 2005Heavy snowfalls and strong winds caused power outages and disrupted train and flight operations in extensive areas of the Kansai region and Niigata Prefecture on Thursday morning.
Japanese foreign minister calls China's military a threat
December 22, 2005China's expanding military budget represents a danger and is fueling suspicion among other nations, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Thursday.
Mom confesses to fatally dropping her 2 children into dam
December 22, 2005TOKUSHIMA -- A woman has turned herself into a police station and confessed to fatally dropping her two children into a dam, officers said.
GSDF member suspended after breaking into school to take students' clothes
December 22, 2005SAPPORO -- A Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) member arrested after breaking into a junior high school "to take female students' gym clothes" has been suspended for seven days, GSDF officials said.
About 30 percent of buildings fail to receive required post-completion inspections
December 22, 2005Nearly 30 percent of buildings failed to receive legally required, post-completion inspections in fiscal 2004, according to a survey conducted by the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry.
Sexual minority group complains over Razor Ramon Hard Gay game
December 22, 2005A sexual minority network has sent complaints to toy giant Tomy and Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) over a new version of Tomy's Kurohige Kiki Ippatsu game that uses a character based on television personality Razor Ramon HG, alternatively known as Hard Gay.
Women win 3 million yen in sexual harassment suit against talent agency
December 22, 2005Three women who filed a lawsuit against talent agency New Century Records, claiming they were sexually harassed by the company's president and almost forced into prostitution, have been awarded 3 million yen in damages.
Assembly member under fire for saying he would like to attack 'defenseless' cities
December 22, 2005OTSU -- A municipal assembly member has come under fire from local residents for making a belligerent remark to the effect that he would like to attack any defenseless city.
Fans flock to see tennis superstar Sharapova in Osaka
December 22, 2005OSAKA -- Russian-born tennis superstar Maria Sharapova appeared in an event organized for fans here on Wednesday night, attracting an audience of about 7,200.
Top Takarazuka performer falls 2 meters to stage from wire
December 22, 2005OSAKA -- Yoka Wao, a top member of the Takarazuka female troupe, injured herself when she fell about 2 meters from a wire to the stage during a performance at Umeda Arts Theater here, officials said.
Kumi Koda voted best pop artist of 2005
December 22, 2005Pop music fans have chosen singer Kumi Koda as 2005's best popular artist on the Oricon Top 20 Web site.
Heavy snowfalls cause power outage in wide areas
December 22, 2005Heavy snowfalls caused power outages in extensive areas of the Kansai region and Niigata Prefecture on Thursday morning, power suppliers said.
Japan's population starts declining in 2005 for first time
December 22, 2005Japan's population dropped this year for the first time on record, the government said Thursday, signaling a demographic turnaround for one of the world's fastest-aging societies.