South Korean actor Bae Yong Joon tops 2006 calendar sales in Japan
December 29, 2005Popular South Korean actor Bae Yong Joon topped the list in calendar sales for 2006 on an Internet shopping site in Japan, it has been learned.
Woman thought to have been missing on derailed train identifies herself to police
December 29, 2005YAMAGATA -- A woman reported Thursday to police that she may be the woman whose whereabouts had not been known since she was spotted with a young girl on a train that derailed in Yamagata Prefecture last Sunday, police said.
U.S. soldier arrested in Japan over hit-and-run accident released under accord
December 29, 2005A U.S. soldier stationed in Japan, who was arrested on Dec.
Actor Naohito Fujiki marries
December 29, 2005Popular male actor Naohito Fujiki has married, he said on his fan Web site.Fujiki said he has married a woman he had been dating.
JR East Chairman hints at resignation over deadly derailment
December 29, 2005SHONAI, Yamagata -- East Japan Railway Co.
2 masked men rob pachinko parlor of 12 million yen
December 29, 2005MITO -- Two masked men made away with some 12 million yen in cash from a pachinko parlor after they threatened to stab employees and bound them with tape early on Thursday, police said.
Education Ministry to punish researchers who forge theses
December 29, 2005The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is poised to punish researchers who have falsified data in their theses by banning them from applying for grants from the so-called competitive research fund, ministry officials said.
Japan's first dolphin conceived from frozen sperm dies
December 29, 2005KAMOGAWA, Chiba -- Japan's first dolphin conceived by artificial insemination using frozen sperm has died at the Kamogawa Seaworld theme park, officials said.
Softbank begins to sell tickets to local horse races on the Internet
December 29, 2005Softbank Corp.
JR West workers punished for downloading obscene images to company-owned cell phones
December 29, 2005West Japan Railway Co.
Foreign Ministry admits Japanese consul's suicide linked to Chinese pressure
December 29, 2005A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry has admitted that the suicide of a Japanese consul in Shanghai was linked to Chinese authorities' attempts to force him to hand over confidential information.