Japanese official says police may be asked to help whalers
January 10, 2006CANBERRA -- Japan's fisheries agency may ask for Japanese police to be sent to protect the country's whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean, following two separate collisions this week between whalers and protest ships, a senior agency official said Tuesday.
Bomb threat forces Sapporo Municipal Government to evacuate 2,500 from City Hall
January 10, 2006SAPPORO -- A bomb threat forced the municipal government here to evacuate about 2,500 employees and visitors from City Hall on Tuesday morning, police said.
Fuji TV announcer Kyoko Uchida engaged
January 10, 2006Fuji TV announcer Kyoko Uchida has become engaged to an employee of show business firm Yoshimoto Kogyo, the major broadcaster said on Tuesday.
Elderly woman trapped in heavy snow freezes to death
January 10, 2006AKITA -- An elderly woman froze to death apparently after her legs were trapped in heavy snow in front of her home, police said.
Skater Ando attends Olympic send-off party at her high school
January 10, 2006NAGOYA -- Popular Japanese skater Miki Ando, who is set to represent Japan at the Winter Olympic Games in Turin, visited her high school in Nagoya on Monday to participate in an Olympic send-off party.
Son arrested for stabbing mom to death, injuring dad while drunk
January 10, 2006FUKUOKA -- A 37-year-old man who fatally stabbed his mother and seriously injured his father at their home has been arrested, police said.
Demolition work begins on 3 condo blocks in wake of building strength scandal
January 10, 2006Demolition work began on Tuesday at three apartment blocks in Tokyo, built mainly on forged structural strength data, company officials said.
Evidence builds up against wife in insurance murder investigation
January 10, 2006KITAKYUSHU -- A woman suspected of drowning her husband in a faked car accident probably drove the vehicle into the sea slowly so she could escape, investigators have concluded.
Man busted for masterminding abduction of newborn baby saddled with huge debts
January 10, 2006SENDAI -- The man arrested for masterminding the abduction of a newborn baby owed consumer credit companies about 60 million yen, an amount almost equal to the ransom he demanded from the victim's family, investigators said.
Firefighters arrived late at deadly blaze because officials thought report was hoax
January 10, 2006OMURA, Nagasaki -- Firefighters were delayed for over two minutes before being dispatched to battle a deadly blaze at a home for the elderly because a firefighter asked for confirmation that the report was not a hoax, it has been learned.
The Great Sasuke warns rowdy Coming-of-Age ceremony participant over firecracker
January 10, 2006MORIOKA -- Professional wrestler "The Great Sasuke" caused a stir at a Coming-of-Age ceremony here when he stepped down from the stage to warn a participant who let off a firecracker during a speech by the mayor.
Mild bird flu strikes at least 77 Japanese
January 10, 2006Up to 77 people in Japan -- most of them chicken farm workers -- may have been infected with a mild form of bird flu, a news report said Tuesday, citing government officials.