Japan braces for a deep, white Christmas
December 23, 2005Heavy snow will fall continuously on Friday and Saturday in the mountainous areas of the Hokuriku region and the Sea of Japan side of mainland Japan, the Meteorological Agency said.
Olympic shadow hangs over start of national skating championships
December 23, 2005Top Japanese skaters on Friday began competing in the Japan national figure skating championships, an event to decide the country's representatives at the Winter Olympics in Turin.
Actress Tanaka discusses tough role as blind orphan in new movie
December 23, 2005Actress Rena Tanaka said she found it tough to play a blind woman who loses her father in a movie set to open in autumn 2006, "Kuraitokorode Machiawase" (Meeting at a Dark Place).
2 die after school teacher's home burns down
December 23, 2005Two people were found dead in the debris of the home of an elementary school teacher in western Tokyo that was burned down in a fire early Friday morning, police said.
Police see 11 percent drop in crime in Japan
December 23, 2005The number of crimes reported from January to November this year was about 2.1 million, an 11 percent drop from the same period in 2004, the National Police Agency (NPA) said.
13 million yen stolen from pachinko parlor safe
December 23, 2005ECHIGAWA, Shiga -- About 13 million yen has been stolen from a safe at a pachinko prize exchange booth, police said Friday.
'China threat' comment causes stir in Japanese government
December 23, 2005Foreign Minister Taro Aso's remarks that China's military buildup poses a threat to Japan has created a stir in the government.