Health Ministry plans online system to monitor use of controversial drug Thalidomide
January 27, 2006The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to introduce a system to monitor individual imports of the drug Thalidomide, which was responsible for numerous illnesses in the 1950s and 1960s, it has been learned.
3 university students accused of rape got victims drunk playing 'Russian roulette'
January 27, 2006KYOTO -- Three former American football players from Kyoto University, under arrest for gang-raping two women, made their victims play a drinking version of "Russian roulette," with the loser having to drink shochu, police said on Friday.
16-year-old arrested for killing mom in Iwate
January 27, 2006MORIOKA -- A 16-year-old high school student has been arrested for murdering his 39-year-old mother, who was found dead in the closet of their home here Thursday, police said.
American sailor charged over woman's killing
January 27, 2006Prosecutors on Friday indicted a U.S.
Yakuza trio arrested on suspicion of smuggling explosives, guns into Japan
January 27, 2006Police on Friday arrested three men and raided the offices of a crime syndicate on suspicion of smuggling explosives, guns and ammunition into Japan, a news report said.
2 teenage schoolgirls, construction worker arrested for using stimulants
January 27, 2006KAWASAKI -- A 15-year-old junior high school girl, under arrest for using illegal stimulants, admitted she received an injection of drugs four or five times by a man involved in the drug case, police said.
3 ex-members of Kyoto University American Football team busted for gang-raping 2 women
January 27, 2006KYOTO -- Three former American football players from Kyoto University have been arrested for gang-raping two women after getting them drunk at an apartment, police said.
Japan, North Korea to resume talks next month
January 27, 2006Japan and North Korea will discuss normalizing relations, Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese citizens and the communist regime's nuclear weapons program in Beijing next month, Japan's top government spokesman said Friday.
Arrested harem man tried to lure female store worker
January 27, 2006Hirohito Shibuya, the 57-year-old man arrested on suspicion of threatening a young woman who refused to join his harem, tried to attract a store worker he had never met before by saying, "I know a way to make you happy," it has been learned.
University of Tokyo report raises doubts over credibility of research papers
January 27, 2006The University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering on Friday threw doubt on papers published by Professor Kazunari Taira and other researchers, by announcing it could not confirm the results of experiments mentioned in the papers.
Daughter dies after mom sets apartment on fire to attract dad's attention
January 27, 2006A 29-year-old woman who set her apartment on fire in a bid to attract her husband's attention, leading to their daughter's death, was arrested on Friday, police said.
Death toll of Tamiflu users climbs to 42
January 27, 2006The number of people who died after taking the influenza drug Tamiflu has reached 42 in Japan, but officials claim the causal relationship between the deaths and the drug were undeniable in only two cases.
Police officer arrested for aiming gun at suspect to force him to confess
January 27, 2006NAGASAKI -- A police officer accused of pointing his gun at a suspect to force him to confess during voluntary questioning at a police box has been arrested, law enforcers said.
New Livedoor president says Horie will never return
January 27, 2006New Livedoor Co.
Actress Haruka Ayase greets fans at Tokyo film preview
January 27, 2006Actress Haruka Ayase greeted fans on Thursday during a preview screening of the short film "Taberu Ki Shinai" (I don't feel like eating), a lighthearted production based on the image of her debut song "Period."