TV ratings for Japan national figure skating championships hit 33.7 percent
December 26, 2005The average viewing ratings of the Japan national figure skating championships' free programs aired on Sunday was 33.7 percent in the Kanto region, rating firm Video Research said.
Man stabs teen son for intervening in argument with wife
December 26, 2005SETTSU, Osaka -- A man who stabbed his 16-year-old son in the stomach after the teen intervened in an argument between him and his wife has been arrested, police said.
4 people who killed themselves in suicide pact identified
December 26, 2005TOKIGAWA, Saitama -- Four people who apparently killed themselves by burning briquettes in a car in an apparent suicide pact were identified on Monday, police said.
2 men illegally export discarded electric appliances to North Korea
December 26, 2005YOKOHAMA -- Police reported two men to customs on Monday for illegally exporting discarded electric appliances to North Korea, police officials said.
Singer Takako Uehara appears at promotion for new NTT DoCoMo phone
December 26, 2005YOKOHAMA -- Singer Takako Uehara appeared at promotion for a new mobile phone by NTT DoCoMo on Sunday.
Famous shop recalls Christmas cakes over food poisoning scare
December 26, 2005A company that runs a well known cake and fruit shop has begun recalling chestnut tarts it sold as Christmas cakes after a virus that causes food poisoning was detected in them, officials of the company said.
Driver injured after man fires shots at two passing cars
December 26, 2005YOKOHAMA -- A man fired shots at two passing cars early on Monday, slightly injuring the driver of one of the vehicles, police said.
Knife-wielding man robs supermarket in Shizuoka Prefecture of 5 million yen
December 26, 2005FUJIEDA, Shizuoka -- A knife-wielding man robbed a supermarket here of about 5 million yen late Sunday night, police said Monday.
Man drives truck into crowd in Sendai shopping arcade
December 26, 2005SENDAI -- A man under arrest for driving his truck recklessly in a shopping arcade, injuring seven people, said he wanted to run his vehicle into any crowded venue, police said.
Local governments see red over plan to have them share costs of rebuilding shaky condos
December 26, 2005Local governments are up in arms over the national government's plan to have them share the costs of reconstructing condominiums built based on falsified structural strength data.