Koizumi says Japan will halt U.S. beef imports

January 20, 2006

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Friday that Japan would completely halt U.S.

Prosecutors set to question Livedoor's chief financial officer

January 20, 2006

Prosecutors are set to question the top aide to Livedoor Co.

Skater Ando leaves for US for training ahead of Olympics

January 20, 2006

TOKONAME, Aichi -- Star skater Miki Ando, who will represent Japan in women's figure skating at the Turin Olympics, left Japan on Friday for a final training session in the United States.

Man who failed driving test arrested for scattering nails over training course

January 20, 2006

CHIBA -- A man who scattered more than 100 nails over a driving school course was arrested on Friday, police said.

Ehime governor apologizes for smoking at hospital during checkup

January 20, 2006

MATSUYAMA -- Ehime Gov.

Huser running short of cash to compensate residents over shaky condos

January 20, 2006

Huser Management Ltd.

Top court rejects appeal by man over 'no war' graffiti on public toilet

January 20, 2006

The Supreme Court upheld a suspended 14-month prison sentence against a man who spray-painted the phrase "No War" on a public toilet at a Tokyo park, rejecting his appeal for the charge against him to be scrapped.

Man dies after jumping in front of oncoming train in Yokohama

January 20, 2006

YOKOHAMA -- A man died after jumping in front of an oncoming train here Friday morning, police said.

Fuji TV decides to sever business ties with Livedoor

January 20, 2006

Fuji Television Network has decided to sever its business tie-up with Livedoor Co., following raids on the Internet firm over alleged illegal business practices, company officials said.

Livedoor Marketing president abandons plan to head mail order service over scandal

January 20, 2006

The president of Livedoor Marketing has given up assuming the presidency of major mail order service Cecile because his company is suspected of manipulating its stock prices.

Former Asahi Broadcasting official busted for creating fake contracts to get loans

January 20, 2006

OSAKA -- A former senior official of the Asahi Broadcasting Co.

14 junior high school boys suspected of using altered coins in vending machines

January 20, 2006

CHIKUSHINO, Fukuoka -- A 14-year-old junior high school boy has been reported to prosecutors and 13 others were questioned for using altered 5-yen coins to steal toys from vending machines here, police said.

Mori blasts LDP lawmaker for supporting Abe as next prime minister

January 20, 2006

Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori has criticized a legislator in his faction for saying he intends to field Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe in the September presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).