JAXA delays H-2A rocket launch due to technical trouble

January 22, 2006

JAXA, Japan's space agency, had to postpone the launch of its latest rocket Monday due to last-minute technical problems, officials said.

Drunk teacher busted for molesting woman on train

January 22, 2006

AKASHI, Hyogo -- A drunk Kobe elementary school teacher has been arrested for molesting a woman on a train on Saturday, police said.

Fisheries official busted for trying to film up schoolgirl's skirt

January 22, 2006

FUKUOKA -- A Fisheries Agency official has been arrested for attempting to film up the skirt of a high school girl at a bookstore here Sunday evening, police said.

Livedoor president Horie denies his personal involvement in shady transactions

January 22, 2006

Scandal-tainted Livedoor Co.

Japan foreign minister protests beef violation in meeting with U.S. official

January 22, 2006

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso protested a U.S.

Farm Minister Nakagawa urges U.S. to avoid further violations of beef pact

January 22, 2006

Japan's farm minister urged a senior U.S.

Tochiazuma wins third Emperor's Cup, stops Asashoryu's streak

January 22, 2006

For the first time in over a year, sumo has a new champion -- and he's not Mongolian.

Livedoor exec denies irregularities, Horie involvement in corporate buyout

January 22, 2006

Livedoor's chief financial officer investigation has told prosecutors he wasn't aware of irregularities in a corporate buyout, news reports said Sunday.

Japan to test Hokkaido cow for possible mad cow infection

January 22, 2006

Japan will conduct further tests on a dead cow suspected of having mad cow disease in Hokkaido, following inconclusive results earlier, a news report said Sunday.

U.S. sailor arrested for robbery

January 22, 2006

A U.S.

U.S. Deputy State Secretary in Tokyo for talks over beef imports

January 22, 2006

A senior U.S.

Gunma locals put on loincloths for ancient hot water hurling festival

January 22, 2006

NAGANOHARA, Gunma -- Icy temperatures mean nothing to the men from the Gunma Prefecture town of Naganohara who stripped down to loincloths as they took part in the town's hot water throwing festival with a tradition dating back 400 years.

Recently married men hurled down snowy Niigata slope in time-honored tradition

January 22, 2006

TOKAMACHI, Niigata -- Local residents threw two recently married men down a snowy slope during a time-honored, New Year tradition.

Japan, North Korea to resume talks in Beijing

January 22, 2006

Japan and North Korea will resume talks on normalizing relations in Beijing next month, a news report said.

TSE to up trading capacity by 0.5 million, but keep shortened sessions

January 22, 2006

The Tokyo Stock Exchange announced Sunday it will boost its trading capacity, but said it would keep shortened trading sessions after a flood of orders forced the bourse to curtail trading last Wednesday.