2 deaf and mute people arrested over sign-language intimidation

January 16, 2006

TAKAMATSU -- Two deaf and mute people who intimidated another disabled woman using sign language, forcing her to pay them 3 million yen, have been arrested, Kagawa Prefectural Police said.

Korean airline employee faces charges over lending ID for illegal entry

January 16, 2006

A South Korean man who abused his position as an airline employee to let people enter Japan by using identification borrowed from co-workers faces charges of violating the immigration law, police said.

Ex-Mizuho Bank worker busted for embezzling 1.3 billion yen from customers' accounts

January 16, 2006

A former employee of Mizuho Bank, who is suspected of embezzling more than 1.3 billion yen from customers' accounts, was arrested Monday, Tokyo police said.

Teacher arrested for molesting 2 women at department store

January 16, 2006

YOKOHAMA -- A high school teacher accused of groping two women as he passed them in a department store here has been arrested, police said.

Hokkaido man handed 12-year prison term for fatally torching dad

January 16, 2006

KUSHIRO, Hokkaido -- A 27-year-old man who fatally set fire to his father after pouring kerosene on him following an argument was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Monday.

Engine trouble forces JAL jet to make emergency landing in Okinawa

January 16, 2006

NAHA -- A Japan Airlines (JAL) jet made an emergency landing at Naha Airport in Okinawa Prefecture on Sunday evening after one of its two engines developed trouble during a flight to Tokyo, airline officials said.

Tickets for first flights from New Kitakyushu Airport go on sale

January 16, 2006

KITAKYUSHU -- Tickets for the first flights from New Kitakyushu Airport, which opens on March 16, went on sale on Monday, with travelers looking forward to an increased number of daily flights into the area.

Video blog a hit as promotion material for 'Simsons' movie

January 16, 2006

A video-based blog set up to promote the Japanese movie "Simsons," a story about four girls aiming to form a curling team, is quickly gaining attention among Internet users.

Nippon TV used staged scenes in news programs

January 16, 2006

A movie production company hired by Nippon Television Network staged a scene to buy private information for the broadcaster's news programs, officials said on Monday.

Aso hears objections to U.S. base reshuffle plan

January 16, 2006

Japan's foreign minister heard objections Monday from local officials in western Japan to plans that would increase the number of aircraft operating at a local U.S.

Prosecutors raid Internet giant Livedoor for manipulating stock prices

January 16, 2006

Prosecutors raided Internet giant Livedoor Co.

Officials dispatched to assess snow damage as death toll reaches 95

January 16, 2006

A government team visited northwestern Japan on Monday to measure the damage from heavy snow as the death toll from extreme weather reached 95, an official and a news report said.