Colossal comic convention kicks off in Tokyo
December 30, 2005Comic-book fans piled into Tokyo's Big Sight exhibition venue on Thursday and Friday as Comic Market 69, Japan's largest comic convention, was held, spreading information on self-published comics, video games and related material.
Investigators identify 'downburst' as suspect in deadly derailment
December 30, 2005YAMAGATA -- The express train that derailed while traveling on a manmade bank was apparently struck by a strong wind called a "downburst," a government investigative group said.
Final family member succumbs to fatal hot spring gas
December 30, 2005YUZAWA, Akita -- A 47-year-old man who lost his wife and two children after they were all poisoned by hydrogen sulfide gas at a hot spring here yesterday, died on Friday without regaining consciousness, officials said.
Hurdles medallist Tamesue appears at Tokyo Stock Exchange closing ceremony
December 30, 2005Japanese stocks fell on Friday, the final day of trading for the year, as hurdles athlete Dai Tamesue appeared at the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) in a closing ceremony to cheer the economy on.
Natural gas kills mother and children at hot spring
December 30, 2005YUZAWA, Akita -- Three members of a family of four died here, apparently after the family was poisoned by hydrogen sulfide gas coming out of the ground near a hot spring, police said.
Teacher arrested for hugging woman that looked like ex-lover
December 30, 2005KAMAKURA, Kanagawa -- A junior high school teacher who tried to hug a woman whom he said looked like his former sweetheart has been arrested on suspicion of assault, police said.
Nara restaurant serves up huge rugby-ball omelet dishes
December 30, 2005NARA -- A restaurant here has started dishing up huge servings of omelets and fried rice in the shape of rugby balls to mark the start of the 85th national high school rugby tournament at nearby Hanazono Stadium.
Homeless man stabs abusive youth in stomach
December 30, 2005ATSUGI, Kanagawa -- A homeless man has been arrested for stabbing a junior high school student with a knife after the boy and his friends threw stones and taunted him, police said.
Commuters pack bullet trains beyond capacity in hometown rush
December 30, 2005Commuters heading to their hometowns for the New Year break have packed bullet trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, filling Nozomi bullet train carriages beyond the designated capacity, railway officials said.
Murakami Fund sells off stake in Osaka Stock Exchange
December 30, 2005A major investment group called the Murakami Fund has sold all shares it owned in the Osaka Stock Exchange (OSE), earning nearly 3 billion yen in gains, market sources said.
Children burned to death in Hiroshima blaze
December 30, 2005HIROSHIMA -- Two children died early Friday after a fire broke out in their home in Hiroshima's Asakita-ku, razing the two-story structure, police said.
Japan's top 2005 stories: Confident Koizumi leads LDP to landslide election victory
December 30, 2005"Koizumi Theater," one of two grand-prize winners of an award for the best buzzwords of 2005, refers to the opera-loving prime minister's single-handed achievement of leading the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to a landslide victory in the Lower House elections in September.